Technology Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 I just got the car back together this morning after installing a good '89 transmission. I also installed this ACT six-puck sprung hub disc and pressure plate. Using the alignment tool, everything was lined up well, getting the trans attached was difficult, but I only had it go in smoothly once, and that was after fiddling with it for a while. Anyway, I had to weld a nut to the bushing on the pedal so I could get more adjustment and get the engagement point off the floor. I was expecting lots of chatter along with my excessively heavy pedal. I just took out a good SPEC stage 3+ because it wouldn't hold the kind of power I wanted to make. That had a very light, stock feeling pedal, but it did chatter quite a bit. Maybe that had something to do with the sintered iron material on the disc. Other than that, it was decent clutch. After multiple engagements, starting from dead-stops, shifting slowly, etc. I have experienced zero chatter. That was a pleasing surprise. As expected, the pedal is HEAVY. But I can accept it now that I have greater adjustment and zero chatter. I can modulate the clutch just fine for smooth shifts, or if I let off fast, there is no slip at all. If I don't blip the throttle for downshifts, the car will lurch as the clutch grabs. I have about 10 or 15 miles on it now, the recommended break in period is 200-300 miles, at which point, I might turn up the boost a little. It's at 25 psi now and all is well. On the way home I raced a volvo and spanked it, haha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidjc Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 I like the Spec3+... but you are definitely making more HP. Thanx for intel... will help w/ future shopping. BTW, was the cost better for the ACT setup? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Technology Posted July 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 list price is about $175 more for the ACT. The SPEC is around 500 bucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidjc Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 list price is about $175 more for the ACT. The SPEC is around 500 bucks. Yhea... that's somewhere around what I paid for the Spec, WOW... that's a high dollar clutch assembly. Good to know though, I have always respected the Spec line more so than Act; good intel! Keep me posted as to break-in, longevity? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infamos Posted July 16, 2012 Report Share Posted July 16, 2012 Good to hear the project is moving forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Technology Posted July 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 kidjc: I started with an ACT as my first clutch upgrade and it greatly exceeded it's rated capacity, and is still fully functional, attached to the motor that was in D_Venable's flatty (now waiting for the next home). The SPEC held exactly what it was rated for, nothing more. infamos: It's moving forward, and overall getting "better" depending on your view of performance! haha. More news about the clutch: I have found that very low speed engagements, like slowing before a stop sign, then reengaging 1st will produce some chatter, but a little more RPM eliminates that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Technology Posted August 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 I have just turned over 1000 miles on this clutch and it's just great, no slipping, strong engagement, I can shift as fast as the transmission will allow (so I can't grab gears like some evo or something but such is life), it holds up to whatever I can do. I like it. Maybe I'll get to find out if it'll hold 500 whp someday here soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotStock88 Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 my "heavy" clutch pedal went away after about 300mi - you will love it. I will never own a diff brand clutch again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Technology Posted September 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 Mine is still pretty heavy, haha. Now I have something like 1400 miles on it. I'm going to the dyno this Friday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Technology Posted December 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2012 Don't want to give too much away, but the new owner just layed down over 500 lbs of torque to the wheels. This clutch is serious bidness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mstieg Posted February 24, 2013 Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 Great to hear. GL with stepping it up even further. My ACT never got any lighter on the pedal, and chattered a little, but only at very low rpm releases which I attribute to the lighter Fidanza. It still wasn't as chattery as my stock Saturn. I loved the ACT but am looking forward to a lighter pedal with the LT1 clutch. (shameless plug) My ACT & Fidanza are for sale btw (see footer) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts