What clutch does everybody use when they do a BB swap? I plan on swapping this summer, but I want to have the clutch broke in ahead of time. TIA

Don't bother swapping the clutch now when you are swapping the motor this summer. By the book, a clutch job is 8.1 hours labour. When you do the swap, you have to remove the tranny anyways so do the clutch then. That's what I'm doing, and you only have to break in the clutch with 500 miles of stop and go traffic. You can do it in a week! Plus it would be a good time to re-break in the motor while you're at it.

By the way, I'm going with an ACT 6 puck solid center disc with stock PP when I do my swap in 2 weeks.

I want to have it broke in so I don't have to take it easy for 500 miles with a turbo. I don't think I could do it!
I'm thinking about an ACT HD PP with a stock B15 disc.

If you're doing it yourself, you're wasting a lot of time considering you'll have to do it again. Plus the cost of tranny fluid. I just bought 3 litres of Motul for mine for $60!

If you're paying a mechanic to do it, imagine the extra cost.

It's up to you but I'm just trying to save you money and/or time!

I'm doing it myself, I already need a clutch so why not get what I need for the swap ahead of time.
BTW... this would be the third time I've put a clutch in an SE-R. Last time it took me less than 7 hours, with no help.

act hd pressure plate, stock nissan disk clutch and bearing!

stock nissan disk clutch and bearing!

will break. the springs will fall out, just as many, many, many others have found out. get the new series of JWT sprung hubs, there is a 6 puck variety, IIRC. i got the 4 puck, b/c that was what was available.

Oh? Even the B15 disc that JWT sells as their upgraded stock-type disc? I was under the impression that until well over 250 CHP, the B15 disc with a better pressure plate are up to the task.

nah, i broke a B15 disc in 25K miles.

Good enough for me. :) I don't drag race, though, so I doubt I'll be going to even a six-puck disc, until somebody finds one that my wife can drive normally...

I really think it's how lucky you are with the stock discs. I have a ACT street disc which is essentially a stock disc. I've had no problems with it. I've also seen Steve and AMber's car make B15 clutch disc's springs fall out. But then again, these two don't exactly drive like grandma's. I think you will be fine with a B15 clutch disc. I highly discourage an unsprung puck. At least get the sprung hub. The B15 stock disc will be perfectly fine with the BB DET swap.

Yeah, I really don't understand how so many people blow up clutches and trannies left and right.

I don't know, maybe I'm a granny behind the wheel, but my tranny has help up for more than 170,000 miles and it has seen the likes of N2O and now turbo. I run a JWT PP with the stock B13 disk (note, this disk is weaker than the B15 disk). I haven't had the clutch slip on me, and I have drag-raced while on N2O and NA (no slicks though). When I had the tranny apart for the DET swap (i.e. after I was running N2O), I saw a couple hot spots on the PP. The disk still looked new.

However, I pretty much am the ONLY one that drives the car, and if someone else drives it, I'm in the car with them or it's someone I trust.

IMNSHO, I say you should run the weakest clutch you can get away with. 'Tis much better to break a clutch than to break a transmission.

I also formally announce that I did not post this to upset the tranny gods and I pray that my tranny/clutch will last at least another 30k miles. :)

The words of Antonio G have been noted. Time to let me really drive your car. =)



Larry

I've also seen Steve and AMber's car make B15 clutch disc's springs fall out. But then again, these two don't exactly drive like grandma's.

HEY! i drive like im driving miss daisy...at least when there are cops around.

honestly though, i don't drive very rough all the time. generally i shift at 3-3500 rpm in every gear and never even hit positive boost, despite a tiny T25. when i am flooring it, i am in it to win it though, no half assing.

Originally posted by se-r sam
I want to have it broke in so I don't have to take it easy for 500 miles with a turbo. I don't think I could do it!
I'm thinking about an ACT HD PP with a stock B15 disc.
Thats exactly what I am running Sam, and have been very happy thus far. I snapped my tranny in half with so much wheel hop, so I know its grabbing pretty good! ;)

are you using stock motor mounts?

Originally posted by HotshtSR20
are you using stock motor mounts?

If you are asking me, then no. I have the ES inserts. BUT... I have AGX's and was so excited to see what I would run on high boost, I just forget the basic stuff that should be double, even triple checked, such as:

- setting the fronts to FULL HARD instead of FULL SOFT like they were

- reducing the amount of air in the tires

Both of those combined, would ahve reduced the hop by 80% or more. Yeah, I know, whatya gonna do, eh??? ;)

i have my koni's set to about 75% of full hard, with my tire pressure set to 51 psi up front

i have no wheelhop, even at 12 psi on street tires

get the ES susp bushings, they help a lot

What is the average life span of a performance clutch hooked to a BB? 10K, 20k miles? ACT HD PP and B15 disc in particular.

Sam, I am sure 99% of the people in here will tell you this exact same thing.

It depends on the driver, just like brake pads. If you do burn-outs all the time or track it every weekend, then I imagine the 10K mark is a bit optimistic. If you just do the occaisional track meet in the summer and baby it on the road, then you "could" be looking at a nice lengthy relationship with your setup! ;)

I have had mine in for about 7 months or roughly 7,000 miles and no slipping at all, just wore the TO bearing out once, no biggy since the tranny was off when I split it in 2! ;)