mylilpwny Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I just bought a 280zx 1980 looks good runs good and is slow! I am going to do some upgrades but I need to get a clutch and bad! Any ideas for a nice race clutch! Sorry for the dumb question I don't know much about cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m4xwellmurd3r Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 for a stock car, and even a mild performance car, the stock nissan clutch is VERY GOOD. you should use the search function, it's been talked about a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJLamberson Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Ive read that a stage 2 clutch feels like stock to your left foot but grips way better then stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mylilpwny Posted September 23, 2008 Author Share Posted September 23, 2008 Yeah not sure I did hear that the Exedy clutch kit stage 1 is a good clutch..? any idea on that ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woldson Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Stock clutch is just fine. What are your hp goals, and search just a bit, on the 2plus2 has a bigger clutch, get that and oem clutch for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 Please use descriptive titles. People won't know what "clutch!" is about when they're searching the archives. There's been quite a bit of talk about aftermarket clutches here. You might try searching yourself... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zmanco Posted September 23, 2008 Share Posted September 23, 2008 I recently installed a centerforce II clutch/disc in my NA L28 and with the exception of 1 big issue, have been very happy with it. The good: - no issues with grip, although given I'm NA I'm not surprised with that. - the engagement is very smooth, as good as any stock clutch I've ever driven. - the effort is no different than a stock clutch The not so good: - engagement begins pretty close to the bottom of the pedal movement. In other words, the clutch pedal needs to be completely depressed for it to fully disengage. The bad: - there are vibrations that come and go at various RPMs that I am guessing are due to the weights moving around on the fingers of the pressure plate. So far I've not seen anyone else with the vibration issue and will probably be pulling the tranny over the winter to rebuild a syncro so will check it further then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver280zx Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 I recently installed a centerforce II clutch/disc in my NA L28 and with the exception of 1 big issue, have been very happy with it. The good: - no issues with grip, although given I'm NA I'm not surprised with that. - the engagement is very smooth, as good as any stock clutch I've ever driven. - the effort is no different than a stock clutch The not so good: - engagement begins pretty close to the bottom of the pedal movement. In other words, the clutch pedal needs to be completely depressed for it to fully disengage. The bad: - there are vibrations that come and go at various RPMs that I am guessing are due to the weights moving around on the fingers of the pressure plate. So far I've not seen anyone else with the vibration issue and will probably be pulling the tranny over the winter to rebuild a syncro so will check it further then. I did the same clutch, accept i didnt have the problem with it disengageing right on the floor. Its a great clutch, but make sure you take it to a machine shop and have it balanced before you put it on, those pressure plates arent balenced well out of the box. Mine used to have the vibration issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zmanco Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Update: the clutch engagement is now normal and NOT near the bottom of the pedal travel. Also, the vibration issue seems to have mostly gone away with only a mild vibration around 4k left. Silver280zx: how would a machine shop balance the clutch cover since the weights are rather free to move around? It seems like the balance would change constantly - that's what I was experiencing for the first thousand miles are so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver280zx Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 Update: the clutch engagement is now normal and NOT near the bottom of the pedal travel. Also, the vibration issue seems to have mostly gone away with only a mild vibration around 4k left. Silver280zx: how would a machine shop balance the clutch cover since the weights are rather free to move around? It seems like the balance would change constantly - that's what I was experiencing for the first thousand miles are so. they take the center weights off, and balance it, then put them back on. Mine was so out of balance that it wouls ling the wieghts to one side and it sounded awful, its all better now. But i guess it was more out of balance than the wieghts could fix., but they added and took away metal from areas of the plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David K Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 I think Centerforce clutches are horrible. Also, when you guys say "stage" this and "stage" that, what are you basing the stages off? What company are you reffering to when you mention "stage"? Ive run several models of centerforce clutches on the street and on the track, and ive always ended up getting rid of it and reinstalling this one old Nissan OEM clutch ive had for 5+ years. Even old as hell, the Nissan OEM clutch never let me down. Its been run on the track and street ever since it was new. Centerforce and their weight technology isnt worth anything to me. Money spent on a Centerforce setup, is better spent at a local friction material shop on a custom clutch, or save yourself $100's and just go to your Nissan dealer. IMO, the original poster has no reason whatsoever to run a Centerforce clutch. He just "bought a 280zx 1980" and wants a "race clutch"? Anyone needing a race clutch, would have enough experience to figure that out on their own, and wouldnt be posting asking about "race clutch" on a car he just bought. Just like Tony D, i digress..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zmanco Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 A few things: David K, I didn't refer to their clutch using the term "stage". According to Centerforce's literature, the model I have is a Centerforce II. I agree that for the most part, a NA engine can run with a stock clutch. I've done that for 5 years now. However, as I've improved my power output, I've found that as soon as I get some heat buildup in the clutch I get slippage on the 1-2 and 2-3 upshifts. Of course, once it begins to slip at all the extra heat only makes the problem worse and the only answer is to park it or back off on the shifts. Given I like to participate in HPDEs, I figured I should look at a clutch that would have a little extra torque capacity, especially at higher revs. That's how I landed up with the CF II. For a stock NA L28 (or L24 or L26 for that matter) I completely agree that the stock clutch should be good for a street driven vehicle. As I don't know the OP's plans for the car, I was just letting him know the pros/cons I had experienced with the CF II. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zmanco Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 they take the center weights off, and balance it, then put them back on. Mine was so out of balance that it wouls ling the wieghts to one side and it sounded awful, its all better now. But i guess it was more out of balance than the wieghts could fix., but they added and took away metal from areas of the plate. Did you bring the flywheel in as well? I'm wondering how the machinist attached the clutch cover to the machine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsaprothing Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 silver280zx, where did you buy your centerforce II kit? got a link? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m1ghtymaxXx Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 While on the topic, does anybody have an idea what kind of torque a stock clutch can handle. BTW it's a 2+2 with the 240mm friction surface. I will be doing and l28et swap shortly, and was wondering how long I can get away with the stock clutch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver280zx Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 Did you bring the flywheel in as well? I'm wondering how the machinist attached the clutch cover to the machine? ya i did, he checked the flywheel first and said it was fine, its a fidanza aluminum flywheel, then he put the pressure plate on the fly wheel and balanced that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver280zx Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 silver280zx, where did you buy your centerforce II kit? got a link? I cant remember where i bought it, I want to say i bought it from Centerforce directly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zmanco Posted November 6, 2008 Share Posted November 6, 2008 FWIW, last summer I bought mine from amazon.com. Hint: find the specific part number of the CF kit you want and then google it. That's how I found Amazon with the lowest price. Otherwise I would never have looked there for car parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woldson Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 While on the topic, does anybody have an idea what kind of torque a stock clutch can handle. BTW it's a 2+2 with the 240mm friction surface. I will be doing and l28et swap shortly, and was wondering how long I can get away with the stock clutch. As long as you are looking at stock numbers, 200k plus miles. Abuseing it correctly ALOT, 80k. That is the same clutch size that comes with the turbo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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