TRE custom build and Fidanza 4.3/Flywheel Review

[thecman02]

I'm still on break in with my newly rebuild trans and clutch/flywheel, but I figured I'd give an update.

I got the Fidanza 4.3 clutch and matching 8lb aluminum flywheel. While I was waiting for my tranny to be rebuilt I read some reviews with people bitching about how bad the 4.3 is, and how bad it effects drive-ability with the loss of rotational mass. I love the way it drives. When I was pulling out of my garage I was amazed that I could just slowly release the clutch and it was driving just fine. I guess some people just don't have any clutch control or something. The pedal was only a small bit stiffer then stock. The Fidanza clutches are roughly rated around 2300lbs for the pressure plate. The six puck ceramic disc is still sprung so I'd say its forgiving. I will be honest though I did stall it once or twice, but mostly because my car doesn't like driving for the first few miles when its cold on e85. It has chattered maybe once or twice in the first 300 miles of the break in, but only when I'm really quick releasing at a low rpm.

The transmission is a custom job I worked out with Jon at TRE. I had a good experience with him since I got to meet him face to face and talk about my trans needs. I basically told him I had no plans for 8000+ rpm shifts, and that when I nuked my current motor I'd probably do a stroker and that I mostly needed something that could handle good torque.

I have 2nd gear double syncroed. The rest are just "heavy duty" singles. I have the EVO3 1st gear. Evo 3 5th gear. Heavy Duty 3rd/4th gear set. New heavy duty shift rails. 4 spider center differential. I had every gear in the transmission shot peened. He pretty much said I should be good for my future goals. I watched him dissemble the trans, and I was actually there to watch the reassembly. Everything looks very good. He even through in one of his Limited Slip Inserts, and said if I had any trans problems because of it he'd take care of me. All of this was for a real competitive price that I couldn't complain about.

The trans shifts amazing and I'm still breaking it in. I have a little over 600 miles before I think I'll consider my break in complete. The tranny shifts so dang smooth sometimes I almost feel like my shift cables came off the linkage lol.

I'm very excited about my transmission. (I see popped 3bolt rear end in the future ftl:-p.)

I also installed the Three Speed Scattershield. It lined up perfectly and went on fairly easy. I didn't have any instructions or read any how to's so I don't know if this is common knowledge or not, but you want to unbolt the coolant line mounts that are going to the throttle body for an easier time lining stuff up. I just unbolted them and held them up while I slid the scattershield on.

Ohh I put some Redline Heavy Shockproof in the transfer case. Wow... that took forever squeezing that melted crayon into the transfer case. That is some heavy duty shit. I need to find a new way to put fluids into the trans/diffs/transfer case then holding a bottle with a nipple upside down and squeezing it.

Anyways the driveline is rocking for now. Some day I'll get a 4bolt lsd and a two piece aluminum drive shaft.

[thecman02]

I just had my 4.3 fail on me February 2010. I only have 10k on the clutch with minimal abuse, no launches only spirited driving. Spring fell out when I took pressure plate off and the rivets holding the center section are just wobbling in the ovaled out holes. I'm very lucky I stopped driving it as soon as I heard akward noise driving home from school. Here are some pics I just took. All the springs are falling out. The springs also scraped against my nice aluminum flywheel and F'ed that up too but I can't get a good picture to show it.





I got into contact with

Aaron Wilcox
Technical Department
Fidanza Engineering Corporation
4199 Main St. Unit A
Perry, OH 44081 USA
tech@fidanza.com
P: 440-259-5656 x116

He was initially helpful telling me to send the parts in for inspection before further action could be done.

After he inspected it this was what I received.

Technical Department wrote:
> I've had the chance to inspect the clutch. The only issue I'm running into is it's got 13k miles on it and that is quite a bit. I also haven't received a proof of purchase for this yet. I understand that 13k miles isn't a lot for the clutch so I'm willing to offer a discount on a new clutch. I'm also going to recommend that you jump up to a 4.3 because your car is an AWD vehicle. Part number 361223 is a little more aggressive though. So if you choose to stay at a 3.2 you'd be a little more comfortable driving the car. Either way I'll give you a new clutch for $150.00 plus shipping and I'll throw a friction surface for the flywheel in for $30. et me know what you want to do.
> Thank You,
> Aaron Wilcox
> Technical Department
> Fidanza Engineering Corporation
> 4199 Main St. Unit A
> Perry, OH 44081 USA
> tech@fidanza.com
> P: 440-259-5656 x116


On Mar 18, 2010, at 12:30 PM, Chris Mowell wrote:

> Yeah I sent another email correcting the mileage. It is actually around 10K. I had the mileage I've had the car for confused with when I did the clutch job. I can request Maperformance to search their archives for my purchase. The clutch that was in the car was the 4.3. The clutch springs actually cut into the aluminum flywheel so I'm concerned about the safety of the flywheel. Please let me know what you think about the damage on the flywheel.


Even at 10k miles, its still quite a bit. The proof of purchase would help.. we like to keep meticulous records here. As far as the flywheel goes it will be good to use. It hasn't removed too much material and there are no 90 degree angles due to the cut so I feel it's safe to use. So I can help you out with a new clutch for $150 plus shipping and a new friction surface for $30. Let me know what you want to do.
Thank You,

Aaron Wilcox
Technical Department
Fidanza Engineering Corporation
4199 Main St. Unit A
Perry, OH 44081 USA
tech@fidanza.com
P: 440-259-5656 x116

I do show him a copy of my receipt from MAPerformance.



I tell him I want replacement parts and give him billing info.

Technical Department wrote:
> Thanks, I will place you on the back order. It should arrive in 3-5 weeks.
> Thank You,
> Aaron Wilcox

Two months later I get upset.


On May 26, 2010, at 12:02 PM, Chris Mowell wrote:

> I haven't received anything or been charged and its been over 8 weeks. I attached a proof of my purchase so you know I wasn't scamming you. I'm disappointed your company couldn't take care of me. If you do a google search of "Fidanza 4.3 Review" my page is the first link I wrote on dsmtuners.com . I'm not interested in purchasing replacement parts anymore. If you are willing to send working replacement parts I would be happy if not I will take back my broken parts and change my opinion/review of the parts accordingly.

The reason you haven't been charged yet is because the parts you need haven't arrived yet. I have the friction surface and pressure plate but no clutch disc. Our clutch manufacturing facility has been closed but should be up and running again shortly. I can understand your frustration and would like to help in any way I can to keep you happy. Unfortunately that doesn't include issuing free replacements. If you would like me to cancel the order I can do that, but I would ask instead for you to be patient as we are only waiting on the disc now.
Thank You,

Aaron Wilcox
Technical Department

I then respond "I purchased replacement parts already because my car had to be on the road for events. Don't charge me when the clutch disk comes in. Please email me when the parts come in so I can set money aside then I'll reply back with the go ahead."


I'm still waiting on a response months later. I'm very upset with Fidanza. Not only could they not make a decent product. They blow me off with possibly legitimate circumstance, but this isn't any way to make the situation right. He lied about how quick the replacement parts would get in. Then says he's waiting because production is down.
Also if you look, he "recommends 4.3 when I'm ALREADY RUNNING A 4.3". This guy is in technical department and he doesn't even know the products he's looking at. I can't recommend Fidanza at all. If you check this site you can see so many failures it isn't even funny, and only a couple people I have seen have had any luck with customer support.