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High Performance Clutch Test

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  • #1

    High Performance Clutch Test

    The stock festiva clutch is very user friendly. It's light pedal feel and smooth action make daily commutes easy on the drivers left leg. Unfortunately though, the stock clutch only holds about 100ft.lbs of torque before it starts to slip and prematurely wear. This is a problem for those of us who have replaced the b3 with a more potent powerplant, or have boosted the b3.

    The first clutch I tested was a Sachs replacement clutch. A new sachs brand flywheel was installed with the clutch. This was tested on a slightly modified Capri B6d engine in a 1988 festiva with a 4 speed e series. The Sachs clutch worked good at first, but began slipping after a few weeks of use. It would slip when shifting quickly to 3rd gear and 4th gear. When I had a passenger in the car it would slip in 4th gear under acceleration at around 4k rpm. When it was cold out it slipped in 3rd and 4th under hard accelerarion with only me in the car.

    The next clutch I tested (and currently have in the car) is the Spec stage 2 clutch. This clutch has a kevlar lined friction disk with a sprung hub and a pressure plate with more clamping force than stock. I installed this clutch on a stock flywheel that I surfaced myself to factory specifacations. The assembly was then balanced at Basko Engine services. I also installed a 5 speed e series transmission at this time.
    For the first 500 miles, the car shifted horribly. This was more than a minor inconvenience. After 500 city miless the car started to shift normally, except the clutch chatters very badly when taking off in second gear or downshifting to engine break. The chatter is very bad and could definitely be destructive to driveline components. It's also distracting and uncomfortable. I do not like this clutch and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
    Last edited by Advancedynamix; 10-19-2015, 01:51 PM.
    Driving for me is neither a right nor a privilege. Driving is my passion, as it was for the people who invented the automobile, the people who paved the first roads and the people who continue to improve the automobile. Please respect this passion.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    So, we asked the kind folks at ACT if they would build a high performance clutch package for our festivas. They said they would send us over a few samples of their latest recipe.

    So they baked us up something good allright.


    This is what we get for trying to makes the world's best Pizza delivery vehicle into the worlds best road race car. The GMR crew ate those new clutches up faster than they could down a pitcher of beer!
    Stay tuned for our next clutch test.
    Last edited by Advancedynamix; 10-19-2015, 02:00 PM.
    Driving for me is neither a right nor a privilege. Driving is my passion, as it was for the people who invented the automobile, the people who paved the first roads and the people who continue to improve the automobile. Please respect this passion.

    Comment

    • #3
      my unc put a spec kit in his festiva with B6T conversion and had nothing but problems and then no help or refund from spec. i gave him a clutchnet clutch kit. it was almost impossible for him to start rolling in 1st without stalling the motor. the clutchnet disc doesn't have springs in the hub. what finally worked was using a stock festiva clutch disc with the clutchnet pressure plate.

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      • #4
        Yeah, I'm going to use an Exedy disc with this spec pressure plate. Hopefully that works. I have a feeling that a stock exedy replacement clutch would hold this b6d. The exedy in Nastivas b6 car is much firmer than my sachs was. This spec has an even firmer pressure plate, but I think they didn't design the disk correctly. We'll see.
        Last edited by Advancedynamix; 10-19-2015, 05:52 PM.
        Driving for me is neither a right nor a privilege. Driving is my passion, as it was for the people who invented the automobile, the people who paved the first roads and the people who continue to improve the automobile. Please respect this passion.

        Comment

        • #5
          I hope I have better luck with the Spec clutch :neutral:

          Ian
          Ian
          Calgary AB, Canada
          93 L B6T: June 2016 FOTM
          59 Austin Healey "Bugeye" Sprite

          "It's infinitely better to fail with courage than to sit idle with fear...." Chip Gaines (pg 167 of Capital Gaines, Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff)

          Link to the "Road Trip Starting Points" page of my Econobox Café blog

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          • #6
            I have one now. I have heard one good review on here, which is why I bought it.

            But I too am annoyed now with it. I assumed stiffer mounts would help, but I know I saw Charlie has them already, and still this thread is here.

            So what is the cause of it? Too stiff springs in the disc?
            Any difference that makes no difference is no difference.

            Old Blue- New Tricks
            91 Festiva FSM PDF - Dropbox

            Comment

            • #7
              High Performance Clutch Test

              I just put a spec in my car last January I have about 1500-2000 miles on it and I I like it. Slight chatter at low rpm. No slip spec stage 3 sprung hub for the g series. I noticed very little deference in pedal feel also. My clutch pedal is still light but has a lot of spring.

              But a escort I just had, had broken spec in it so we will see where this goes. It's was the biggest baddest sprung hub they make.
              Last edited by Flyin4stroke; 10-19-2015, 06:25 PM.
              1988 Ford Festiva "Sonic" BPT g25mr MS2 standalone ecu, FOTY '11, Best Beater FMV, Fan Favorite FMVI

              1989 Ford Mustang GT 5.slow

              1996 Ford F-150

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              • #8
                The g series spec may be better because that clutch uses the same disk as a Miata and that entire clutch is common in a ton of different applications. I'm sure they put more time into testing that one. They probably never tested the Aspire clutch and obviously have no intention of listening to customer feedback.
                All of my friends who've installed spec clutches in there German cars have had problems, so I'm not surprised and I know better than to waste my time calling spec. If they won't help me on a 800 dollar clutch in one of my Rolex Cup race cars, they definitely won't help me with a humble little Festiva clutch. I'm done dealing with spec, and I'll forever tell people that this company is useless.
                Last edited by Advancedynamix; 10-19-2015, 06:38 PM.
                Driving for me is neither a right nor a privilege. Driving is my passion, as it was for the people who invented the automobile, the people who paved the first roads and the people who continue to improve the automobile. Please respect this passion.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Originally posted by fastivaca View Post
                  I hope I have better luck with the Spec clutch :neutral:

                  Ian
                  You may want to try the Spec pressure plate with an Exedy disk. I'm going to give this a try. I'll be swapping it out as soon as I can. I've put almost 8000 miles on this clutch and I've had enough of this hammering.

                  Originally posted by sketchman View Post
                  I have one now. I have heard one good review on here, which is why I bought it.

                  But I too am annoyed now with it. I assumed stiffer mounts would help, but I know I saw Charlie has them already, and still this thread is here.

                  So what is the cause of it? Too stiff springs in the disc?
                  Not totally sure of the cause, but the stiff trans mount didn't help, it just made the car less enjoyable to drive.
                  Driving for me is neither a right nor a privilege. Driving is my passion, as it was for the people who invented the automobile, the people who paved the first roads and the people who continue to improve the automobile. Please respect this passion.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    After listening to Charlie explain the advantages of the B6d I pulled the trigger and installed a nice low mile B6d engine, the swap went flawlessly, I purchased a passenger side engine mount from Charlie and used ALL the B3 wiring, so were am I going with this you say, well I also bought a Spec Stage 2 clutch kit and after a 500 mile break in I headed for Chicago, as I merged onto the interstate and powering into 4th gear the engine revved, I can't tell you what I said but what I can tell you is the clutch disc after being removed looks shiny, I talked to Spec and sent them a picture and their comment was, hey that's bad luck you must have done the brake in process incorrectly and would you like for us to send you a new kit. I'm now talking to Kentucky clutch Co, they build competition clutch parts all the way from the B6 parts I need, to supper stock tractors and on up to multi engine tractors, the clutch I asked for would hold up to 150 hp and the cost is $150, I should mention they build ALL clutch parts in house.
                    An idea can turn to dust or magic, depending on the talent that rubs against it.

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      ^Contact info?

                      These guys? http://kyclutch.com/
                      Last edited by sketchman; 10-19-2015, 09:00 PM.
                      Any difference that makes no difference is no difference.

                      Old Blue- New Tricks
                      91 Festiva FSM PDF - Dropbox

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Yes, if you want to talk tech with these folks call 502 955 9173 I talked with Shon, good fella to talk with, answered all my questions.
                        An idea can turn to dust or magic, depending on the talent that rubs against it.

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Sign me up Karl! Sorry to hear of your misfortune with the Spec. Mine holds strong, but the chatter is worse than slipping.
                          Keep us posted on the results with this new clutch.
                          Driving for me is neither a right nor a privilege. Driving is my passion, as it was for the people who invented the automobile, the people who paved the first roads and the people who continue to improve the automobile. Please respect this passion.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Originally posted by sc72 View Post
                            After listening to Charlie explain the advantages of the B6d I pulled the trigger and installed a nice low mile B6d engine, the swap went flawlessly, I purchased a passenger side engine mount from Charlie and used ALL the B3 wiring, so were am I going with this you say, well I also bought a Spec Stage 2 clutch kit and after a 500 mile break in I headed for Chicago, as I merged onto the interstate and powering into 4th gear the engine revved, I can't tell you what I said but what I can tell you is the clutch disc after being removed looks shiny, I talked to Spec and sent them a picture and their comment was, hey that's bad luck you must have done the brake in process incorrectly and would you like for us to send you a new kit. I'm now talking to Kentucky clutch Co, they build competition clutch parts all the way from the B6 parts I need, to supper stock tractors and on up to multi engine tractors, the clutch I asked for would hold up to 150 hp and the cost is $150, I should mention they build ALL clutch parts in house.
                            Well, the positive side of this is that stock festiva fuel injection will make enough power to glaze a racing clutch. There ya have it! No need to do all the excessive wiring on these swaps guys, the stock electronics will fuel a b6d good enough to torch a spec clutch.
                            Driving for me is neither a right nor a privilege. Driving is my passion, as it was for the people who invented the automobile, the people who paved the first roads and the people who continue to improve the automobile. Please respect this passion.

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Advancedynamix View Post
                              Well, the positive side of this is that stock festiva fuel injection will make enough power to glaze a racing clutch. There ya have it! No need to do all the excessive wiring on these swaps guys, the stock electronics will fuel a b6d good enough to torch a spec clutch.
                              Think you could draw through the b3 vaf and have a fmu for a b6d with 8psi?

                              Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
                              Last edited by Advancedynamix; 10-20-2015, 06:57 AM.

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