6-spring or 4-spring clutch?

[TimW]

Last year I slapped a used 6-spring clutch into my stock 2.0L, daily driver, non-track, teen’r just for kicks; I wanted to see how it drove. A year later it’s still working fine: it’s smooth, it doesn’t slip, there’s no chatter, etc. But, I think my flywheel seal is leaking oil, and faced with the prospect of tearing passed the clutch to fix the leak, it’s a good time to revisit the clutch issue.

I have a pretty new 4-spring clutch from another motor that I could use, but I’m wondering if I’m going to be disappointed if I use it vs. going with a new 6-spring clutch. What differences might I expect to see using the 4-spring vs. the 6-spring? Or to ask it another way, define the “better feel” of a 6-spring. TIA.

[Joe Ricard]

I put the 6 spring in when doing my rebuild. I really don't see any difference. Holding power is the same as friction surfaces material and area are the same.
If you get the leak before oil gets to the clutch you can reuse it.

[HMeeder]

I put in a 6 spring clutch after my crapped out 4 spring unit did its handgrenade impression. Since the old unit was in such poor shape I can't say if the new one would feel any better but my impression of the 6 spring was nearly identical to that of the 4 spring unit.

My $.02? Since you aren't going to track the car, put in the nearly new 4 spring clutch. I'm willing to bet that you can't tell enough of a difference for it to matter. At least you'll be back on the road and can apply the $120 or so to some other worthy project on the car.

[Otto]

We have been installing the six spring 911 disc in 914s for 25 years. There is no difference between the four spring disc and the six spring disc except that the six spring clutch engages smoother. OTTO