TMCP #630: SEMA 2025 Show Spectacular Finale – Centerforce Clutch Tech, Holley’s LT-Swapped 4th Gen Camaro, and Meguiar’s Pro-Level Detailing for Real-World Builders
About this episode
The final SEMA 2025 episode features insights from key industry players. Trent McGee from Centerforce discusses advanced clutch technologies for muscle cars, including options for street and track applications. Mark Gerhardt from Holley showcases a unique LT-swapped 4th Gen Camaro, emphasizing its retro appeal and modern performance upgrades. Mike Pennington from Meguiar's introduces their new pro-level detailing products aimed at enthusiasts, highlighting easy-to-use solutions for car care. This episode captures the excitement of SEMA and the latest trends in the automotive aftermarket.
This episode delivers a packed finale to our SEMA 2025 coverage, featuring three can’t-miss conversations straight from the show floor. We kick things off with Trent McGee from Centerforce, breaking down real-world clutch selection for street, strip, and track — covering everything from classic muscle car setups to high-horsepower, twin-disc race applications. Then Mark Gearhart from Holley joins us to walk through their LT-swapped 4th-gen Camaro and the bigger picture of modern engine swaps, showing how builders can bring modern power and drivability into older platforms. We close out with Mike Pennington from Meguiar’s, who dives into their new pro-consumer detailing line, sharing practical tips on paint care, polishing, interior cleaning, and headlight restoration that everyday enthusiasts can actually use.
We wrap this episode proud — because this was, without a doubt, our best SEMA show and coverage to date. The depth of the interviews, the quality of the guests, and the real-world value packed into these conversations made this series something truly special. If you’re building, restoring, maintaining, or dreaming, this finale ties it all together and sends SEMA 2025 out the right way.
The post TMCP #630: SEMA 2025 Show Spectacular Finale – Centerforce Clutch Tech, Holley’s LT-Swapped 4th Gen Camaro, and Meguiar’s Pro-Level Detailing for Real-World Builders first appeared on The Muscle Car Place.
Center Force
"Trent McGee with Center Force will kick us off with the latest and greatest street strip and track clutches for muscle cars and more."
Center Force makes parts that help cars shift gears more smoothly and efficiently, especially for high-performance vehicles like muscle cars.
Center Force is a company that specializes in performance clutches and flywheels for various types of vehicles, particularly muscle cars. They are known for their innovative designs that enhance performance and drivability.
Holley
"Then Mark Gerhardt with Holley will be on, and Holley makes everything you need to swap anything into anything."
Holley makes parts that help improve car performance, especially for those who want to modify their vehicles for better speed and efficiency.
Holley is a well-known manufacturer of aftermarket automotive performance products, including carburetors, fuel systems, and engine management systems. They cater to a wide range of vehicles, especially in the muscle car community.
LT swap kit
"And Mark brought a 4th Gen F body with an LT swap kit, and so helped me, he made it cool."
An LT swap kit helps you put a new, more powerful engine into a car that had a different engine before, making it faster and more fun to drive.
An LT swap kit is a collection of components designed to facilitate the installation of an LT series engine into a vehicle that originally came with a different engine. This is popular among car enthusiasts looking to upgrade their vehicle's performance.
Chevrolet Camaro
"...FI systems, and they brought that 4th Gen Cat Eye Camaro to SEMA and so helped me, it was cool."
The Chevrolet Camaro is a sporty car that looks really cool and goes fast. It's popular among car enthusiasts who like to customize it and take it to car shows.
The Chevrolet Camaro is a classic American muscle car that has been in production since 1966. It is known for its powerful performance, aggressive styling, and has a strong presence in automotive culture, often discussed for its modifications and racing capabilities.
Mazda Miata
"...ith? What you can't even got stuff from the whole Miata market. It's really good."
The Mazda Miata is a small, two-door convertible car that's really fun to drive. People love it because it's light and zippy, making it great for enjoying the open road.
The Mazda Miata is a lightweight, two-seat roadster that has been celebrated for its fun-to-drive nature and excellent handling since its debut in 1989. It is often praised for its affordability and has a large aftermarket community for modifications.
segmented clutches
"He gives a great description on how segmented clutches work, like when they have a solid side and a segmented side on the other and why you do that."
Segmented clutches are special types of clutches used in cars. They have parts that are solid and parts that are divided into segments, which helps them work better when driving fast or on a track.
Segmented clutches are a type of clutch design that features both solid and segmented sections. This design allows for better engagement and disengagement of the clutch, improving performance in high-stress situations like racing or track days.
Chevrolet Corvette
"...hey are a great platform. Every new platform of a Corvette is better than the last one. Same goes with F bod..."
The Chevrolet Corvette is a fast and stylish sports car that many people dream of owning. It gets better with each new version, making it a favorite among car lovers.
The Chevrolet Corvette is an iconic American sports car known for its high performance and sleek design. It has evolved through multiple generations, each improving upon the last in terms of technology, speed, and handling.
F bodies
"Same goes with F bodies. That's true."
F bodies are a type of car platform that includes the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird. They were popular sports cars made by General Motors.
F bodies refer to a platform used by General Motors for the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird from the 1980s to the early 2000s. These cars are known for their performance and have a dedicated following among car enthusiasts.
fourth generation
"...they brought that fourth gen on purpose. Fourth gens are now at the age where somebody who's in their mid 40s..."
The fourth generation of the Corvette includes models made between 1984 and 1996. These cars are known for their better performance and are often nostalgic for people who grew up in that era.
The fourth generation of the Chevrolet Corvette refers to models produced from 1984 to 1996. This generation introduced significant improvements in performance and design, making it a popular choice among enthusiasts.
McGuire's
"We usually have McGuire's on every SEMA and Mike Pennington came on. Mike does a great job walking through with details on how to use their prosumer line."
McGuire's is a popular brand that makes products to help you clean and take care of your car, like wax and polish.
McGuire's is a well-known brand in the automotive detailing industry, offering a wide range of products for car care, including waxes, polishes, and cleaning supplies.
Porsche 944
"Just did my kids nine forty four with McGuire's products as well."
The Porsche 944 is a type of sports car made by Porsche, popular for its good handling and performance. It was made in the 1980s and early 1990s.
The Porsche 944 is a sports car produced by Porsche from 1982 to 1991, known for its balanced handling and performance. It is part of the 924/944 series, which helped Porsche gain a foothold in the affordable sports car market.
stock replacement clutch
"Basically, step up from a stock replacement clutch that you could get at your local parts store all the way up to full-blown race stuff."
A stock replacement clutch is a regular part that you can buy to replace a broken clutch in your car. It works just like the one that came with the car originally.
A stock replacement clutch is a standard clutch designed to match the original specifications of a vehicle, providing a direct replacement without performance enhancements.
classic muscle cars
"Our segment is classic muscle cars, 60s and 70s. Actually 80s now. That's all part of the same mix."
Classic muscle cars are fast cars from the 1960s and 70s that people love for their powerful engines and cool looks. They are often seen as symbols of American car culture.
Classic muscle cars are high-performance vehicles that were popular in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s, characterized by powerful engines and aggressive styling. They often feature rear-wheel drive and large displacement V8 engines, making them iconic in American automotive history.
holding capacity
"So in the case of a lot of holding capacity, let's say, you know, so you're north of 500, 600 horsepower or whatever."
Holding capacity is how much power a clutch can take without slipping. If a car has a lot of horsepower, it needs a stronger clutch to keep everything working well.
Holding capacity refers to the amount of power a clutch can handle before slipping occurs. In high-performance vehicles, clutches with higher holding capacity are necessary to manage increased horsepower without losing traction.
pedal effort
"but that might come at the sacrifice of a little bit of either pedal effort or how smooth or aggressive the clutch is."
Pedal effort is how hard you have to push the clutch pedal to change gears. Some clutches are easier to push than others, especially in sports cars.
Pedal effort refers to the amount of force required to press the clutch pedal. In performance vehicles, this can vary based on the design of the clutch, affecting how easy or difficult it is to operate.
396 engine
"So 69 Camaro with a 396, just 325 horse."
The 396 engine is a powerful V8 engine made by Chevrolet. It's known for giving cars a lot of speed and power, especially in classic muscle cars.
The 396 engine is a big-block V8 engine produced by Chevrolet, known for its high horsepower and torque. It was commonly used in performance cars like the Camaro and is highly regarded among muscle car enthusiasts.
horsepower
"just 325 horse."
Horsepower is a way to measure how powerful an engine is. The higher the horsepower number, the faster and stronger the car can be.
Horsepower is a unit of measurement for power, commonly used to describe the power output of engines. It indicates how much work an engine can perform over time.
dual friction clutch
"So I would say in that specific scenario, what I'd probably go with is one of our dual friction. So a dual friction clutch is a single disc clutch, very simple, straightforward, but it's a full face, organic friction material on one side. And then there's segmented friction material on the other side."
A dual friction clutch helps cars shift gears more smoothly and can handle more power. It has two types of materials that work together to make driving easier and more efficient.
A dual friction clutch is a type of clutch that uses two different friction materials to provide better engagement and performance. One side typically has a full face of organic material for smooth engagement, while the other side has segmented material for higher performance under stress.
single disc clutch
"That is still a single disc clutch in the application,"
A single disc clutch is a part of a car that helps connect and disconnect the engine from the wheels. It uses one flat disc to do this, making it simple and effective for most cars.
A single disc clutch is a type of clutch that uses one friction disc to engage and disengage the engine from the transmission. It's commonly found in many vehicles and is known for its simplicity and effectiveness in transferring power. However, it may not handle as much torque as multi-disc clutches, which are often used in high-performance applications.
Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational
"But it is the Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational. Yes."
The Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational is a car competition where drivers show off their high-performance cars. The cars must be able to drive on regular roads and compete in different challenges.
The Optima Ultimate Street Car Invitational is a competition that showcases high-performance street cars. Participants must demonstrate their vehicles' capabilities in various challenges, including road rallies and track events, emphasizing both performance and street legality.
foot pounds of torque
"...once you get north of about 650 foot pounds of torque, you're really in twin territory."
Foot pounds of torque measures how much force an engine can apply to turn something, like a wheel. The higher the number, the more power the engine has to move the car.
Foot pounds of torque is a unit of measurement that quantifies the rotational force applied at a distance of one foot from the pivot point. It's a critical metric in automotive performance, indicating how much twisting force an engine can produce.
twin disc clutch
"That is our high end twin disc. Lots of high quality components in there. Super strong. Good for 1300 foot pounds of holding capacity, depending on the application. But still organic friction material because by using a twin, you've doubled the amount of friction surface that's available."
A twin disc clutch has two parts that help connect the engine to the transmission. This makes it stronger and able to handle more power, which is useful in fast cars.
A twin disc clutch features two friction discs instead of one, which increases the surface area for friction and allows for higher torque capacity. This design is often used in high-performance applications to handle increased power without slipping.
Dyad
"And so most of those competitors are running our Dyad DS, which is, again, twin disc, all high end components, but it uses organic friction material."
Dyad makes special clutches for cars that help them perform better, especially in racing.
Dyad is a company that produces high-performance clutch systems for automotive applications, focusing on advanced materials and technology.
XDS
"So with the XDS, that's serometallic material. It's a much more aggressive material,"
XDS is a system that helps your car handle better when turning by braking one wheel slightly. This can make the car feel more stable and easier to control.
XDS is a type of electronic differential lock that helps improve traction and stability by applying brakes to individual wheels during cornering. This enhances handling and performance, especially in sporty driving conditions.
small block
"...they might have built a traditional big block or small block. So it might be a 500-horse, 500-foot-pound torque."
A small block engine is a smaller type of car engine that is usually more fuel-efficient. It's commonly used in many cars, including sports and everyday vehicles.
A small block is a type of engine that has a smaller displacement compared to big block engines. These engines are known for their efficiency and are commonly used in a variety of vehicles, including sports cars and trucks.
big block
"...they might have built a traditional big block or small block. So it might be a 500-horse, 500-foot-pound torque."
A big block engine is a larger type of car engine that usually produces more power than smaller engines. It's often found in powerful cars designed for speed and performance.
A big block refers to a type of engine that has a larger displacement than a small block engine, typically providing more power and torque. These engines are often used in high-performance vehicles and muscle cars.
foot-pound torque
"...it might be a 500-horse, 500-foot-pound torque. I don't really know."
Foot-pound torque measures how much twisting force an engine has. More torque usually means the car can start moving faster and pull heavier loads.
Foot-pound torque is a unit of measurement for torque, which indicates the rotational force an engine can produce. Higher torque values generally mean better acceleration and towing capacity.
DFX
"...I'd probably lean more towards a DFX. So a DFX, and I actually haven't talked about that..."
DFX is a type of clutch that is made for high-performance cars. It helps the car shift gears quickly and smoothly, especially when going fast.
DFX refers to a specific model or type of clutch designed for high-performance applications, often featuring advanced materials and designs for better performance under stress.
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE
"So it's got the heart of a ZL1 1LE with LT4 in it."
The ZL1 1LE is a special version of the Chevrolet Camaro designed for racing and performance, featuring a powerful engine and improved handling.
The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE is a high-performance variant of the Camaro, known for its track-focused enhancements and powerful engine.
Ford Mustangs
"So it's kind of like... It's kind of like new Mustangs when you get it. Yeah, yeah."
The Ford Mustang is a classic American car that's known for being fast and looking great. It's a favorite among people who love cars and often shows up in movies and car events.
The Ford Mustang is a legendary American muscle car that debuted in 1964 and has become a symbol of freedom and performance. It is known for its powerful engines and distinctive design, often discussed in the context of its cultural impact and racing heritage.
Chevrolet C10S
"But like anything, right? Like imagine like how C10s were 10 years ago. Now like they're too expensive..."
The Chevrolet C10 is an old pickup truck that many people love because it's sturdy and has a cool vintage look. It's getting harder to find at a good price because more people want them now.
The Chevrolet C10 is a classic pickup truck that was produced from the late 1960s to the early 1980s, known for its simple design and durability. It has become a favorite among collectors and restorers, often discussed for its restoration potential and rising values.
Volkswagen Bus
"Tesla motor into a Volkswagen bus and then there's got like, I want to put Tesla mo..."
The Volkswagen Bus is a big, boxy van that people loved in the 60s for road trips and camping. It's a favorite among collectors because it has a lot of character and history.
The Volkswagen Bus, also known as the VW Type 2, is a classic vehicle that became popular in the 1960s for its spacious interior and versatility. It is often associated with counterculture movements and has a strong following among collectors and enthusiasts.
Dodge Charger
"when you have a swap kit for a 2026 Dodge Charger. That's hilarious."
The Dodge Charger is a big car that can go really fast and has a tough look. It's popular with families who want a lot of space but also like the thrill of driving a powerful car.
The Dodge Charger is a full-size sedan that has roots in muscle car history, known for its powerful engine options and aggressive styling. It has gained popularity for its performance and spacious interior, making it a versatile choice for both families and car enthusiasts.
performance hybrid
"But it's a performance hybrid. So it's got a small battery pack and it adds 150 horsepower."
A performance hybrid is a car that uses both a gas engine and an electric motor to make it faster and more efficient. It helps the car go quicker while also saving on fuel.
A performance hybrid is a type of vehicle that combines a traditional internal combustion engine with an electric motor and battery system to enhance performance, efficiency, and driving dynamics. This setup allows for improved acceleration and power while still benefiting from fuel savings and reduced emissions.
naturally aspirated
"...660 horsepower naturally aspirated Z06. This guy's the limit..."
A naturally aspirated engine gets air from the atmosphere without any extra help from devices like turbochargers. This can make the engine feel different when you drive it.
Naturally aspirated refers to an engine that relies on atmospheric pressure alone to draw air into the combustion chamber, without the use of a turbocharger or supercharger. This can affect the engine's power delivery and responsiveness.
Jaguar Mark I
"but he hears you. Mark, I appreciate it. Thank you for your continued"
The Jaguar Mark I is a fancy old car from the 1950s that looks really nice and drives smoothly. It's a classic that many car lovers appreciate for its beauty and history.
The Jaguar Mark I is a luxury sedan produced in the 1950s, known for its elegant design and performance. It played a significant role in establishing Jaguar's reputation for quality and style in the automotive market.
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