Just a little wrapup & another review of the JWT flywheel & clutch. After reading sooooo many posts over the past week on lightweight flywheels, I'm going to try to address the concerns I had before doing it.

First of all, I really had a hard decision between the Tilton "Full Street" & the JWT. I swear I went back & forth 10 times on the shopping cart with Performance Nissan - ha! Due to the fact that I drive my Z daily & I don't track it I went with the JWT. I talked to several Tilton owners (thru PM's) & several JWT owners (PM's & telephone) mainly because I had never heard either clutch in person. Every person I talked to was quite helpful & honest. Due to the noise factor I chose the JWT (wasn't really too worried about the "difficulty of driving" - done it too long with many h/d clutches in the past 20+ years).

I had the install done at CrawfordZ in Nashville (like to get down there every few months to visit with the guys) - took like 4-5 hours for the install. After the install was completed, the first thing I wanted to hear was the notorious "cement-truck" sound at idle with the clutch out. Standing in the shop with the car running, I actually heard nothing - I was freakin' out - "Are you sure you didn't put the oem flywheel back in?" - ha! Sounded pretty good. I then went for the first drive. As I took off I immediately noticed 2 things: 1) the clutch pedal was easier to push than before 2) the release point of the pedal moved from about halfway up to about 2 inches from the floor. The release point (as I was told) usually is close to the floor when the new JWT clutch goes in & as it breaks in it will rise a bit - I remember this happening in the past on cars I owned with a new clutch. There is an adjustment at the clutch pedal to move the release point, but I'm keeping it where it is and letting the thing break-in before any adjustments (already after the 225 mile drive home, the release pint has increased another 1/2" or so).

As for the faster revving with the flywheel - it's there all right....revs up to 6k & back to idle about 50% faster than stock - good for me! The clutch is really rather easy to get used to - it definitely grabs quicker and has a shorter "sweet spot" of engagement than the oem clutch, but it is no problem to slip the thing if you want or just release, hit the gas & go!! Was quite fun - I could feel the hp get to the rear wheels quicker from start to 5k - seemed to get there faster with more torque down low & haven't stalled in once. Shifting from 1st to 2nd & 2nd to 3rd seemed much smoother & you could really feel the clutch grab as you shifted & released .

I then wanted to hear the "cement-truck." After the engine warmed up, I slowed to about 2k rpm's in 1st and gave it gas. I had the windows down and was driving next to a tall building. Finally heard it - the first thing I thought was "What the heck - is this what all the noise concern was over??" It was there, but to me it was no big deal - not overpowering, not embarassing, not LOUD. I'm not discounting the fact that the sound of the JWT flywheel may vary from z to z, but on mine, it was a non-factor. It was the same sitting at idle (bumped it to 850 rpm) - light sound with clutch out in neutral....sound gone as clutch pedal was pushed in. As I start in 1st, the noise is there from 1k - 2k, but I go pretty quick from 1k to 2k so it lasts about 2 seconds - ha! I am so very pleased with the results - faster revving, great acceleration, quick rev-matching on downshifts & minimal noise.

Sorry for the long post, but just wanted to try to help a fellow Z'er who may be going thru what I did in trying to decide the trials & tribulations of this type of purchase & ease their "fear of the unknown." Hope it helps........

Thanks to CrawfordZ for the great install & to Performance Nissan on the great price!!

 

my jwt combo engages in the first fraction of an inch of clutch pedal travel. There is no play at all, but the nissan tech said he had it at the end of adjustment, and out of the several he has done, mine was the only one like that. Later they did another that was the same way. I'm used to it now, and actually like it better.

 

Actually, after getting used to it for a day, I like where the engage point is at as well. I'm sure you saw it, but there's a post on this section of the forum entitled "clutch engage point moved" that shows where the adjustment is in case you want to check out what your tech said.

BTW, as soon as I need some powercoating done on something, they'll be coming to ya - ha! Your work looks great from the posts I've seen. Now to just find that affordable set of used Brembos to send to you for a little red action.........

 

The cement mixer sound is over-rated. I hear it when in 2nd gear at like 2k or so rpms. Its not that bad but who drives that slow anyway. It holds the power good too. Very happy with it. The only thing i notice now is like a springy feel to the clutch pedal when I depress it. JWT should sell a package. Popcharger, clutch, flywheel and cams for a discount since most of us like all their products.

 

Yeah...a package deal would be sweet. Gonna go with the JWT cams this spring after the 3.9 drive gear next week.

 

Great review! I'm looking foward to mine even more now. SHould be here any day now. I also want to do the cams as well. PLease let us know how u like the the cams with the 3.9 drive gear.

 

nice write-up. Thanks!

 

thanks, you help me decide on my next mod!

 

Any thoughts on leaving the stock clutch in with the JWT flywheel???

I have the JWT flywheel sitting at home, and I can't decide if I should bother with the clutch or not.

A lot of people say "Might as well do it while you're in there...." but is that the only reason?

 

I heard that they work Ok but if you plan on putting more power down you'll end up replacing the clutch anyways so you can save yourself some time.

 

What about the stock flywheel with the JWT clutch?

 

I guess the only way I would decide on that would be this. For the price you'd pay for the clutch replacement you'd only be paying for the flywheel and not the labor. So why not spend a couple hundred more and make a real difference.

 

We're very glad it all worked out well for ya.

If this has been covered before I appologize (I actually know at one point, but my memory fading by the days) ...

What's the mass of the JWT Flywheel + Clutch??? and the stock?



Cheers,

 

JWT flywheel / clutch: 14 lbs. / 19 lbs. = 33 lbs.
Stock flywheel / clutch: 28 lbs. / 19lbs.= 47 lbs
Nismo flywheel / clutch: 21 lbs. / 16 lbs.=37 lbs.

Some folks have gone with the JWT flywheel & the Nismo clutch for greatest weight loss between the above setups. Of course, there's the Tilton....a hair over 16 lbs. TOTAL!!!

 

now im gonna definately need to check out your car ZCRUZN

 

Yeah - let's hook up after I get back from the 3.9 gear install in Cincy - should be back late Thur. afternoon. Just give me a shout - I'll be out cruzn around Friday.

 

yea definately, drive safe man, this weather blows. Ill get a hold of you thursday tho. take it easy

 

From my gathering of info:

JWT SETUP:
-Noise at IDLE (unless clutch is depressed)
-Noise below ~2500rpm (louder in higher gears)

UR FLYWHEEL:
-QUIET at IDLE (with and without clutch depressed)
-Noise below ~2500rpm (louder in higher gears)

Anyone else know of any other differences between these?
I'm not sure if the JWT can use the stock clutch...

Right now, i'm leaning more towards the UR flywheel/Nismo Clutch setup. Still haven't made a final decision yet...

 

Well out of the 8 or so JWT setups I have heard (including mine) Half have been "noisy" and half "not bad". ZCRUZN has about the quietest one I have heard while mine is about the noisiest. My car was extremely noisy stock and the flywheel did not make it much worse. When I say mine is noisy it still does not compare to the noise that the Tilton makes.

JWT uses stock clutch.

 

nice glad you like it!



I recomend the JWT Flywheel with NISMO Clutch for best streetable performance if you do not want to go for the TILTON Full Street setup...



By the way... A light weight flywheel will be noisy in one car an not another... You cant really go by how it is in one car... My car has its days... some days its loud... some days its quiet...