a few clutch/flywheel questions

[justin_5585]

Well, my clutch almost immediately started slipping after installing my exhuast, so it's time to upgrade. I am looking at either the ACT 2600 or the SBR 3500, but i don't know which one yet, I have plans to be running a 50 trim by the end of the summer, so i need something in the 350hp + range. My questions are this:

1. Is a light flywheel worth it, or should i just get my stocker resurfaced?

2. Does ACT still have major quality control problems, or have things been worked out?

3. Are there other better/cheaper options for what i'll be doing (daily driven weekend warrior)?

4. How difficult is it to do a clutch job myself (i'm semi mechanically inclined, I've done two tranny swaps before, one on a fwd neon, one a 78 chevy, and i have a good set of tools), like is it possible in a weekend? I've never replaced a clutch, just put in new trannies to replace old p.o.s.'s.

5. I was quoted 700 in labor by a local shop for them to do it, does that seem pretty damn high? they said 7 hours in labor.

thanks,

 

[flinguist]

700 bucks is a lot. I was quoted $350 by Shepracing for a clutch install on a 2G FWD. I'm having another shop install a Quaife, clutch, and flywheel for $450, since Shepracing is too busy right now. You might be able to do it yourself, with a helper, but the clutch set up on these things is so touchy it might be worth it to have a shop do it. Do a little searching and you'll see quite a few people have problems when they go the DIY route for a clutch install.
As far as lightened flywheels, a lot of people seem to like them. I went with an ACT streetlite, as a compromise. It's 12 lbs., not as light as the 8 lb. Fidanza, or ACT prolite. If your stock flywheel has a lot of heat damage, or cracking, having it resurfaced could be dangerous (exploding flywheels can be real ugly). ACT quality control issues are what convinced me to go with a CFDF. The CFDF's are very sensitive to break in procedure. Some people like them, some don't. Doug's Dynopower uses the CFDF on their cars, and they have a couple of cars running 11's in the 1/4. DSMreviews has reviews of various different clutches, and flywheels that are good to read.