Clutch Upgrade Hunt
- Thread starter Preloader
- Start date
Swordsmith
242hp/252 ft-lbs BNR EFI
Engine is back in place, subframe back in place, just a few more hours of tidying up till it's done. Dropping by the shop often as I can to grab quick pics and discuss what's being done, but I don't have time to put together a writeup just now.
They figure they'll have 16 hours into the swap when all is said and done, but that it would really have been about an 11 hour book, which is what they're going to charge me on. They also estimate that a dedicated tranny shop, where they'd have all the perfect equipment and so forth, would probably be able to bring it in at around 8 hours... but would still be charging on an 11 hour book.
I figure if I'd done the job in my back yard, I'd be looking at roughly 60 hours, and about a grand in gear... so bargain. Your technical expertise and current garage equipment level may vary.
They figure they'll have 16 hours into the swap when all is said and done, but that it would really have been about an 11 hour book, which is what they're going to charge me on. They also estimate that a dedicated tranny shop, where they'd have all the perfect equipment and so forth, would probably be able to bring it in at around 8 hours... but would still be charging on an 11 hour book.
I figure if I'd done the job in my back yard, I'd be looking at roughly 60 hours, and about a grand in gear... so bargain. Your technical expertise and current garage equipment level may vary.
sx sonic
New member
Awesome! Looking forward to seeing your pics and writeup.
Can you find out what specialty equipment is required for the swap? I will probably do the install myself as I've got most the tools myself, but then again with work and school I might not have time :/ and then whatever special equipments required.
At 11hr book time an improved flywheel to go with the clutch is sounding really really apealing
-tyler
Can you find out what specialty equipment is required for the swap? I will probably do the install myself as I've got most the tools myself, but then again with work and school I might not have time :/ and then whatever special equipments required.
At 11hr book time an improved flywheel to go with the clutch is sounding really really apealing
-tyler
alteredego
New member
What? No LSD at the same time?
Waste of labor.
- Drew
Waste of labor.
- Drew
laborsmith
New member
The LSD install would be a piece of cake compared to the clutch/flywheel. Trav has in another thread discussed how much easier it would be.
My memory is once the Sonic is up, you remove the differential housing, remove/replace the diff with the LSD of choice, install the housing, and let the car down.
Laborsmith
My memory is once the Sonic is up, you remove the differential housing, remove/replace the diff with the LSD of choice, install the housing, and let the car down.
Laborsmith
Swordsmith
242hp/252 ft-lbs BNR EFI
Sonic was sitting in my driveway when I got back from picking up my number one passenger. Nice and smooth, not at all jerky as I was warned it might be. There's some distinctive chatter sound, but that was expected, and it seems to be a success.
BUT there's a 500 mile break in period advised before pushing it hard, and that's 500 miles of "normal stop and go traffic" driving, not 500 miles on some round trip internet drive. So I guess it will be a few days before I can really go WOT on the thing.
Hopefully I can get around to sorting through pictures and posting a writeup in the next day or two, I'd much rather be doing that than dealing with the health care system.
BUT there's a 500 mile break in period advised before pushing it hard, and that's 500 miles of "normal stop and go traffic" driving, not 500 miles on some round trip internet drive. So I guess it will be a few days before I can really go WOT on the thing.
Hopefully I can get around to sorting through pictures and posting a writeup in the next day or two, I'd much rather be doing that than dealing with the health care system.
Swordsmith
242hp/252 ft-lbs BNR EFI
500 miles would be easy, just last weekend I put over 3K miles on... but most of that was interstates, not the sort of driving required here. I'll get it done though, while I'm eager to see how it feels at full throttle, and even more eager to get Red Pill, I'm also aware of my awesome responsibility to prosperity here... I can't go cheating on the break in and then give any sort of report about how the clutch performs. With great power comes great potential to burn up a clutch, is that how it goes?
Eric Smit
Enforcer
it seemed like 11 was too much, but I've never done a Sonic clutch.
Swordsmith- Irrelevant to how much labor was charged for the clutch, I don't think I can possibly express how interested I am in a dyno. While I know you are super busy driving swords across the country, I am very eager for January to roll around.
-Eric Smit
Preloader
The M32 Martyr
With higher performance comes quicker wear, maybe a bit more accurate.
Particularly when it comes to friction related parts like clutches, brakes and tires.
How does the clutch pedal feel? Does it engage closer to the floor?
Also, if one wanted to get the lighter flywheel, who should we talk to at clutchmasters?
I think I may go with TTR's 3rd stage clutch and CM's flywheel. Then between us two, we can provide a comparison review.
Particularly when it comes to friction related parts like clutches, brakes and tires.
How does the clutch pedal feel? Does it engage closer to the floor?
Also, if one wanted to get the lighter flywheel, who should we talk to at clutchmasters?
I think I may go with TTR's 3rd stage clutch and CM's flywheel. Then between us two, we can provide a comparison review.
Swordsmith
242hp/252 ft-lbs BNR EFI
The clutch engages a little close to the floor, but very smooth; I was warned it might be jerky and hard to learn to handle, but it's really not, an improvement if anything over the original. I've done 200 miles thus far, no problems to report, so I suspect that the sizing Clutchmasters was worried about was really fine. There is some of the "chatter" I was warned about, not so much in actual shifting, but when the engine is lugging a bit due to short shifting and then trying to use some power; things I normally do when trying to be conservative. I have not pushed it hard, though, and won't till I get past this 500 mile wear in period, so this isn't a complete report by any means.
Chatter, I'm told, is happening because there's a dampening plate on the OEM clutch, but no such plate on this performance version.
Chatter, I'm told, is happening because there's a dampening plate on the OEM clutch, but no such plate on this performance version.
ss2000slp
New member
Even with a hydraulic master and slave assembly there is possibility of adjustment. I put a new master into a Trans Am a week or so ago. I want to say it was made by Tick performance. Awesome upgrade for the car! Much beefier than the stock unit and has an adjustable turnbuckle to change pedal height. You actually remove the clutch return spring when installing this, and it is one of the best clutch "feel" i've ever encountered, even on a stock ls1 setup. This would be a fantastic upgrade for the sonic, just need someone to make it lol.
