At least initial comments.

The ACT clutch is a manly clutch. Clutch effort is increased, but not bad, but man, the thing engages like immediately. Very little room to slip. Also, now my clutch engages almost immediately off the floorboard...it used to take ~2/3 travel back off the floorboard to engage...now it engages right off the bat and is fully engaged almost immediately. Engagement is quite smooth, though...no juddering to speak of...but I definitely need to get used to it. Anybody looking to upgrade their clutch for the track should definitely consider this one. Torque capacity is ~360 ftlbs.

As it turns out, I think I'm glad I didn't get the lightweight flywheel put in. I'd be stalling the car left and right. Probably a better combination with the LW flywheel would be a stock clutch (maybe a better disk but the stock pressure plate). I think any upgraded clutch will take some delicate action to engage well.

I haven't really had a chance to test out the limited slip diff yet. The streets were a little damp last night in places, and every launch (fairly aggressive launches) failed to yield any sort of tire slip or sideways movement that I used to get. The car used to get a little squirrelly with side-to-side movement when launching hard. Still, I haven't had enough time with the car to detect major differences.

The main thing I notice is that the car doesn't feel like the engine is overpowering the tires like before. It doesn't feel like I need to be easy on the gas when pulling away from a stop like before...feels like I can definitely apply more throttle off the line to launch...good thing.

Oh yeah, the car almost didn't start yesterday at the shop, and was totally dead this morning. I had a feeling before the tranny died that the battery was going (dimming headlights when idle rpms dropped, etc), now it's confirmed.

--->>>QUESTION FOR ANYBODY:
Anybody know what cold cranking amp rating we need from our batteries? I'm going to check with the performance shops around town to see if I can get something like an Optima red top.

Oh yeah, compared to the Metro I had been (well, am today too) driving, the Maxima has:
- Very stiff shifter, combination of the short shift kit and the (probably oxidized and otherwise a little cruddy) insides of the new (used) tranny
- Stiffer clutch pedal -not tons stiffer, but stiffer
- Clutch engagement *right now!*
- Way too overassisted steering
- Fast as bloody hell -I get to 60 by the time the Metro gets to about 30
- Very quiet but with a nice aggressive gutteral intake sound -I never realized how good my modified Maxima sounds

 

Wow, if I didn't know better, I'd say it sounded like you were actually starting to like your Maxima again.

 

If it's any consolation, it still looks like crap.

 

Yeah, might as well get rid of the piece of junk.

 

I was thinking about doing this also, but I think I'm going to buy a CBR 600 F4i instead =)

Once I put my body kit on, and possibly get a clutch I think I'm going to leave the max alone.

I was thinking about putting my self on the list to get the new M3, but the BMW dealer here said they aren't putting any more names on the list.. The line is tooooo long.. Damnit!!!! =(

 

I wouldn't have done the tranny swap if my old tranny hadn't gone south. It just isn't worth the cost in my opinion. But I was lucky enough to have my old one break (uh yeah lucky).

If you're seriously going to do a clutch job any time soon, and are interested, I have a (used) Mueller aluminum flywheel for sale. I almost sold it but that fell through. Let me know if you're interested.

I'm still thinking of selling my car in a year or so. Most likely get a truck, but I'm also pretty set on getting a ~95 240SX as a project car...SR20DET. I want something that I can mess with and not have to worry about driving to work the next day, ya know?

 

I've got the optima red top in the maxima. It's a great battery and have not had any problems. I picked it up from batteries plus on Burnet Rd. I recently got the Excide Orbital, same technology as the Optima, for my 300ZX from Pepboys. It seems to be ok also.

 

Perfect! Exactly what I needed to know. Thanks, I'll check Batteries Plus this afternoon!

 

A tuck?!?! Dude!!!!!! Why?! hehe..

240SX sounds like fun though. I wish I had enough space in my garage for 2 cars! =)

I don't think I'm gonna do a clutch for a while. Probably never. Once it gets warm and I get a CBR I probably won't drive my car too much =)

I kind of want a 200SX SE-R or 240SX so I can have a play car also :\

 

Keven. The lightened flywheel probably would not affect things too much. Even at 9-10 lbs, as long as your clutch was a stage I, you would get used to it pretty fast. Also the pedal travel should increase slightly as the clutch breaks in. Give it a few weeks. Glad the swap went smoothly!

 

Thanks. I'm trying to justify to myself the reason for not doing the LW flywheel...don't ruin it for me

Yeah, the shop turned out to be a pretty decent one. The total bill was $550ish, but that includes $40 for resurfacing the flywheel (which sounds a bit high, but oh well), $180 for a new driver's side halfshaft, and $25 for seals/oil/etc. The cost of removing and reinstalling the trannies was only $300. Pretty reasonable, in my opinion.

 

in the shop all week? I thought I saw your car Last Thrusday night near 6th st. white with Chrome rims? Ohh and as rodelb said batteries plus carries the Optima batteries. If Hey Peel, you still have that bodykit in the box, man you need to put that thing on, We all need to get together once it gets warm at circuit city, I wanna run. )

 

lol. Yeah. I've had it for the past few months. Almost half a year =)

I just don't know where to take it to get it put on. I don't want somebody to do a crapy job with it.

Have you been going up there [Circuit City] on the weekends?

I haven't been going recently, but I do every once in a while.. My friend keeps swearing he see's Maxima's up there, but I just blow him off because he just wants to get me hyped up so I will go there with him.

 

$300 for the r&r is really good. Looks like everything turned out really well =)

 

me to just look at the same cars every week, but I stop by every once in a while. Are you going to the meet in Dallas?
email me at work peel I know you have the addr. if not my last name is alvarez, that should be enough of a hint. )