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Some quick background: I was out driving with a friend one afternoon about 2 weeks back. Driveline starts to feel sluggish. I pullover and check for leaks, nothing. So I keep driving, easier this time. After coasting through a green right arrow in 2nd, I try to shift to third. Nada. Couldn’t get the car into gear at all. Engine runs fine though. So I tow it to Dave N’s place which is closer to where I broke down than my place, cheaper tow, plus he has a garage :) . We replace my slave cylinder which we think may have failed. Try starting up. We heard the most God-awful sound you ever did hear. So I shut it down and decide that we need to install the RPS clutch and JUN flywheel. I had planned on installing them over the summer and just never got around to it. I had all the other stuff too, the NISMO needle pilot bearing, rear main, etc. Picked up some Redline and ordered some Greg Dupree Divorced Wastegate Down Pipes (GDDWDP) Why not, after all, down pipes Own!!. We started work this past Saturday, and this is what we found: This is my bellhousing, notice the yellow circles….
 This is what a stock clutch is supposed to look like, minus the yellow circles….
 This is what a stock clutch looks like after Stage III upgrades and 16,000 miles. That small metal part to the left is the part circled in the bellhousing picture.
 My favorite part. Yup, that is my pilot bushing.
 The stock flywheel is on the left and my new JUN is on the right. The JUN is noticeably lighter than stock, but not as light as a Findanzia or RPS. But then again, those are $500+. The JUN is resurfaceable two or three times so that works for me.
 The install of the RPS 6-Puck, Sprung Hub, Sport Series clutch and JUN flywheel. Oh yeah, and GDDWDP’s also. Those things make moving around in there soooooo much easier than the obtrusive pre-cats it’s amazing. That aspect is great for installing, nevermind the performance benefits.
 I haven’t been able to experience those yet. I’m only 177 miles into my 500 mile break in period. I do love the throatier sound they deliver, and the boost response is surprisingly quick. I can’t wait until I can really drive it. Next spring :( Thank you very much to Antonio300ZXTT (JUN Flywheel), Chip at GinnMotorsports (RPS Clutch), Greg Dupree (GDDWDP’s) and Advanced Auto Parts (life-saving clutch alignment tool) for the excellent parts and customer service. These guys are top notch to deal with and would recommend them to anyone.
I'd also like to thank Dave N for giving up his weekend, garage space and time to assist me with the work. It's really cool to be able to meet felow enthusiast in your local area through this board. As far as the install goes, we got very lucky. We were able to stab the transmission back on in about 10 minutes, and tighten the bastardly top two bolts in about 15 minutes. The trick to the tranny is to feel around and locate your shaft based on the pressure plate throw-out springs. Place the jack under the drain plug and play with the height of the tail of the tranny. Lessons learned:
-Get a clutch alignment tool ahead of time. I guess the come with most clutches, but not RPS for some reason ( I think Chip is keeping them in a stock pile somewhere. Just kidding Chip, ).
-Make sure you have all your tools together ahead of time and read the how to’s. The clutch replacement article is very well written (except for the part about remove passenger pre-cat, like it’s tit to do or something!)
-If you live in a northern state, go to a Sports Authority and get a $10 foam exercise mat. It will save you from the cold floor and freezer burn on your back.
-Use your AutoZone loan-a-tool program. The pilot bearing puller is key, much cleaner than the chisel method recommended. If anyone is interested in stock pre-cats, with heat shields, good condition, or hydraulic HiCAS system from the rear pump on, including hoses, email me. I’ll be posting a write up later on about my Midori HiCAS eliminator install I did at the same time as the clutch install.
"...Downpipes own. They own everything...anything...all there ever was and will be...they should be stock on all cars. Screw the environment, emissions, noise! I love them...I shall name my first-born after them with glee. Mock me, point and laugh...but as I spin through first with no power braking on my little automatic daily driver on 285/18" tires I'll enjoy the shit-eating grin and take it in stride." - SeedyRom 05:13:20 10/03/02 Ricers are idiots. (n/m) - RezidentEvil |
Not your average clutch failure... install pics inside>> - 
