Hi, gang! Been pretty busy so haven't done much with my Z recently.

One thing I have been putting off for a long time is a Clutch & Flywheel upgrade. Well, all of a sudden I'm almost at 30K miles and still running stock clutch & flywheel on my Vortech SCed Z!

I've already got an idea of what I will be buying, but wanted to get some input from those who have already made the change. What combo do you recommend?

Here's my criteria

• Budget: Despite what people think when they see my car, I'm not made of money. Need to keep the total cost of this upgrade under $2K. I'm figuring up to $1500 for parts and $500 for labor, give or take.
• Power Threshold: Though it's probably a little weaker now from wear and mileage, my car peak dyno-ed at 425rwhp and 340 rwtq. The combo should be able to handle at least that much power
• Modulation: I do not want a clutch that is "on or off"! I should still have a respectable degree of feathering to do soft launches and ease between gears if I so choose
• Noise: I don't mind a little noise from reducing weight, but I don't want it to sound like my transmission is about to fall out either. Basically, if the flywheel chatter is louder than my Vortech supercharger at idle, it is too noisy

Thanks in advance for you input.

 

hands down the ACT clutch...will be under $1k installed

 

If you want a streetable "OEM" style clutch, I like the Clutchmaster stuff. Very reasonable price points. I have the FX300 version sitting on my shelf if you are intereted. I'll make you a special local friends and family deal on it. They usually sell for $500.

But, if you intend to run more boost in the future, or wish to NEVER replace your clutch again, I would go with the ATS Carbon twin or triple clutch. It comes with a lightened matching flywheel, and the carbon discs have stock like feel and engagement. They get even stronger when they heat up...in fact, they are virtually impervious to heat.

I plan on getting one from Adam in the near future. Price is roughly $2000 and again, that includes the flywheel and clutch/pressure plate assembly. The entire thing weighs about haldf of the stock assembly.

Like all lightened flywheels, they will make some noise at idle, but probably not enough to be heard over your supercharger at idle.

Andy, I have a brochure it my house..I will bring it to the meet on Sunday.

 

No interest on the GB I set up?

 

gq...

What flywheel would you use with the Clutchmaster (one of of two clutches I was already considering). Was also looking at the Tilton setups (clutch/flywheel combos) that Performance Nissan offers. Besides ACT (suggested by Adam above), do we have other contenders?

I know it may cost me more to upgrade again if I build my motor down the road, but right now, I'm figuring to just run the power I have. I think the ATS may be overkill right now. Is that what you're running now? Does it create the atypical lightened flywheel noise at low RPM?

 

I have a Clutchmasters Stage IV, and can be slipped, but is a little more like an on and off switch compared to the Stage III that GQ is selling. The Stage III is much more streetable, makes a little chatter at idle, but not as loud as the Vortech whine. You can use the stock flywheel, but to save weight you could replace it. IMHO it is the best clutch for the money. I have run it for close to a year with a max of 450whp and 430 tq with no slipping or signs of wear.

I will be eventually upgrading to the ATS twin disc carbon disc, because it will take anything you can throw at it!

 

Hmm... the Stage III Clutchmaster is sounding good. What flywheel would you use with it? I'm thinking JWT. Would the Tilton be too light (ie... to much chatter noise)?

 

The JUN flywheel is probably the best. Its made of chrom moly. Its light and wont warp like aluminum so it stays quiter at idle.

 

tilton does not make just a flywheel for the Z...its integrated into their clutch setup on this car

I agree with the JUN recommendation. Chromoly is a fantastic material for the flywheel and it can be resurfaced down the road if need be. I've only got limited experience with the CM stuff (on one of my other cars, and was not pleased). Let me know if you need one

 

I have the Clutchmaster stage 3 on my car with the JWT flywheel. I have to say it is a excellent street setup.

I used the stage3 on my RX7TT and was very happy with it on that car as well. The only sign that is it not a stock clutch(beside the lack of slipping) is a touch of clatter if you try to creap with the clutch half in, like trying to go less than 5mph. But you can slip it alot for a hard launch and it won't glaze up like a organic material.

We had a couple of Supras with the ACT street setup and they had alot higher pedal pressure and would glaze over if you slipped them alot due to the organic material.

Gary

 

I have the Unorthodox Clutch & flywheel; running great for over 10, 000 miles. The stock clutch 'threw in the towel' less than 10,000 last winter.

G

 

can anyone quote me weights on the following...

CM Stage III Clutch
ATS Carbon Twin clutch
JUN Flywheel

As well as the cost on the JUN flywheel.

Also, what special mounting hardware do I need along with the clutch and flywheel?


edit
Also, what power is the CM Stage III rated up to?

 

I have the JWT flywheel and clutch combo.

--Steve

 

I also have the JWT heavy duty clutch and flywheel on my car for the last 7k miles and it never slipped even during abusing track events.

I run the Greedy TT kit at 7 psi and my only complain is the chatter noise, produced by the flywheel, during acceleration at low rpm's.

Kostas

 

RPS Sport Street & Cyn-R-G segmented aluminum flywheel. Same flyhweel mathew is getting but a lighter clutch.

 

ATS - 25.57 pounds
JUN Flywheel - 14.33 lbs- I dont have my pricelist with me Andy but I can PM you tomorrow with cost. We now are dealing directly with JUN Japan

adam

 

JUN and JWT are roughly the same weight...what are the benifits of each?

Andy, you can have my StageIII clutch if you want. PM me and I'll give you the price. It also comes with an alignment tool and new TO bearing..so nothing else is needed for hte installation.

 

JUN and JWT are roughly the same weight...what are the benifits of each?

Andy, you can have my StageIII clutch if you want. PM me and I'll give you the price. It also comes with an alignment tool and new TO bearing..so nothing else is needed for the installation.

 

main benefit I see is the JUN is one piece chromoly vs the 2 piece aluminum design of the JWT and others (Unorthodox, etc). Where possible, I prefer a one piece design because they inherntly leave less up to chance (ie bolts for the friction surface backing out, which can happen on 2 piece flywheels).

The single piece one can also be resurfaced; a 2 piece one needs its friction surface replaced though no idea what the intervals are there as I've never done one.

Both are sure to be quality units though.....Andy oen thing you might want to look into though is the torque curves of people with FI with similar levels of boost and see how the ones with flywheels compare to the ones with stock units look. Though it's different for every car, there is a certain torque level with every car where the lightweight unit costs you more up top than it helps down low.

 

Adam...

PM me the price on the JUN flywheel. Right now, it looks like I'm going to go with the CM FX300 (getting that from Sharif) with the JUN. I think it is a toss up between the JUN and JWT. It's nice that the JWT offers you the option to bolt up 300ZX clutches, but I like the idea of a 1-pc flywheel instead of a 2-pc.

Anyone got weight info on the CM III, or am I just going to have to put it on a scale? I've read the stock flywheel clutch is about 56lbs... just wondering how much weight I'm going to save. I know the flywheel by itself is good for about 14lbs or so.

Thanks for the input everyone! I'll post my impressions of the difference this makes on an FI car once it's in.