writer: Sean P. Holman
photographer: Sean P. Holman
Project RangeRunner recently benefited greatly from an Explorer Express supercharger install, upping the power more than 60 percent over headers and exhaust to 225 hp and 257 lb-ft of torque at the wheels. With this newfound power and a heavier wheel-and-tire package, we were noticing some slippage with the stock clutch, especially on the trail when we needed to climb obstacles. It was time to upgrade, so we turned to the experts at Centerforce-a longtime industry leader in clutches-for help with our Ranger.
1. First, the truck is secured on the hoist and the transmission is removed.
The folks at Centerforce invited us out to their facility in Prescott, Arizona, and graciously offered to install a new Centerforce Dual Friction performance clutch in our Ranger. The Centerforce Dual Friction clutch offers super street characteristics, while significantly improving holding capacity and durability over stock. They do this by offering the DF clutch disc with a full-facing proprietary compound on the pressure-plate side and segmented composite facing on the flywheel side, providing the desired result of higher holding capacity, while still offering stocklike pedal effort.
Thanks to the new clutch setup, Project RangeRunner has the ability to crawl over obstacles without the clutch slipping under load. It also fires off smoother shifts under wide-open throttle with the supercharger at full wail. Follow along for an overview of our installation.
2. With the transmission removed, the factory clutch assembly is exposed. | 
3. Our flywheel surface was worn unevenly and showed telltale signs of overheating. | 
4. The stock pressure plate also showed signs of overheating. |
5. Before resurfacing the stock flywheel, we made sure it was clean and free of any debris. | 
6. After resurfacing, our flywheel was as good as new and ready to be installed. | 
7. On the right is the chewed-up stock clutch disc; on the left is the new Centerforce Dual Friction disc with its segmented facing visible. |
8. The Mazda/Ford M50D/R1HD manual transmission is notorious for slave cylinders going bad. Since these are internally mounted, it is always recommended to replace them with the clutch. | 
9. With the bellhousing gutted and cleaned, it was ready to accept the new clutch slave cylinder. | 
10. On the engine side, the newly resurfaced flywheel was installed. |
11. Next, the new DF clutch disc was put into place. | 
12. The last piece of the clutch assembly to be installed was the pressure plate. | 
13. With the transmission lifted into place, the RangeRunner was ready to go blast down the trail again. |