280z clutch

[jonbills]

Would you guys recommend sticking with a stock clutch for a mildly fast road car, or should I go for a slight upgrade? Just thinking as in the next couple of years I plan on fitted the S13 box, 3.9 diff, a custom exhaust & manifold, triple webers and then getting it ported and polished.. would it make more sense to fit a stronger clutch at that point too, or will the stock clutch be fine for approx 200 bhp? I wouldn't want to make the pedal too firm which puts me off the performance clutches, if indeed they are usually firmer.

I think the standard clutch will be fine.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

I had about 200bhp when I fitted a standard 240mm clutch and it didn't cope. I then went for a clutch called a Centreforce 2. That worked well and didn't give a hard pedal. We are talking 20+ years ago here.

 

[Huw]

Don't follow Huw. I thought 240mm plate and 240mm clutch would be OK or have I just read it wrong?

The holes in the clutch cover on a 225mm clutch that fit the dowels on the flywheel are in a different position to a 240mm clutch cover. I know this from trying to fit a 225mm aftermarket uprated clutch to a flywheel that originally had 240mm clutch set up from a 280ZX.

 

[Robotsan]

I had about 200bhp when I fitted a standard 240mm clutch and it didn't cope. I then went for a clutch called a Centreforce 2. That worked well and didn't give a hard pedal. We are talking 20+ years ago here.

Ah ok really? Interesting that the bigger 240mm one couldn't cope with just another 50 bhp. Maybe I'd better just wait and go for an upgraded one in the future then.

 

[jonbills]

I had about 200bhp when I fitted a standard 240mm clutch and it did cope. It was a LUK from MrF. That worked well and didn't give a hard pedal. We are talking 15+ years ago here.

 

[Robotsan]

I guess its different horses for courses then. Might work for some people and maybe not for others I guess

 

[Rob Gaskin]

My clutches (both) were from Mr F. I don't know what 'make' the 280 one was but it was just a standard replacement.

Anyway upgrades and modifying are never straightforward.

I wonder what clutch a 280ZX Turbo uses?

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Something else I seem to have in my memory is that not all 240mm clutch covers have the same amount of bolts?

Can anyone elaborate?

Am I correct here? I remember the conversation with Mr F but not the detail.

 

[Huw]

My clutches (both) were from Mr F. I don't know what 'make' the 280 one was but it was just a standard replacement.

Anyway upgrades and modifying are never straightforward.

I wonder what clutch a 280ZX Turbo uses?

240mm. All UK variants also use 240mm clutch.

 

[Fairlineguy]

Pulled out a couple of rusty flywheels
240z and 280z side by side

 

[Huw]

Am I correct here? I remember the conversation with Mr F but not the detail.

Yes you’re correct Rob. Some after market clutches use 6 OEM should be 8 but it make no difference

 

[AliK]

I guess the key thing is torque and where the engine produces it's peak.

Just to add to the fun of the discussion, I used a 280zx Turbo clutch and pressure plate from Exedy + Fidanza 1/2 weight flywheel; Running 245 BHP and 232lbft. I drive mine hard and often VERY hard. I've only had it slip once while I was being a total hooligan for an hour or so and probably heated it up quite a bit. Having said that, I've probably done sub 5K miles since it went in. So can't comment on how much longer it will hold.

This is a good deal including taxes etc:https://www.ebay.com/itm/404550983182 (this is exactly my set up).

Or if you want a stock flywheel weight there is this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/145240766618

Edit: Just seen the shipping rates - yikes!!!! They changed a lot when I logged into ebay!

The key thing with a clutch is the force of the pressure plate. If you can get a decent clutch disc (not the puck style ones) and a strong pressure plate, then it can hold good power without being difficult to modulate.

But one thing I would say is, I've NEVER looked back on having a lighter flywheel. It's exactly what the engine needs. Button roundabouts need a steady right foot and pulling off needs an extra 500RPM to be dialled in, but that's the ONLY sacrifice. Heck my S2000 needed 2K rpm to pull out of junctions without stalling and that was perfectly liveable with as a daily / commuting driver.

I believe the flywheels are interchangeable between L6 engines, you just have to ensure you have the correct clutch collar. So no problems with having the bigger 240mm flywheel with a larger surface area to hold the power / dissipate more heat.

 

[Ian Patmore]

Both 240 and 225mm flywheels fit the L6 motor.

Agree with Alik, I am running a Tilton aluminium 225mm flywheel, great, much crisper to drive, but needs a bit more revs for pulling off. But don't go too light....

 

[jonbills]

Or you could always upgrade to an rb 250mm flywheel and clutch, if you want to be the king of cool and have a lot of unnecessary work

LD32 Engine build

The engine mounts are done, and the engine fits under the strut brace with about the same clearance it has before. I need to lower the gearbox too, but I need to do some measuring first to work out how much, so I'll do that 'later'.

zclub.net

 

[Robotsan]

I guess the key thing is torque and where the engine produces it's peak.

Just to add to the fun of the discussion, I used a 280zx Turbo clutch and pressure plate from Exedy + Fidanza 1/2 weight flywheel; Running 245 BHP and 232lbft. I drive mine hard and at often VERY hard. I've only had it slip once while I was being a total hooligan for an hour or so and probably heated it up quite a bit. Having said that, I've probably done sub 5K miles since it went in. So can't comment on how much longer it will hold.

This is a good deal including taxes etc:https://www.ebay.com/itm/404550983182 (this is exactly my set up).

Or if you want a stock flywheel weight there is this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/145240766618

Edit: Just seen the shipping rates - yikes!!!! They changed a lot when I logged into ebay!

The key thing with a clutch is the force of the pressure plate. If you can get a decent clutch disc (not the puck style ones) and a strong pressure plate, then it can hold good power without being difficult to modulate.

But one thing I would say is, I've NEVER looked back on having a lighter flywheel. It's exactly what the engine needs. Button roundabouts need a steady right foot and pulling off needs an extra 500RPM to be dialled in, but that's the ONLY sacrifice. Heck my S2000 needed 2K rpm to pull out of junctions with stalling and that was perfectly liveable with as a daily / commuting driver.

I believe the flywheels are interchangeable between L6 engines, you just have to ensure you have the correct clutch collar. So no problems with having the bigger 240mm flywheel with a larger surface area to hold the power / dissipate more heat.

Thanks Ali that's really useful. And wow your 260z had 245bhp?! What have you had done to it to get it there?

And yes, I was about to question your sense of value if you thought that eBay listing was a bargain

I think Japan is the way to go right now.. greenline has really cheap clutches and flywheels with the yen being so poor right now! Can't imagine shipping will be as much either

 

[Robotsan]

Both 240 and 225mm flywheels fit the L6 motor.

Agree with Alik, I am running a Tilton aluminium 225mm flywheel, great, much crisper to drive, but needs a bit more revs for pulling off. But don't go too light....

When you say too light, would 10/11lbs be considered too light or would that be ok? Stock is 24lbs I believe, so that's quite a lot less.

 

[Ian Patmore]

Off the top of my head, that is about it. There are great drag racing flywheels, that look cool, but for anything other than that, it could be difficult to live with. Even a stock flywheel properly machined down a little makes a difference. I think my aluminium flywheel is a little lighter than 10lbs, but it fits the engine spec well.

The 225mm is a little small dia thus weight and with clutch assembly included, and the weight is nearer the centre. Small thing, but it all adds up.

 

[Robotsan]

Off the top of my head, that is about it. There are great drag racing flywheels, that look cool, but for anything other than that, it could be difficult to live with. Even a stock flywheel properly machined down a little makes a difference. I think my aluminium flywheel is a little lighter than 10lbs, but it fits the engine spec well.

The 225mm is a little small dia thus weight and with clutch assembly included, and the weight is nearer the centre. Small thing, but it all adds up.

Thanks Ian. I'll go for one of the lightened ones once I get round to it then, and a 240mm.

 

[AliK]

Thanks Ali that's really useful. And wow your 260z had 245bhp?! What have you had done to it to get it there?

I was fortunate enough to have 3 very clever / experienced Zclubbers breath on the engine build taking care of tonnes of minute details that matter to make me a brilliant engine. Furthermore I spent a lot of time on marginal gains and carb tuning.

There are still more ponies, for example, if I lose the mechanical fan, CNC an ideal needle profile for the SU carbs (which I’ve arrived at by tonnes of experimentation and modelling on Excel) and do a load more fine tuning. BUT I’m pretty happy with where it is at present and need to just enjoy driving it.

Spent way too much time in the last few years taking the car apart and tinkering!

Having said that, I have done sub 800 miles in 3 wyears. Need to get a life.as you may have noticed I’ve been off all things Z for a couple of years due to other commitments.