Locomaaan

iTrader: (1)

I am going to make a long story short.

I have been in contact with Marcus from Heeltoe because i am looking for an alminum flywheel and aftermarket clutch for my car and as we all know there are little to no options out there for us.

He has gone out if his way and decided that he would get the ball rolling on a aluminum flywheel and clutchmaster kit solution for us UA7 6spd guys.

He has sent an OEM flywheel to AASCO who manufactures flywheels and he is getting them to produce an aluminum light weight version for us, he is also having them manufacture the proper ring gear for it. Once the flywheel is ready he is sending it to ClutchMaster and getting them to pair it up with a clutch so he can sell it as a complete kit.

Like i said, the ball is already rolling and he figures that more people will jump on board, we figure the demand is there now. All I know is that im getting a kit FO SHO!!!!!

That is all the info i have but im sure he is willing to answer any question you may have if you are interested. The reason im am posting this info is because he said hes been very so he asked me if i could post something in the forum, it was the least i could do and gladly said yes. Marcus is a stand-up guy and those who have ever done business with him would say the same.

sinaa

Sounds great! I've got some more life left before i need a replacement kit. I will definitely go for this option when it's available!

FCVadi

iTrader: (3)

I am interested.. main thing to know is how it feels compared to the tilton twin-disc

AccordFlex

iTrader: (1)

I tried to do the lightweight flywheel for my vehicle and had no luck because they had no gear rings. Would be cool to have these off the shelf now.

Atlas.46

and i just order oem stuff..

FCVadi

iTrader: (3)

hahah .. OEM is pretty good for our TLs compared to other cars but I am always curious to see if something else is better

i_love_cars

iTrader: (1)

I can vouch for this as well. I got my race heads and am now just waiting on my cams - when I'm done I have full faith that my OEM clutch will not hold the power.

So I've been researching clutches and results of aftermarket clutches are inconclusive at best for our cars - some people probably installed wrong, or mated the clutch to the wrong flywheel, we also now know that the ring gear is different in the flywheel from 04-06 TL compared to 07-08 Type-S, yet Clutchmasters has always advertised the same FW for all 04-08 TL. Things like that concern me. I searched Acurazine and the threads are just a clusterfuck of results.

I've got an updated timeline from Marcus that ring gear production will be finished in the next 2-3 weeks, which probably puts us 6 weeks out from a flywheel being completed, then another couple weeks at CM for a clutch to be made. Right now it sounds like it will use the CM pressure plate but may have a custom disc.

As the OP stated - Marcus has expressed interest in spreading some buzz about this and re-iterated it to me as well - he has a significant amount of money invested in this so the more people are aware of this solution, the better.

My only concern right now is that I threw money at my computer screen and nothing happened.

Locomaaan

iTrader: (1)

So its taken a bit longer than was expected but strangely it is expected when you are getting something manufactured so ive been eaiting patiently, however everything is back on track and we should be expecting our kits in 3-4 weeks!!

Cant wait!!

FamilyGuy

Any news? I dont see a flywheel or full kits in CM's website for us, only clutch kits without a flywheel.

EDIT: just saw that XLR8 has a FW listed on their site from clutchmasters.

Excelerate

iTrader: (1)

CM has a Type S flywheel but it requires you send in your ring gear from your factory flywheel to them.

FamilyGuy

That means the car would be down for days waiting on shipping, plus to re-use an old ring gear. Is the ring gear available from honda new by itself?

JJH

iTrader: (1)

Yes ^ Or I could sell you mine from my OEM...but I would go with Spec over CM, just saying.

losiglow

iTrader: (1)

Did you go with the SA40A-3 flywheel here?:

http://www.specclutch.com/cars/Acura/TL/2006/Single
http://www.lmperformance.com/559780/104.html

How have you liked the Stage 3+ clutch and Aluminum flywheel combo? Has it been pretty street friendly? Do you know how much lighter it is than the stock flywheel?

AccordFlex

iTrader: (1)

I think that by Clutch master not having a ring gear is ridiculous. They lose business time and time again because of this issue and you think that they would get their shit straight on this. I had this issue when I got my new clutch as well. Wanted me to send my old one in to be pressed into the new one. Sorry not gonna have my vehicle held up at the shop for 3 weeks while I wait for it to ship both ways and then have a week down time at the shop while its being pressed.

make the god damn ring gear and have them in stock. The TL-S is becoming a much more attainable car for people along with more people interested in performance builds on this car.

Excelerate

iTrader: (1)

No they only can get it by buying an entire flywheel.

Really? We've had horrible experiences with SPEC. Quality issues, painted OE unmodified pressure plates, fitment issues, etc. We refuse to sell their stuff anymore.

EvilVirus

iTrader: (8)

maharajamd

iTrader: (1)

That's what I told him. But he told me those issues are just the stage 1 and or 2. But what he got was all new, quality, SPEC parts.

EvilVirus

iTrader: (8)

at you avi

FamilyGuy

He has a type s, so part number SA40A-2. Weighs 14.2lbs.

I think the CM flywheel is 15lbs, so pretty much the same.

FamilyGuy

This really blows...I keep hearing bad things about Spec, and CM means I re-use my old ring gear, and my car is down for who knows how long. They have a few bad reviews here and there too. I think either way you take some risk.

I just want a full kit from a single manufacturer with some acceptable degree of fit and quality...Looks like I'm gonna have to mickey mouse it...Spec flywheel + CM clutch kit...??

Do we know who makes the OEM clutch and flywheel?

maharajamd

iTrader: (1)

Luk for both, I think. I know the clutch is at least. And they can be had for fairly cheap.

FamilyGuy

Do you think the OEM clutch would hold bolt-ons and a 75-100 shot of no2?

EDIT: actually, dont think that would work...solid flywheel needs spring hub clutch, which the OEM clutch isn't, since OEM flywheel is dual mass, correct me if I'm wrong.

Excelerate

iTrader: (1)

Why not just use the OE flywheel and CM clutch kit?

maharajamd

iTrader: (1)

Think it's been said the stock clutch can handle up to 400. It may be 350, I can't recall exactly.

thisaznboi88

iTrader: (7)

the clutch compound can. The pressure plate dies first.

FamilyGuy

I could, I just figured since the clutch is toast from its previous owner and I have to get in there to replace it, wouldn't hurt to spring a few more dollars for a lightweight flywheel, nothing too drastic, something over 12lbs, free up a few horses in acceleration without sacrificing too much inertia for daily driving. It's hard to make power with this car in NA, so any type of weight savings come in handy and supplement power bolt ons. I have no idea what kind of shape the original flywheel is in either. Figured I'd just do the whole thing, and future proof myself for a potential 75-100 shot nitrous setup while I'm at it.

Torque right? That *might* work...I dont know how much torque a 75-100 shot adds on a tl. My friend says he made 40hp at the wheels with a 75 shot, dont know how much tq, but stock clutch is holding fine.

FamilyGuy

Correction, my buddy made 325hp with the 75 shot and a couple bolt ons. Stock clutch holds.

EvilVirus

iTrader: (8)

If OEM clutch can hold bolt ons and a supercharger (Hispeed) then I pretty sure it will hold on to no2

JJH

iTrader: (1)

No, I went with the SA403F-2 Clutch Kit and the SA40A-2 lightweight aluminum flywheel. Yes, very street friendly. Andy (gerzand) also runs this same setup. No complaints whatsoever. I'm still in the break in period, but I love the way my car drives now. It's half the weight I believe. 14lbs vs 28lbs dual mass oem.

http://www.specclutch.com/cars/Acura/TL/2007/Single

I read about these same issues in the past. I know a few different people running this exact same set up that I am with absolutely no problems and they love it just as much as I do. Perhaps in the early days SPEC was using rebranded OEM components for their stage 1 and stage 2 kits but I can assure you what they use for their stage 3+ kit is not OEM and is very high quality. I did my due diligence on this for months before pulling the trigger and had multiple conversations with the engineers of this clutch/flywheel to make sure that all previous issues that people have had were taken care of.

^ For stage 3+, it's all SPEC parts. No OEM. Not even the ring gear.

Luk. Go with Spec.

FamilyGuy

I think I'm gonna have to go with Spec all the way. They claim their flywheel isn't compatible with the CM clutch due to the oem pressure plate design.

JJH

iTrader: (1)

Does CM use the OEM pressure plate? I would want to avoid that at all costs since that is where a lot of problems arise with the OEM clutch.

Bada$$VTEC

iTrader: (1)

Not sure about yall Type S but my '05 didnt use oem pressure plate,

i did however see SACHS engraved on my pressure plate which was white.

I just installed the clutchmasters stage 3 last week,still in break in period like you^

thisaznboi88

iTrader: (7)

I would run away. Far far away. if they tell you they use OEM pressure plate style.

thorclark

Im in the market for a new flywheel.

FamilyGuy

They're telling me the opposite. They claim "...a complete redesign of the restrictive and weak factory SAC pressure plate assemblies and feature our billet pressure plate option..." This is for their -2 clutch kits which are needed for their lightweight flywheel. They also sell regular clutch kits for the oem dual mass flywheel. I'm getting their lightweight flywheel so I need to match the clutch to that. So I cant use a CM clutch apparently, because they're made with the oem pressure plate design and supposedly doesn't mate to the spec flywheel. I voiced my concerns to spec regarding their quality and they assure me they dont use oem parts re-painted...of course, what else are they going to say. Heeeere we go

What's wrong with the oem pressure plate style?

bubba68

I'm so lost on what to do I have a 06with greedy evo cat back p2r throttle body spacer arm CAI and going to do the third cat delete I would go back to stock if I could get the clutch tool but think that I want a light weight flywheel and standard style clutch

FamilyGuy

The factory setup uses a dual mass flywheel and solid disc clutch. A lightweight flywheel is a solid single disc flywheel, meaning it removes the dampening of a dual mass construction. You need / want dampening somewhere in the system for a street daily driver, otherwise will experience chatter and all kinds of noises and vibrations between engine and driveline (not fun to drive). Thus changing to a lighweight flywheel means you also need to change from the oem solid disc clutch to a spring hub clutch disc (spring hub = dampening). Make sense? I'm not an expert in clutch systems but this is what I've gathered so far. Others feel free to chip in or correct me if I'm wrong. Thx.

Spec claims their lightweight flywheel frees up ~12whp. They didn't say which gear or rpm, so I don't know.

FamilyGuy

Dampening from a dual mass flywheel / spring hub clutch also help absorb the torque blips from each cylinder firing, for a smooth / linear power delivery between engine and driveline. Without this dampening, other driveline components will see increased stress and can wear out / fail prematurely. Experts please confirm / deny / correct - thx.

DMZ

I think you guys are nutz to spend all that extra money. I just replaced my clutch with the LUK kit ($165 delivered from rockauto) and everything is just fine. Even the flywheel which I didn't have to replace is available from rockauto for about $265. OEM parts without the Honda name on the package.
.
.

FamilyGuy

We spend ~$1k on avg on just an exhaust for sound and ~10hp, so relatively speaking...for me I need a new clutch anyway from previous owner and my mechanic isn't going to charge any extra to swap the flywheel, so I figure why not. Always wanted to try out a lightweight flywheel.

The springs in a dual mass flywheel wear out over time too they don't last forever.