The Clutch King Returns
About this episode
Clutch talk takes center stage as the hosts and guest compare the “man pedal” to modern dual-clutch automatics, then get practical about heel-toe, rev matching, and what makes a clutch feel right—or wrong. They dig into clutch setup, pedal effort, and gear rattle, plus why fewer people can drive stick. The conversation shifts into the clutch aftermarket: Mr. Gasket roots, Mantic rebuilds, modular multi-disc upgrades, and a new higher-quality single-disc line.
clutch
"We got one of our great friends on a man when it comes to clutches, you know that third pedal [13.0s] We often times refer to as the man pedal"
The clutch is what lets you change gears. When you press it, the engine and gearbox temporarily disconnect so you can shift smoothly.
A clutch is the pedal-operated device that connects and disconnects the engine from the transmission. When you press it, you can change gears without grinding; when you release it smoothly, the car transfers power to the drivetrain.
third pedal
"We got one of our great friends on a man when it comes to clutches, you know that third pedal [13.0s] We often times refer to as the man pedal"
In a manual car, there are usually three pedals. The “third pedal” is the clutch pedal, and it’s used for shifting gears.
“Third pedal” is a common enthusiast way to refer to the clutch pedal in a manual-transmission car. Unlike the brake and accelerator, the clutch is used specifically for gear changes and controlling how power engages.
DCTs
"With a lot of GT 500s and stuff actually coming out with DCT's, you know dual clutch paddle shifts [59.6s] Yes, technically they're faster, you know around a track a road course or whatever"
DCT means dual-clutch transmission. It’s an automatic-style gearbox that can shift very fast because it’s ready with the next gear.
DCT stands for dual-clutch transmission, which uses two clutches to pre-select the next gear. That design can make shifts very quick compared with a traditional manual, especially in performance driving.
heel toe
"Some of us love to try to heel toe and just rev match and there's just so many things you can do in your car [78.9s] Oh, then just stab and go so the clutch the man pedal"
Heel-toe is a way to downshift smoothly while slowing down. You brake and “blip” the gas at the same time so the engine speed matches the lower gear.
Heel-toe is a driving technique used in manual cars to downshift smoothly while braking. The driver uses the brake with the left foot while “rolling” the right foot to blip the throttle (rev the engine) so the transmission speed matches the lower gear.
rev match
"Some of us love to try to heel toe and just rev match and there's just so many things you can do in your car [78.9s] Oh, then just stab and go so the clutch the man pedal"
Rev matching means you raise the engine speed to fit the gear you’re shifting into. It helps the car shift smoothly instead of jerking.
Rev matching is adjusting engine RPM to match the speed required by the next gear during a downshift. Doing it well reduces driveline shock and helps the car feel smooth and controlled.
on-off pedal
"whether it's [174.6s] You know the various springs that kind of help ease in once you have like an on-off pedal no fun [180.8s] Right"
An “on-off” clutch feels like it grabs suddenly. Instead of a gentle, controllable start, it can feel jumpy when you lift your foot.
An “on-off” clutch pedal feel means the clutch engagement happens abruptly rather than smoothly. That typically comes from setup choices (like spring/pressure characteristics) that make the friction point too sensitive.
gear rattle
"If you're in a non-race situation and you got a whole bunch of gear rattle and all kinds of things no fun [197.2s] Right, you can really if you've been around clutches long enough"
Gear rattle is a rattling noise from the transmission/drivetrain. Some clutch setups can make that noise show up more, especially when you’re stopping or shifting slowly.
Gear rattle is the rattling/noisy sound that can happen when the drivetrain loads and unloads, especially around clutch engagement. It’s often associated with how the clutch and flywheel setup affects driveline free play and vibration.
bite
"We'll talk about those setups those [228.8s] You know those those ones that bite bark [232.9s] And our boy Jeff knows a lot about all of it."
“Bite” is how suddenly the clutch starts grabbing. If it bites too hard or too soon, the car jerks and feels difficult to drive smoothly.
In clutch talk, “bite” describes where the clutch starts grabbing and transferring power. A clutch that “bites” too early or too abruptly can make the car hard to launch smoothly and can feel like you’re fighting the car at every stop.
three pedals
"Was it not written give me three pedals or give me death something like that. I believe so man"
In a manual car, you usually press three pedals: clutch, brake, and gas. The clutch pedal helps you switch gears smoothly.
“Three pedals” is a common way to describe a manual-transmission car: typically a clutch pedal, a brake pedal, and an accelerator pedal. The clutch pedal is what lets you disengage the engine from the transmission so you can change gears.
manual
"finding somebody who can drive a manual ...the number of people that cannot drive a manual not only can they cannot drive one ...it is becoming something that Unless you're really into it, you know, a lot of people don't learn it"
A “manual” is a car where you shift gears yourself. You also use the clutch pedal, so learning it takes practice.
A “manual” refers to a manual-transmission car, where the driver selects gears using a shifter and operates the clutch pedal. It’s often harder to learn than an automatic because you have to coordinate clutch, throttle, and gear changes.
Datsun 280 Z
"You know what I had a 78 280 Z and those cars are awesome, man They're a great car to learn on the clutch is nice and soft."
The Datsun 280 Z is an older Nissan Z-car that’s famous for being fun and easy to drive. Here, the speaker likes it for learning because the clutch is light and the car is laid out in a way that feels comfortable for new drivers.
The Datsun 280 Z (often written as the 280Z) is a classic Z-car from Nissan’s Datsun era, known for being a simple, approachable sports coupe. In this segment, it’s specifically mentioned as a good car for learning because the clutch feel is light and the driving layout is forgiving for a beginner.
stall
"The cattle next door got a good laugh the first couple of times I stalled it but Other than that, we were rocking and rolling."
To “stall” means the engine shuts off while you’re driving or trying to take off. It’s common when you’re learning a manual car, especially the first few times.
A stall happens when the engine speed drops too low—often because the clutch is released incorrectly or the throttle isn’t enough—so the engine shuts off. The speaker mentions stalling early on as part of learning to drive the manual transmission.
mr. Gasket
"I got hired at mr. Gasket years and years ago and at the time Nobody wanted to touch the haze clutch line."
Mr. Gasket is a company that makes aftermarket car parts. The guest is saying he started working there and that’s how he got pulled into the clutch/performance parts world.
Mr. Gasket is an aftermarket automotive brand best known for performance-oriented parts, especially in the drag-racing and street-performance world. In this segment, the guest describes getting hired there and learning the “clutch scene” from within the industry.
scary sticker world
"Haze clutches, you know in the scary sticker world if a car showed up scary stickers or what? Hot riders used to put on their trunk and inside a trunk deck or the hood"
“Scary sticker world” is slang for a street-car crowd where stickers and graphics are part of the image. The guest is saying that image/reputation affected which parts people wanted to buy.
“Scary sticker world” is a slangy way to describe a street-performance subculture where visual branding (stickers and graphics) signals a certain attitude or reputation. The speaker uses it to explain why some clutch brands got labeled and avoided, regardless of their actual engineering.
Mantic
"How long how long have you been with mantic? So I started with mantic in 2014 ... And uh, kind of hit it off and it worked out that my wife and I were going to move back east coast ..."
Mantic is a company that makes clutch parts. The guest is talking about working for them and helping customers pick the right clutch for their car.
Mantic is a company known for aftermarket clutch products, and the guest describes working with them since 2014. In this context, “the clutch program” suggests they supply clutch solutions for specific vehicle applications.
Oz
"Oz y'all is a clutch guy terminology for australia. Sorry. Sorry. Yeah"
“Oz” is just a nickname for Australia. They’re saying the clutch guys are from Australia.
“Oz” is slang for Australia, used here to explain that the other guys are from Australia. The guest is clarifying the regional slang so listeners understand the reference.
Mustang
"There's this little you know little cult following for this car called the mustang ... You might see one ... every now and again"
They’re talking about the Ford Mustang as the kind of car that people occasionally bring to clutch-related circles and events.
The Ford Mustang is being referenced as a car with a small but noticeable enthusiast following in the clutch world. The guest implies there are only a few Mustangs running around, but they show up occasionally at events.
Ford Mustang
"...now little cult following for this car called the mustang Maybe we dip a toe in that pond just saying there..."
The Ford Mustang is a sporty car made by Ford. It’s popular with car fans, and some people really like certain versions of it, which is why you might hear about a “cult following.”
The Ford Mustang is a classic American muscle car that’s known for its sporty look and strong performance heritage. In the podcast, it’s mentioned as having a growing “cult following,” which usually means a dedicated group of enthusiasts who like specific Mustang generations, trims, or parts. That kind of fanbase is often why people discuss Mustangs in detail—especially when talking about what makes certain versions special.
concourse to lemons
"You know of concourse to lemons. You might see one, you know, but um, so kind of got that moving"
“Concourse to Lemons” is an event vibe where you can see both fancy show cars and cheap, goofy cars. The guest is saying you might spot a Mustang there sometimes.
“Concourse to Lemons” is a motorsport-style event format that spans from high-end concours cars to low-budget “Lemons” entries. It’s often used as a shorthand for seeing a wide range of cars—good and bad—show up in the same community.
Ford Gt350
"And we'll roll from there. So got all the mustang stuff GT 350 stuff spilled into the dodge stuff spilled into doing some of the the classic car stuff did some of the 2jz stuff So so that really kind of"
“Ford” is the car company that makes different kinds of cars. In this podcast, it sounds like they’re talking about Ford’s cars and related enthusiast topics, not one single model.
“Ford” in the podcast context appears to refer to the brand’s broader lineup and the way the conversation is moving through different car topics. The mention of Mustang-related items and other performance/enthusiast themes suggests they’re discussing how Ford’s cars (and their parts or history) fit into a wider collector or project-car conversation. It’s significant because Ford has multiple performance and classic platforms that people commonly build, restore, or modify.
Summit Racing catalog exposure
"And then I would say the next bigger step about Three years ago, you know, we we made it into the the pages and and the chronicles of summit racing"
They talk about being featured in a big racing-parts catalog, which helped more people find them. It’s more about exposure than car tech.
The hosts discuss getting featured in Summit Racing’s catalog and how that boosted visibility. This is a business/marketing milestone rather than a technical automotive concept.
performance and longevity
"We'll talk about it here in just a minute some of these Unbelievable packages how aggressive you got about performance Um, how you want to get give people performance and longevity, which is something that uh, you know, a lot of people don't necessarily put hand in hand"
“Performance and longevity” refers to the idea that you can make a car faster while still keeping it durable over time. In enthusiast circles, this often means choosing parts and tuning approaches that don’t just maximize power but also manage heat, wear, and stress.
big power stuff
"if you need to clutch big power stuff big performance stuff Smooth shifts, you know, great great feel"
“Big power stuff” is shorthand for high-output engines where the clutch must transmit more torque than stock. That usually means choosing a clutch designed to resist slipping and to maintain drivability during aggressive launches and gear changes.
friction material
"hurdles for clutch manufacturers and the material and the friction material used and and how the wear and tear are gonna [1290.3s] Affected how he's gonna affect the things like that."
The friction material is the part of the clutch that actually grabs and transfers power. If it’s made from different materials, it can wear out faster or handle heat better.
Clutch friction material is the replaceable lining on the clutch that creates the grip needed to transfer torque. Different materials change how much heat they can handle, how smoothly they engage, and how quickly they wear out under load.
wear and tear
"hurdles for clutch manufacturers and the material and the friction material used and and how the wear and tear are gonna [1290.3s] Affected how he's gonna affect the things like that."
In a clutch context, wear and tear refers to how the friction surfaces degrade over time from repeated engagement, heat cycles, and high-load driving. As it wears, the clutch can start slipping, engage less smoothly, or require more frequent service.
banging the gears
"These people his clients the people that you know in the receiving end like myself like kevin [1304.3s] Um that when we're out there banging the gears doing what we love what we do"
“Banging the gears” is slang for shifting aggressively. It can be harder on the clutch because it creates more stress and heat.
“Banging the gears” is enthusiast slang for aggressive shifting—quick, forceful gear changes that can increase clutch heat and wear. It’s used here to emphasize that the clutch setup needs to handle hard use.
rebuilds
"We will still service and rebuild and upgrade [1361.0s] Any mantic clutch we've ever sold because we have the parts know-how [1366.6s] We do gosh, we probably rip through 30 40 rebuilds a month"
A rebuild is when they take the clutch apart and replace the worn parts so it works like it should again. Sometimes they can also upgrade it for better performance.
A clutch rebuild means disassembling the clutch, replacing worn components (often including friction surfaces), and reassembling it to restore proper function. In performance or heavy-use applications, rebuilds may also include upgrades to better materials or updated parts.
upgrade
"We will still service and rebuild and upgrade [1361.0s] Any mantic clutch we've ever sold because we have the parts know-how [1366.6s] We do gosh, we probably rip through 30 40 rebuilds a month"
An upgrade here means improving the clutch with better parts. That can help it last longer or work better for harder driving.
In this context, an upgrade means improving a clutch beyond its original configuration—typically by using different friction materials or other internal components. The goal is usually better durability, smoother engagement, or improved heat tolerance for the way the car is driven.
drift
"It's how we support our drift guys. It's how we support our road racers [1399.4s] Our streetcar guys that decide they want to make some more power."
Drift is when a driver makes the car slide sideways on purpose while still steering and controlling it. It puts extra stress on the drivetrain and clutch.
Drift is a driving style where the car intentionally oversteers and slides while the driver maintains control and speed. It typically demands a clutch and drivetrain setup that can handle repeated high-load launches and throttle transitions.
road racers
"It's how we support our drift guys. It's how we support our road racers [1399.4s] Our streetcar guys that decide they want to make some more power."
Road racing is racing on a track with lots of laps. The clutch has to survive repeated hard driving and shifting.
Road racing refers to circuit-based motorsport where cars run repeated laps at sustained high speeds. Clutch durability and heat management matter because drivers are frequently shifting and loading the drivetrain.
twin
"Well, we can take most of your twin and upgrade it to a triple [1407.8s] We can take most of your triple and upgrade it to a quad a quad"
They’re talking about a clutch with two friction discs. More discs can help the clutch handle more engine twisting force.
“Twin” here is shorthand for a dual-disc clutch setup. In performance use, clutch disc count affects how much torque the clutch can hold and how it feels during engagement.
quad
"We can take most of your triple and upgrade it to a quad a quad [1413.2s] As if a double wasn't enough as if a triple wasn't enough as if a quad wasn't enough"
They’re talking about a clutch with four friction discs. Four discs can handle more power than fewer-disc setups.
“Quad” is shorthand for a four-disc clutch setup. More clutch discs generally allow higher torque capacity, which is why these multi-disc clutches show up in drift and road-racing builds.
five disc
"Is there more is there more than a quad? There may be a five disc coming out. [1426.2s] I'm gonna what so are I don't know. Are you guys gonna come to the h-bit show in charlotte?"
They’re hinting at a clutch with five friction discs. The idea is to make it strong enough for bigger power than four-disc clutches.
A “five disc” clutch means a five-friction-disc clutch pack, aimed at holding even more torque than quad-disc setups. The episode frames it as a next-step upgrade for higher-power streetcars and motorsport use.
PRI show in Charlotte
"Are you guys gonna come to the h-bit show in charlotte? [1432.0s] It's a new trade show. That's on the radar."
They’re talking about a car trade show in Charlotte and whether they’ll attend. It’s mostly about promoting products and meeting people.
The hosts discuss attending a trade show in Charlotte and promoting new clutch products there. This is a segment about event timing and booth plans rather than a technical deep-dive.
triple
"I've literally we have four triples in the shot being upgraded to quad discs right now. Very cool."
In this context, “triple” is shorthand for a multi-disc clutch configuration that uses three friction discs. It’s being contrasted with “quad discs,” implying a step up in clutch capacity as power increases.
modular design
"Because it's a modular design. You can swap in and swap out parts and it's actually easier to service than a traditional stamp cover clutch"
“Modular” just means the clutch is made of parts you can swap out. That usually makes repairs and upgrades easier than replacing the whole clutch assembly.
A modular design means the clutch is built from replaceable sub-parts rather than being a single sealed unit. That makes it easier to swap components and service the clutch compared with traditional designs where more of the assembly must be removed or replaced as a unit.
bell housing
"Anyway, so there's already some innate advantages designed into it from the get-go another another one so like the f-body guys And the gm six speed guys so bell housing is a little short"
The bell housing is the part that sits between the engine and transmission and holds the clutch area in place. Its shape/space can limit what clutch setup will fit.
The bell housing is the transmission-to-engine housing that contains the clutch and helps align the drivetrain components. When the bell housing is “a little short,” it limits how large a clutch assembly can be, which is why the speaker mentions fitting a different clutch size.
flywheels
"How do you uh, say change out and and do things different with materials with flywheels with weights with, uh"
A flywheel is a heavy rotating part that helps the engine’s power feel smooth. When you change a flywheel, it can change how quickly the car responds when you press the gas and how the clutch feels.
A flywheel stores rotational energy and helps smooth out engine power delivery. In clutch upgrades, flywheel mass and design can affect how quickly the engine speed changes (throttle response) and how the clutch engages.
pressure plate
"We make a better clutch because we use better materials. It's a billet pressure plate billet drive blocks."
The pressure plate is what squeezes the clutch disc so power can transfer from the engine to the transmission. Better materials can help it hold up when you drive harder.
The pressure plate is the clutch component that clamps the friction disc(s) against the flywheel to transmit torque. Upgrading materials in the pressure plate can improve heat handling and consistency under harder driving.
billet drive blocks
"It's a billet pressure plate billet drive blocks."
Drive blocks are parts inside the clutch that help transfer power when the clutch engages. Billet drive blocks are made with a higher-quality metal and machining process to better handle stress.
Drive blocks are clutch friction/engagement components that transmit torque from the pressure plate to the clutch disc assembly. Using billet drive blocks implies a higher-quality, more precisely machined part intended to handle more load and heat.
slip
"You remember the first time you blew through the clutch We had way way way too much power just blew through the clutch You felt all that slip and it definitely wasn't coming from your foot on the pedal"
Slip is when the clutch doesn’t fully grab. The engine revs up, but the car doesn’t get the power cleanly—this also makes things overheat.
Clutch slip happens when the clutch isn’t fully transferring engine torque to the drivetrain. Instead of locking up, the friction surfaces partially slip, which creates heat and can lead to rapid wear or failure.
resource parts
"jeff about picked the worst time to try to resource parts, but If I can just survive the short term we should be great the long term, but god. Oh my well. Good luck to you, man"
“Resource parts” just means finding the right replacement parts. With clutch jobs, you can’t always move forward until the correct pieces are available.
“Resource parts” here means sourcing or obtaining replacement components—often difficult when supply chains are tight. In clutch projects, the exact friction materials, pressure plate components, and related hardware must match the application.
Request an Explanation
Heard something you'd like explained? We'll add it to this episode.
Sign in to request explanations for terms you heard.
Want to learn more?
Browse our glossary for plain-English explanations of automotive terms, jargon, and concepts.
Help improve this episode
See something that's not quite right? Our annotations are AI-generated and can sometimes miss the mark. Click the flag icon on any annotation to suggest a correction.