Exedy Mach 400 question

[Blacksmoke]

I bought an Exedy Mach 400 recently.

I was wondering if it is safe to use the stock flywheel with
this clutch. I really don't want a light weight flywheel and my last
aftermarket flywheel and clutch were'nt the same brand and they
did'nt fit right. I dont want to go through that mess again.

I know on flywheel ads and in magazines they say the stock flywheel
is not meant to hold the stregnth of aftermarket clutches and can shatter.

This is my daily driver but I also race the car.

I don't do 5k RPM take off's or anything but I do
shift her in the upper 6k RPM's when going through the gears.

I just want to be absolutely safe with the car so I want to make sure
they flywheel can't shatter on me.

I am currently running about 340hp and 325trq both to the wheels

Also... if I do use the stock flywheel.. do I need a shim or anything?

 

[Chilliwack 42]

You could reuse it. Depends on the condition and if it can be resurfaced. For the power that you're making I don't see it being an issue.

 

[rojizostang]

i'm using this clutch with the stock flywheel, and i make the same amount of power as you. i do 5k launches, but i haven't been to the track yet with this clutch as it was just installed less than a week ago.

you don't have to use a shim, however the shop i used recommended that i install a .150 shim...so i did.

and we didn't even resurface the flywheel...it was cherry. i actually had the clutch installed as an upgrade while replacing a b.o. slave cylinder

 

[KDT]

I just installed an Exedy Mach 600 in my car and used a stock flywheel because I really don't want a lightweight flywheel. I am having an issue with third gear grinding in the trans if I shift fast. I have been doing some research on this issue to try and determine if I have a damaged syncro or something in the trans causing the problem or if it is clutch related. I called Exedy tech support last week and discussed using their clutch with the stock flywheel. They told me that their clutches would work fine with the stock flywheel and no shims are needed if you use their clutch disk and matching pressure plate together. I am pulling the transmission this week to try and determine what is wrong. I hope like hell I don't tear into this trans and find nothing wrong and all I need is a shim under the pressure plate. I am ordering all the parts to replace the entire 3rd gear assembly. I know some folks have used a shim and some haven't. Exedy says no but I really don't know what and who to believe at this point. All I know is I don't want to be pulling this tranny in and out several times experimenting. I just wish I could get a straight answer. Just about every one I have called says no shim is needed but yet some people still put one in. WTF! How do you know for sure? How does the shim affect the operation of the clutch? Pulling the trans in and out sux. If you find out something for sure let me know.

 

[Blacksmoke]

Where do I get a shim anyway? Does the dealership carry them or is it something that I will have to order somewhere else?

Yeah I know what pulling the tranny out multiple times does to you bank.
I had mine REPLACED first. I had a SPEC 2+ put in at the same time.
The the spec turned out being a POS and now I am having to have it pullled AGAIN.
Whats worse is there is not a reputable shop around here besides the dealership and they charge close to 600 bucks for labor on this.
Spec even told me they would re emburse me if something was wrong then changed their story to they would just replace the clutch and flywheel.
No way in HELL I am using their clutch again so I will have to try to sell it to get a little cash back.

My new tranny and clutch replacement ate my bank as it was at first.
The total cost was over 3k after labor not including the cost of the clutch and flywheel.

Now I am having to go back in and this time I am installing a new slave cylinder just in case as well. I could have bought a damn super charger by the time I am done with this. I don't blame the dealership. I blame SPEC for a crap clutch that wont even make it through break in period when driven perfectly.

I am in the same boat as not wanting to use a light weight flywheel.
But I don't want to put the stock one in and end up having trouble.
I am puke ass sick of messing with this crap. Part of me is just telling myself to go with the Exedy flywheel and if their are cons just get used to it or at least try to.
I have talked to many people with many opinions of a lightweight flywheel.
Some say they are fine for daily driving and I wont feel a difference in UMMPH.
Some say they are not for daily driving.
I really just don't want to lose the seat of my pants feel my 4.10's gave me.
That's why I put the damn things in.

But I am worried that if I do this and the flywheel is just too much for me to handle then I might have to replace the clutch again when I put the new flywheel in.
I don't know if you can just put a new flywheel in with a clutch that has already been bedded in with another flywheel. Worried the grooves or whatever made in the bed in would make a new clutch nessasary when you get a new flywheel.

Anyone know the answer to this and 4.10 question and the shim question? Oh........... also.. does the Exedy Mach 400 use the same plate as stock? If it does... would that mean it fit fine with a stock clutch or does the disk also come into play?

 

[rojizostang]

here's the shim
http://www.lethalperformance.com/05..._792_3241/ram-bearing-spacer-shim-150-p-20567

 

[Blacksmoke]

I wonder if I should just use the matching light weight and if it makes me loose umph just throw on some more agressive gears and go from 4.10's to 4.56's.

That would actually be cheaper than paying for the tranny to be taken apart again and I would not have to worry about the stock flywheel with the aftermarket clutch.

Of course the place that installed my mods and tuned my car freakin' scared me off because right AFTER they did the mods and threw her on the dyno is when my damn tranny went out.
AND after that it took 3 trips back for them to get the tune
right and not have the RPM's jumping up and down at idle.

So I guess I'd have to find a new place to do the work and tune and tell them my mods. I DON'T want a canned tune though. None of my canned tunes gave me the gains the dyno tune did.

Thoughts?

 

[rojizostang]

i don't think you have to worry about the stock flywheel at your power level. imho. pretty much everyone recommended to me when i was making this decision to just reuse the stocker.

but i do vote for 4.56 gears!

 

[KDT]

here's the shim
http://www.lethalperformance.com/05..._792_3241/ram-bearing-spacer-shim-150-p-20567

Damn, now I understand. I was thinking that you were talking about a pressure plate shim like the one used with the P51 clutch. Now I need to find out how to determine if one is needed or not in my car. That shim would make the clutch release faster. If the clutch doesn't release fast enough, it could grind gears. This very well could be what is happening with mine.

 

[Blacksmoke]

I have read though that it is not all about the power you are making when it comes to using the stock flywheel with an aftermarket clutch.

I read it has to do with the added pressure of the aftermarket clutch
that contributes to it shattering as well.

Some places have told me as long as I don't race the car it is ok.
They said the stock flywheel is just not built to hold what the aftermarket
clutches put out.

Anyone know anything on this?

 

[Tom]

The stock flywheel is for HP. Yes there are better performance flywheels out there, but that doesn't mean there necessary. However, I would never recommend a stock flywheel for a Mcloed twin disk set up!

As for the Exedy clutches, they are wonderful with the stock flywheel. I did not use a shim with my 400. I personally prefer to stay away from set ups requiring or suggesting "Shims".

 

[Blacksmoke]

Another question.

I bought my stock flywheel from newtakeoff.com

Are these actually flywheels that come off Mustangs or are they
produced by someone else and made just like them?

 

[KDT]

I found my problem. My input shaft is twisted. The NTO flywheel wasn't the cause of my grinding so you should be fine using it. I went ahead and ordered an Exedy flywheel before I found the twisted shaft. Now that it's on the way, I will probably go ahead and put it in. I will also need another disk because I will be going 26 spline a soon as I can figure out exactly what I am going to do and can afford right now.