Preferred clutch for 250-ish BHP?
 

What's the general consensus on the correct clutch kit for the job on the first gen clutch replacement for turbo'ed Miatas? We don't want to do this three times in the next 12 months.

Mike

i really (really) liked my ACT HD pressure plate and organic disc. it was the perfect clutch for a street car imo, as long as you dont mind a stiffer-than-stock pedal.

i removed it because i started doing a lot of drag racing, and i also bumped my power output by another 100+hp...

Which year would "first gen" be? 90-93 or 94-97? If it's 90-93, get a 1.8 flywheel and then put a 1.8 clutch kit on. For a little extra performance while you're getting the flywheel resurfaced (either the 1.6 or 1.8 flywheel), get the weight ring turned off. A good machine shop should then balance the entire assembly, mine ground a little material off the pressure plate to balance the flywheel/pp assembly to within 1 gram. Should only add $50-100 to your machining bill when getting the flywheel resurfaced, and has questionable results, but I got it done for free so ha!

There's no one brand that we all choose. We all have different budgets, power levels, and willingnesses to take risks. I went with an eBay F1 clutch because I'm cheap and didn't use crappy eBay throwout bearings. FM clutches are very good buy very expensive, so if you can afford them go for it. A lot of people like ACT clutches. Find the one that meets your power goals and then be smart and go up one step for one you inevitably turn up the boost.

FM level 1 clutch. That's all you need. $350 is too expenive?

That was an assumption from previous experience.

Clutchnet.com

Get a street (stage 1)pressure plate (or for more clamp force Stage 2) that has like 15% more clamping force, BUT with a 4-puck sprung disk, everything will run you around 290.00.

Fm

So FM Level 1 is good enough for around 250hp? Would Level 2 be an overkill?

Check with FM.....

www.flyinmiata.com


"The Level 1 will hold as much torque as the ACT HD, but with a pedal that feels almost like a stock clutch and with a normal take-up. It`s easy to drive with a smooth take-up and is even easier on your thrust bearing and clutch hydraulics! The Level 1 is rated for 318 ft/lb, and is suitable for turbo and supercharged cars with unmodified engines. SFI certified.

1.8 size only, although it can be used on a 1.6 if you also use a 1.8 flywheel."


For some reason there has been a pile of threads/posts from people asking questions that can be answered in about 30 seconds. It tends to turn people off. I found that info from FM in about 1 minute.

Directly from their site, which I'm assuming you've visited, level one will hold 318lb/ft, and the level two will hold 353lb/ft. Looks like HP isn't the number you should be concerned about.

edit: grrr, post sniped, that's how fast and easy this information is to find...

BHP.... :giggle:

+1 ACT HD, or XT if you want some headroom for the inevitable boost increase later on.
http://www.carolinaclutch.com/

You can't go wrong with FM never heard anything bad about them

I have, specifically about a clutch, definitely FMs fault, or at least one of their suppliers, but I am not going to repeat it.

their clutch or the ACT clutches they used to sell?

One of theirs, Level 2.

Don't be pouty. They figured out the problem, fixed it tout-de-suite and sent out replacement parts (along with a little something extra for the trouble). The part is now bullet-proof and they've proved once again that their service is absolutely second to none.

I'm not pouting because I have an ACT clutch, recall free. Whatever. It still sucks for the guy (who I know personally) who has to pull the engine back out of the car to replace the clutch. His time to do the job is worth more than the free replacement parts.

This is not targeted at FM. The point I am making is the ACT costs more than clutchnet, FM, Chinaclutch, whatever, but you put it in once and you are done. Read all the clutch threads and make your own decision. I did.

Who the hell pulls an engine to change a clutch?

You'd be surprised. Lots do it actually. Olderguy did it before too.