Well I am still on my stock clutch, and am running a 3.33" pulley on my V1 SC. Actually my clutch is less then OEM, it's a $120 dynomaxx clutch and its the thinnest thing you've ever seen. I'm waiting for it to die but it refuses to. The only problem I have is it's amazingly weak.

Here's the sad thing: I can't even chirp SECOND gear. With an estimated 310+ crank HP, I can't even get a squeek into second 99% of the time. I know it's not my car becuase the power is definatally there. For instance, when I drop it into second at 40mph, the car absolutely hauls. I almost lost control once becuase I wasn't holding on with both hands. it's just that I never, ever break my tires loose! The only time I do is when I floor it in first...i'll get SOME wheel hop but mainly the RPMs just shoot up to redline in literally a second. Will an ACT clutch change everything? What about flooring it in gear? Will it give me that extra tug and "throw back in seat" feeling that my stock clutch isn't giving me? Whenever I do, it's usually pretty soft and I can tell its my wussy clutch not able to hold that power. What really got me is my friend with a '95 Impala SS (ram air intake, flowmasters exhaust) spun his tires a little flooring it from 30mph. Even though he has 340+lb-ft of torque, it's still in a 3800+lb. car. It's amazing how a car soo much slower then mine can still feel about as fast.

Summary of the things I am hoping for when I purchase an ACT: Chirping when shifting gears, chirping or spinning the tires while dropping into a lower gear, getting a harder tug when flooring it in gear, and alot more strength in first gear. (which would result in more spinnage)

 

Yes for all of the above, but dont abuse it. Take heed to all the tranny warnings in previous clutch/tranny posts.

 

I am very happy to hear that! I now have 18x8.5's that weigh 24lbs. each going on very soon. You still think i'll be able to do all that with the heavier rims? (vs. my current 17x8's, 20lbs. each)

I've read those posts. We all know Eric abused his tranny, BriGuy ran a big shot of NOS (if that even matters), and I can't remember anyone else. But the vast majority of people are OK. Take SprintMax for example. He ran a huge shot of NOS and is now turbo'ed and as far as I know is on his original tranny. He beats the **** out of his car too.

 

same goes for thomas... big ole shot(dpi) and now running some nice numbers with the turbo, his tranny is doing great.

 

 

Noob here but I've heard someone else saying the same thing and one of the things they tried was stiffer springs, the ride quality definitely changed but they got that chirp that they were looking for.

 

I have been dropped on B&G's for like a year.

 

I have a ACT clutch installed and I can chirp third gear, and I don't even have a y-pipe. From the things that you are describing, it sounds like your clutch is slipping. The ACT should take care of your concerns.

 

my act with 35lb + wheels would chirp second like it was going out of style. with my 15" rims i chirp 4th all day long.

 

It's probably your driving. I can break my tires loose going into second on my stock 100k mile clutch. And with the 0 degree weather we have had in chicago lately I evern chirped 3 the other day. I also have 23lb wheels.
Only performace mods are intake and Y-pipe.

Or maybe your clutch is really tha weak??????

 

I can still chirp 2nd pretty easily on my 92K OEM heavily abused clutch and 17s. My my 15s and sticky tires, I can spin the tires from a roll in 1st and light-em up in 2nd. It sounds like your clutch is slipping an bit and doesn't have the necessary clamping force. BTW, ALL 4th gen Maxima clutches are the same diameter.

As for the SS, he doesn't have 340ft/lbs at the rear wheels with those mods. My 94 Z28 had a lot mods than this Impala SS and my Z28 had the same tranny and nearly the same gearing. On the dyno I made 305rwtq. With the lower output of the iron block/iron head lower compression LT1 in the SS, this guy is lucky to be getting 280rwtq. Low end torque is VERY misleading. Torque gives you that snap in your neck when the gas to pushed. HP is what ultimately wins. You're car doesn't make remotely near as much peak torque, but your TQ should last far longer. The torque of the LT1 hits like 20lb sledge, but quickly dies off around 4800rpms. The Maxima's torque, especially one with a SC, will last to ~5300rpms before starting to tail off. From 0-40, the SS would probably get the jump on you, but after that you'd walk him easily. His ability to spin the tires at 30mph is meaningless. His 1st gear lasts till about 48mph therefore his car will grab 1st at WOT as long as he's below 35mph. He can manually grab at any time between 1mph and 42mph. I could grab 1st in the Z28 at 40mph and blow the tires off and drift a bit.


Dave

 

Thanks for all the posts guys. It's re-assuring to hear that you all can do what you do under your circumstances, especially you CKNY with your heavy @ss 18's. With the power i'm making I should be able to have some fun.

i30mike, I doubt it's my driving. I still can shift into second where the power is meaty and where the SC really begans to take off. (at least 4 grand) There is no excuse for one not to break his tires loose much less chirp. Even Chaz, the guy who did my 5spd swap, said my clutch is weaker then OEM. He could break his tires loose on his stock '95 SE 5spd and get a commanding chirp into second.

Dave, when I said 340+tq I was talking to the crank. But your absolutely right about torque being misleading. I kinda wish we had that neck snapping torque, b/c it's soo much fun. Then again it would probubly be a deadly combo w/ FWD. On the highway my car absolutely owns his. It's amazing how much weaker his car gets. With an ACT, even a simple downshift into second @ 30mph should be an experience.

313hp in a 3000lb. 5spd car vs. 280ish in a 3800+lb. 4spd auto car shouldn't be even remotely close, even though his car hauls from a stop.

 

I've raced a few Impala SS's at the track and I've never had much problem with them off the line. As long as I can come off the line around 3500rpm, they're in my rearview. The difference between my launch and the SS launch is that theirs is so much smoother. It just squats and goes. Mine scampers and sounds pretty violent. The Impala SS is still one of my favorites. An intake, cam, headers, full exhaust, ECU tweak, and a 3.73 will really open up the car. Those mods will get you fairly consistent low 14s and possibly a 13.


Dave

 

I had 105k on my stock clutch. It was worn pretty well. I could be at a stop sign and let the clutch out normally w/o gas and it will chug along...in any other car, it *should* stall. That should give you an idea how worn my clutch was.

however...I've street raced several times w/the worn clutch and have chirped 2nd easily. I think the stock pressure plate's pretty good.

Now with my ACT, I haven't abused it yet as I've only driven 600mi and want to break in for 1000k (still got some chatter). But I've been @ a stop sign and forgot I was still in gear...let the clutch out and the **** jumped!!!! I was jerking (worn mounts) but the car was moving. This tells me 2 things: clutch is grippy and pressure plate's very very stiff. ACT street claims 35% more clamping over stock units.

Be careful with ACT and 3rd gear. If you do a search, you'll find that many people have shattered 3rd gear w/NOS and sc. I think Dave was the one who put up a poll? Or was it someone else?

 

I chirped in my automagic in 2nd gear stock but thats not a good thing, it felt like my transmission was going to fall from underneath me.

 

If you were able to leave a stop without adding gas, your clutch was still in decent shape. Any Maxima should be able to leave a stop without adding gas because the available low end torque is able to move the car. In a Honda or some other small displacement motor, you do have to add gas because they have zlich torque at idle. The ACT is much harder to modulate there it will buck and grab unlike the stock clutch.


Dave

 

yes you are right no torque in a Honda so yes you have to give it some gas or you will stall.

 

Dave,

My friend has a k&n ram air intake (hybrid), and flowmasters rear sections with dual 2.5" pipes from the headers. He says he makes 300hp. How much is he really making? (crank)

 

Tell your friend "crank power" is CRAP power It's what makes it to the ground that counts. An Impala SS with those two mods should be putting down ~230-235rwhp. A good running stock Impala will put down about 220rwhp. The SS with it's 4L60E tranny and other accessories has about 85% efficency so your friend might have 275hp.


Dave