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.
Term
bite
“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.
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.
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.
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.
Concept
scary sticker world
“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.
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.”
Concept
concourse to lemons
“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.
Car
Ford Gt350
“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.
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.
Term
performance and longevity
“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” 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.
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.
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.
Term
banging the gears
“Banging the gears” is slang for shifting aggressively. It can be harder on the clutch because it creates more stress and heat.
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.
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.
Term
road racers
Road racing is racing on a track with lots of laps. The clutch has to survive repeated hard driving and shifting.
Term
twin
They’re talking about a clutch with two friction discs. More discs can help the clutch handle more engine twisting force.
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” 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.
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.
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.
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.
Part
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.
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.
Term
resource parts
“Resource parts” just means finding the right replacement parts. With clutch jobs, you can’t always move forward until the correct pieces are available.
LIVE
It is the two guys right podcast. He is Kevin Byrd. I will be fired up today
We got one of our great friends on a man when it comes to clutches, you know that that third pedal
We often times refer to as the man pedal
It you know, there's none better than mantic clutches and my man Jeff at the helm
You'll understand and know that here in a matter of minutes
But my man Kev we know Jeff for a long time
Do love this guy love his attitude love what he does for us hot rodders, man for us guys
That aren't afraid to use that third pedal aka man pedal as it's commonly referred to in conversations in around the shop
No doubt man, and you know will and I were one of the same dude
We love the third pedal, you know, and and I think there's a growing population of of car guys out there that
With a lot of GT 500s and stuff actually coming out with DCT's, you know dual clutch paddle shifts
Yes, technically they're faster, you know around a track a road course or whatever
But man, there's just something about you know slamming gears rowing the you know
Rowing them in and out and and working the pedal and you know
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
Oh, then just stab and go so the clutch the man pedal
Man, we're all in hundred percent
Yeah, yeah, no doubt, and it's it's true
There's been cars in our past that we've converted over to the man pedaling
Sometimes do just cuz well cuz it's fun
Have you look if you if you've not understood how fun it is to snap the clutch and and for anybody's ever ridden
Old-school two-stroke dirt bike remember that whip that that two-stroke had similar to that right but magnified
By just the feather of the left foot and man
It can it can go from zero to hero in a second and there's there's a cool amount of control in that and and fun in that
So once you get comfortable using it flexing it
And and rip it on it in knowing how do you use utilize the best features of it? It really does become a
Much more optimized drive and ride like you're you're you're driving, baby
You're driving there's some about those two feet working like crazy the hand working like crazy like you're driving it man
And it's sick. It's a blast. Well, you know how to to make a great experience just tank
Instantly
Yeah
Oh, yeah, yeah, and there's so many versions of bad clutch
You know and and the bad combination of the clutch components with your clutch or flywheel, right?
Just all of that. So if it's not matched
Correctly and if it's not set up it doesn't have the right compound, you know, whether it's
You know the various springs that kind of help ease in once you have like an on-off pedal no fun
Right like yeah, if you don't have the right setup if you're your clutch pressure is so high that your calf is on fire
No, man, right?
If you're in a non-race situation and you got a whole bunch of gear rattle and all kinds of things no fun
Right, you can really if you've been around clutches long enough
Right, you've probably put in one or been around one or driven a car that just has a clutch
That's no fun. Yeah, man like the car you get into and you try to get the clutch out smooth
And it goes that chop
You're like what does go what's going on what like, you know all of a sudden you're just fighting the car
Every time you stop like what's going on? We'll talk about those setups those
You know those those ones that bite bark
And our boy Jeff knows a lot about all of it. So anxious to get back to it. So hang on grab your man pedal
Let your left hand loose cuz it's gonna bring
Having some fun in the right hand is gonna be bringing gears. So we'll get back to the two guys garage podcast
He's Kevin Verde. I'm will be talk to you in just a minute
It is two guys garage podcast. He's Kevin bird. I will be man
It is an absolute honor our boy Jeff
We go back we go back a number of years with and this guy when it comes to clutches
Hey, this guy is king man. Give him the crown send him to the clutch castle because he owns it all man
Hey Jeff, welcome to podcast my friend. How you been man?
Well, that's a heck of an intro Willie and if you're setting me up
Crash, but I dig it. I dig it
Was it not written give me three pedals or give me death something like that. I believe so man
Good to be with you guys, thanks a ton for having me on I always
Hey, is it is it one of those things for you that you know
I'm not sure how you ended up or landed with manic and and how you you know
Your world's become that that clutch that we often times referred to as a man pedal
But are you a fan that like did you grow up liking?
You know that that clutch and understanding, you know nowadays is so funny, man
I you know me in my cars for Christmas program. I give cars and needy family. Yeah, one of the most often
Like hurdles I have when I'm gifting cars is finding somebody who can drive a manual
Yeah, it's it's unreal the number of people that cannot drive a manual not only can they not drive one
They're afraid to try to drive one. Yeah, it you know
I hate to use the term lost art, but it is becoming something that
Unless you're really into it, you know, a lot of people don't learn it
So for me personally, I always thought it was the coolest thing
all my dad's cars were always manuals and
little little insight to the wild world of Gerco here, so
My dad and I were actually building a 78 280 Z. He always loved those cars
we were gonna build it and
Unfortunately, I lost my dad when I was 11 got sick passed away in about six months. Well
when I turned 13 my mom had let me keep the car and
I just thought I was gonna go out and learn how to drive it
So we had about a half a mile lane went back behind her house
so I've fired up the old Z and in about 10 minutes I kind of just figured it out and
Was having an absolute blast unbeknownst to my mother. So probably when she hears this podcast
I'm out of the will but whatever it's worth it
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. Yeah, you do get a little power out of it
You got you know some room in the foot area that to figure it out as well considering it's a small car and the
The gear shifter where tennis it's real comfy. It's up higher because the car sits down a little bit low
The gear shifter. Yes is up a little higher than most cars
So that's a good car to learn in and especially the fact that you know
It's got some stylistic lines that are kind of cool to it
So it's uh, you know, it's an inspiring ride if you will you would go out there bang some gears learn how to do it
And you know especially representing pops, you know, yeah, and that was that that was the thing
That was kind of my first, you know
Kind of foray into it always thought it was cool and and even even when I was younger, you know
My brother and I would take turns we'd wait for dad to come home for work
He'd let one of us drive the car up the lane to the house and he was and then eventually we got older
We actually got to shift a little bit. So I kind of already had an idea how it'll work. I'm just like well
Let me just try this out. So uh, most importantly, nobody died
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. So that was kind of my interlude into it, I guess and
Yeah, just kind of always been a fan ever since and and it's funny too like I
Just kind of fell into the clutch scene. I got hired at mr. Gasket years and years ago and at the time
Nobody wanted to touch the haze clutch line. Well, I'm young and all fired up. I'm like, yeah, let's fix this haze
Hey, but hey, I admittedly so what there's certain brands that are iconic in the industry that had that reputation
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
You know and it said all the parts they used under car if you saw haze clutches up there like oh
It's it's a it's a banger, you know, you may have something, you know
So that that came with a little reputation on the street
So you saw that you saw the scary stickers. Nobody wanted to touch that but you kind of approached that like yeah
Well, there's always room for improvement
Maybe, you know
The the loudest dog in the yard is typically the one you want to go after so why not tee him up, bro
That's the one you're gonna take down first. Yeah, man. Go for it
And how how was the business plan like what what did you decide working at mr. Gasket and a side note
Did mr. Gasket not have the coolest logo back in the base because there are stickers the little gasket logo guy cool as hell
Um, but yeah, man, uh, so how did you plan your attack?
So, you know when at the gasket days in the haze days, you know
They kind of didn't know what to do with the brand, but it still had a pretty loyal following
So my thing was
It was kind of funny. We had
all the archive drawings and all the cool stuff they had done
In the late 60s in the 70s and there were still a couple guys that worked area that did it. Well
When the young punk came back and started asking questions
They would actually tell me all this cool stuff just because I gave a rat spender and I wanted to learn
so
That was really cool and uh, I'll shout out to those guys. There was ray and uh, there was a gary
Uh, and l who was they were just really sharp guys. Roy was really good
You know shout out to all the old timers everywhere that have hooked up us younger guys at one point. Yeah, you know
That's huge and that's the thing
It's a kind of like, uh, you know, you'd want to pass down the art of driving a manual
Well, these guys kind of passed down some of the stuff that they learned
So that was really huge for me and I'm really thankful for those guys and I think it was cool for them too
I mean, what a what a moment that would be a
You know, you think about that in the world in the realm of where it's where it's at now
That's a you know, that's a moment you would see on tv is like these iconic guys showing the
Younger generation the guys that have this reputation have has built this reputation on the street
Showing this young gunslinger. Hey, you know, why this how this what's with this? What's with that?
You know kind of passing it passing along pretty cool
You know kind of paramount moment for for you, right? Oh very much so and you know
part part of my
Part of my journey, I guess
You know, I've spent a little time with a ct clutches out in california
And uh, I got to give a lot of credit to dirk uh, dirk starkson who who founded and runs act
Super super guy
He and I worked close for a good about year and a half and uh, yeah
Really sharp guy taught me a lot of things that I never really even
Thought about or looked into
You know and again and it's so cool to share that and I try to do the same thing with my customers
I had a guy that called me today
First thing out of his first thing he said was well, I really don't know much about clutches, but I got some questions
I said cool ask away
I'll tell you anything and everything you want to know because
There's no real secrets if you will there's some tricks to it and some stuff you do
But I'm always one to try to educate my customers and answer any question
They have or especially help them get the right thing for their application. So yeah
How long how long have you been with mantic? So I started with mantic in 2014
the
The guys in Oz were we're looking for a new guy here stateside
And at the at the time I was actually a test engineer for hundakea
Out in the california desert and my wife and I were like hey, jeff. Let me catch up. up our listeners
Oz y'all is a clutch guy terminology for australia. Sorry. Sorry. Yeah
Yeah, Oz just letting y'all know he's not talking wizard of he's talking him down below
Yeah, so yeah, my bad. Go ahead man. We're just catching up the three will it kind of sound like you said the wizard down below
But i'm sure that'll get cleaned up in the uh, you know, yeah, yeah something like that
40 and slip it's all no, so um the guys from australia. We're looking for a new
Kind of a new guy to run the clutch program here and I had met him a couple years ago
I thought they were pretty cool thought they had a good product
And uh, kind of hit it off and it worked out that my wife and I were going to move back east coast move to uh, to raleigh here
Uh, kind of run the show for about two about two and a half years and I just said
You know guys you're you're kind of missing the boat here. There's this
There's this little you know little cult following for this car called the mustang
Maybe we dip a toe in that pond just saying there's like three or four running around, right?
Yeah, every now and again
You know, uh, you know of concourse to lemons. You might see one, you know, but um, so kind of got that moving
so
Finally at about the third year. I just said, you know guys
We got to do something massively different and you're gonna have to find another rangatang because this is just
So we kind of arm wrestled a little bit and I said look, let me be the sole distributor
Let me buy what I want. Let me develop what I want
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
Kind of let us let us grow let us expand into a bigger market
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
Which is huge for us too. That really got us kind of out there. I won't say totally mainstream
We're still kind of the kind of like willy said about the scary sticker. We're still kind of that. Uh, oh
Oh, you're running one. Oh, you're on one of those. Okay. Okay
But it's go man. Hey those that no no, bro. That's uh, yeah
Now you now you guys have that scary reputation
Like, you know, I hope that yeah because you guys put together
You guys put together. 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
You guys have been aggressive about every approach and uh, really interested to to get into that
Were they astonished at the first like tell us how you you put the Mustang out there you make it available
When did how fast did you see the numbers?
Start the show like when the phone started ringing and it was one clutch order after another clutch order
When did the guy say hey, man?
Uh, by the way, nice nice job or uh, glad you ordered that stuff you needed
It's about time job
Yeah, so how many times we've got to twist your arm. Yeah, so I think honest honestly probably
Realistically it took about a month and a half two months just because the biggest struggle I had
With the Aussies was they they don't fully grasp our market
So their marketing
Scheme their marketing plan gets really close to the target, but it doesn't actually hit it
So
That was kind of the biggest challenge and that's what kind of led me down that look guys
Just let me run with it. Okay. I'll take over the marketing budget
I'll let that fall on me. We'll we'll kind of figure it out. So so yeah, I would say it's probably
Probably a month month and a half and then probably by the fourth month like
We were like becoming like the it product, which is really cool very nice
But so you've been you've been doing mantic, right?
You've been kind of leading the charge here on the state side because right things are different different
Different wants different needs different vehicles all the different setups you name it
So leading the charge here in the u.s. For a decade or more
Uh, and I understand you got some pretty big news
We do we so
Hold on. Hold on. Don't tell us yet. We gotta say that thought because we're up against a break
So he's got big news capital B
capital N
This is some kind of cool and well deserved. So let's take this break only be a minute
We'll talk to you in just a second. It's two guys garage podcast kevin bird. Will he be see you in just a second?
It is two guys garage podcast he is kevin bird. I am will he be and today man today. We're talking to a boy jeff
Uh jeff gurko mantic clutches. How you know this guy knows everything about clutches
Been doing it forever studied under some of the best
You can say trained with some of the best if you will but man
He's got something so cool. Like honest guy. This is tighter than a u-turn with no power steering fluid y'all
This is dope. This is cool. He's breaking the news right here on the podcast
I'm gonna let jeff have it jeff. Do your thing man
It's like a world premiere. I feel like there should be like fire work
Hold on. We're a big podcast. We do our own sound effects here. Hang on drum roll
Ah
Yeah, we'll just we'll try to just kind of sneak this in here in in stereo
So yeah, so long about
We're shooting around july 4th. We're actually gonna kind of rebrand our company. We're gonna kind of go out as our own entity
Um funny enough. We're gonna call it uh gurko's custom clutches because that's just kind of how it's been
So we're gonna have some new logos some new colors
Very very similar product, but also an improved product now
I don't want anybody to panic
The manic stuff you have is great. What's that? Was that will I just laugh because I'm like this is gonna get good, man
I thought it looked like you were already making great stuff. You're already making in my opinion top of the line
You know, uh, this is where I say to everybody
This is where you know, if you need to clutch big power stuff big performance stuff
Smooth shifts, you know, great great feel not something's gonna break your leg every time you're getting into it
You man, you gotta reach out manic clutch usa until now check this out. Well, that's the thing
You know, I'm always one to look at things and say, okay, this is great
Can we make something better?
Can we improve our product flow?
Can we expand our offerings? So we're definitely
Kind of changing some of our vendors just because there were a few improvements
I wanted to make to the product line that the guys in Oz just really didn't want to do or didn't have the capability of doing
So essentially I'm going to keep everything that's working
and try to expand upon it like
You made a very good point, you know, our stuff is
It's fun to drive. It's easy to drive. It doesn't blow up your leg
Um, we're gonna kind of stick with that
But we've actually done a little redesign of our covers to where we've made them more efficient
So we're gonna gain a little bit of clamp load, but we're gonna retain the same easy pedal feel
So you're gonna see some stuff like that some just a little
polishing of the chrome if you will
so um
And you know the thing too like uh, some of our custom builds like for my drift guys for my road race guys
I've been using a lot of my own components anyway because Oz just didn't have the stuff
So we're kind of expanding in that direction and yeah, should be should be some good stuff
Should be some real good stuff and something to note when you say been using your your own stuff already
He means for all the offerings at mantek clutch usa
Which he has several skews in
Uh, and when they when they do a lot of these setups you guys gotta understand
You've seen most people listen to this podcast has seen the cars seen down in australia
They've seen the videos the burnouts crazy stuff. They do it's a much different culture
Much different needs much different scene much different demand
Then what you're gonna have here in in this country where road courses time attacks drag racing all those bring significant
you know
hurdles for clutch manufacturers and the material and the friction material used and and how the wear and tear are gonna
Affected how he's gonna affect the things like that. So it's different
He's been able to source the best of these products to make sure that
These people his clients the people that you know in the receiving end like myself like kevin
Um that when we're out there banging the gears doing what we love what we do
It it's it's dead on nuts right and it has been to a tee. So he's carrying that same
Sort of line of thinking over but with more of a freedom to include even better components and parts
Yeah, that's that's the thing like I said, I'm I'm always one to try to figure out
How can how can we better our best and you know, sometimes you get to a point you're like, you know
That's about all we can do
But then you start looking at it too
Well, if we had another option or if we had a different way to make this or if we had the freedom
To kind of design what we want. Well, then we can kind of grow. So so yeah, like I said, I'm super excited to do it
Um, we're gonna kind of get get things in position get the webpage ready to go and and let me put this out there too
We will still service and rebuild and upgrade
Any mantic clutch we've ever sold because we have the parts know-how
We do gosh, we probably rip through 30 40 rebuilds a month
Rebuilds upgrades or whatever. So so yeah, so
Everybody will still be able to contact us for that. We'll keep that run until the end of time
Hey, and that's so we should bring up white while you're at it
You guys here's what's great about mantic, okay?
You're gonna cut some of these guys or if you have a cut you want to keep whatever
You could send it to mantic and these guys will rebuild it. That's what's you know
Find a company that does that you could have your old cuts rebuilt by these guys. Yeah, and I mean we do it for
It's how we support our drift guys. It's how we support our road racers
Our streetcar guys that decide they want to make some more power. All right
Well, we can take most of your twin and upgrade it to a triple
We can take most of your triple and upgrade it to a quad a quad
As if a double wasn't enough as if a triple wasn't enough as if a quad wasn't enough
Is there more is there more than a quad? There may be a five disc coming out. There may be a five
I'm gonna what so are I don't know. Are you guys gonna come to the h-bit show in charlotte?
It's a new trade show. That's on the radar. I don't know if I'm gonna make it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's actually
It's uh, I'm trying to sell it as
When pri should actually happen
Sorry, it's super cool town
You know a lot of good car stuff more head. There's all kinds of cars seen up there
Yeah, so they're kind of kicking off this show. Um, I want to say there's
gosh, I want to say there's a 10000 and twenty of us vendors there
I could be wrong because remember boys. I do drink a lot. So, um, but yeah, it should be a really cool show
I I would love to tell all the listeners. Yeah, come by the booth and see the new quinn disc
I don't know if I'll have the the five disc just yet, but for pri for sure
So, yeah, I was naming that because yeah, you know, triple quad you get much after four though
You're kind of screwed out of cool names. Yeah, I'll have to like, oh, what are we gonna go with synco disc?
I don't know. Yeah, the synco del disco. Maybe
Yeah
And that's right is I like the synco del disco and that's and that is the most spanish. I think I've ever spoken
That's all I got
How hilarious so what kind of power could you expect for that five disc?
synco del disco
synco del disco diablo will probably hold about
2,500 foot pounds. I mean
And that's the thing too. We're our quads have done really well at the two grand mark. So
definitely
Definitely find some folks to say, but yeah
I've literally we have four triples in the shot being upgraded to quad discs right now
Very cool. I mean, that's that's a huge thing to be able to take right as you're adding power to be able to take your setup
And throw another who would have thought that you could do that like oh man, I gotta throw all this away
I gotta start from scratch. Nope. You guys can rebuild and add as you add
Yeah, well, and that's the thing too
So one thing that always pulled me into the initial product and one thing that we're carrying on
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
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
So I've made a low triple that'll fit in there because those guys are making stupid power now
So or well, maybe not stupid power. What did I say the last time too much power is almost enough?
That's the line. All right. Look man before we run out of time
real fast
What in your opinion top three things about gerco custom clutches?
That allows you to outshine outperform
Outlasts of these other competitors that people may not know about about you guys. Give us top three
Uh, and what you'd like to pound your chest on
Oh, sure. Sure. Sure. Um, I would say we're gonna have a little broader product offering
So we're gonna continue our twins triples all the way up to the sinko del disco
um
We're also going to be bringing in a higher quality
Single disc clutch line that people have asked for for years, but we were never able to really do
So we're going to also use that as kind of the uh, well, I'll just say the gateway drug to get you to
Keep upgrade. So that's kind of the first thing second thing will be
You know, we're going to hopefully have a little bit better availability
Um, we're looking to source our product a little more efficiently
You know, I feel bad. I've got customers that have been waiting a week or two to get their stuff
We're trying to get ahead of it. We're trying to get a better stream of parts
And that's really key because god love my customers are all super patient
But we're trying to get that to where we can just better our supply and then I would say the third thing
I think we'll be able to do a few more specialized products where before
It was kind of hard to justify
The 10s and 20 runs. Well now we can probably grow into that a little bit more
So it'll let us better serve customers that maybe are kind of stuck not being able to find
Capacity they need or the drivability that they desire things of that nature. So yeah, man
And a follow-up what's unique about um, you guys now that people may not know
How do you how do you uh, say change out and and do things different with
materials with flywheels with weights with, uh
How you put the toes in in the clutch
Package as opposed to what somebody might think is the whole pad
Um real fast. What are some, you know design changes and features that you have that really make you guys?
Uh, I think you know top as far as performance goes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah
So the biggest thing is and this is this is the I say the core belief that's going to carry on
We make a better clutch because we use better materials. It's a billet pressure plate billet drive blocks. Um
Even the plates are essentially, you know turned in machine
So by having a better base material by having that, uh better innate
product in the design
It just leads to that better product. It lets you upgrade it. It lets you rebuild it
So that's really that's really kind of the key mantra there
So we're going to keep that running for sure. Oh, we got to come back and have you on again because um, man
I could really just dive in for the whole segment and just kind of pepper you with with tech, right?
There's so many little details and features and
There's quite a different selection on a clutch between a daily driver and a you know, 500 800
1,500 race car like there's different details that you're going to want to make sure that you've selected
In your setup, so it's tailored to what you're trying to do
Whether you're doing a lot of street driving and you you want to retain some nvh features
Uh, or you just want to go full send it, uh, right and you want to see you want top performance
Uh different like I said different materials and configurations. So Kevin, you remember the first time you blew through
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
Man this sucker's revving fast
What is going on here?
Wait on that smoke this is the smelliest burnout ever. Oh, wait a minute. Yeah
Why does it smell like brakes? Yeah, I'm not even applying the brakes
Yeah, you guys man, you guys just reach out. I will chat anytime you need
Side note we did start doing what we called flywheel friday on our uh our instagram page
and I think we post up on
Facebook as well and it's just it's literally I'll do like a minute minute 30
Just a quick tech tip or I'll just show some parts or whatever we got going on
Um, it's super fun because I can just kind of I literally just grabbed my phone and shoot it
Like hey guys, here's what we're working on. Here's these two clutch discs. Here's
I'm turning something on the battleship or here's the flywheel we're working on so stuff like that
So if you're ever bored need to get yourself out of a meeting on a friday, you know, check out flywheel friday
Yeah, and if you're you're you're too twitchy to wait for us to have a good podcast on it
check out Jeff's social and his uh
His websites because there's a lot of good tech items on there as well. You can go through and get yourself
Engimicated would that be mantic clutch usa or you got something else? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah stick with manic clutch usa.com
Gurko's custom clutches is up and running, but if we send anybody there, it's gonna look a whole lot like a blank page
All right mantic clutch usa.com
Finding there tons of tech all kinds of cool stuff there man
And watch out gurko is coming gurko custom clutches
Looking forward to that man. Thanks just to see it and make sure you see our show
Aaron weekends on the motor should network check your local listings also available discovery plus and max
Thanks to our producer scope our senior producer dustin carter and executive producer bob ecker
He's kevin bur down will he be and this is a two guys garage podcast
Yeah, and don't forget our website two guys garage.com our social at two guys garage
And this two guys garage podcast. It's copyright 2025 britain productions incorporated. All rights reserved
Jeff man. I'm fired up because this is jeff unleashed man
Hell yeah, man. This is decades of mr. Clutch just going hog wild just doing what needs to be done
This this jeff gone wild. That's right
Yes
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
We're excited
We're excited for you can't wait to see all the the great offerings and
polishing the chrome as you said
Well, I really appreciate the support and like I said you guys ever have any questions or anything
Always glad to jump on the show. Um, really appreciate it. Like I said, uh, you just you guys just keep hitting me up
We maybe got a project something cool
Kevin I may get to work on there. So yeah, yeah good stuff. All right gang. Hope you guys had fun with us. Enjoyed it
We'll be back with more. So we'll see you on the next two guys garage podcast
Two guys garage podcast is a production of britain productions for more episodes visit i heart radio apple podcast
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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.
The guys welcome Geoff Gerko of Mantic Clutch USA back to the podcast to discuss his lifelong love of manual transmissions and building clutches for 2500 ft-lbs of torque. Along the way, he unveils his impending rebrand to Gerko’s Custom Clutches, discusses how superior materials and modular design lead to unmatched performance, and offers a glimpse into the future of high-performance clutch technology.
