Gearbox and clutch replacement question

Gearbox and clutch replacement question

Author
Discussion

wessexrfc

Original Poster:

4,326 posts

193 months

Thursday 1st May 2014
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The garage have confirmed that the gearbox is screwed and this will be sent to the gearbox man. Does everyone go for the additional oil cooling with the upgraded box and if so, how do you control the pump, it has been suggested this could work of the engine cooling fan as a control, how have others done this??
Next question is the clutch, what is the best one to go for. the clutch is worn, so as the gearbox is out, it makes sense to replace this as well. Kevin has told me that the upgraded Helix can be noisy, is there an alternative, how have people like me, who use the car mainly on fast road use, found the Helix?
Now I'm going down this route I'm take the car to 500 bhp as a max, with high and low boost setting, thanks for any feedback.

Rob_W

1,070 posts

221 months

Thursday 1st May 2014
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I haven't noticed any noise problems with the Helix upgrade?

Hollowpockets

5,908 posts

223 months

Thursday 1st May 2014
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Helix clutch isn't noisy on mine either, it's in great condition too for the work it's done.

Also I wouldn't get the gearbox pump to kick in with the fans as the fans normally come on in traffic, not when your tearing along, you need the pump cooling the box when your pressing on, I'd just put a switch on the dash then it's easy to see when it's on/off and you have control.

G

TuxMan

9,011 posts

245 months

Thursday 1st May 2014
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The 5 and 6 paddle clutch plates do make a squealing noise if you slip the clutch , if you are planning on 500bhp and 420ftlb of torque I would use the uprated pressure plate but with the solid organic clutch plate , it's much smoother and nicer to use . I tried the thermo temp switch fitted on the outside on the gearbox case but it never seemed to come on so I fitted a temp gauge which in brilliant and now switch it on manualy from my steering wheel . Only really need the gearbox cooler on track but it's definitely worth having !!!
There was some talk of helix doing a multiplateclutch but I'm not sure they are doing it yet , what sort of flywheel are you going to do ? Stitch with std or something leightweight ??

Tux

steveobes

631 posts

186 months

Thursday 1st May 2014
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I had uprated pressure plate with solid organic plate n it started to slip at 450 torque
had to get 5 or 6 paddle clutch from jetstreem.
no problems now.

v8yes

1,250 posts

178 months

Thursday 1st May 2014
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I used to get the same issue as Steve with mine

2.5bluenob

1,620 posts

183 months

Thursday 1st May 2014
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i have a VW sensor in the oil line that will turn the pump on when oil gets to temp. Its supposed to be so simple and effective too. Time will tell

wessexrfc

Original Poster:

4,326 posts

193 months

Thursday 1st May 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for the info chaps, haven't thought about fly wheel to be honest, is it needed for 500ish bhp?
It's the squeal when slipping the clutch and general "bite" that I was trying to avoid when general use or when the wife uses it.

TuxMan

9,011 posts

245 months

Friday 2nd May 2014
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In that case mate DO NOT use the paddle plate it's horrible !!!

steveobes

631 posts

186 months

Friday 2nd May 2014
quotequote all
TuxMan said:
In that case mate DO NOT use the paddle plate it's horrible !!!
WOMEN, KNOW YOUR LIMITS.

andygtt

8,345 posts

271 months

Friday 2nd May 2014
quotequote all
I have a manual switch to turn the gearbox cooling on mine, its almost never needed on the road just track as you don't get the box hot enough... I overfit the box by half a litre as well.

the clutch's can make a noise, Ive looked into this a huge a lot and Im fairly confident its all due to the tolerances within the clutch which get closer when you upgrade, so on downshift and when pulling away the clutch vibrates and clips internally... it happens on our cars because we don't have a spigot bearing unlike almost all other gearbox set-ups.

I have a totally different clutch with much tighter tolerances than the helix and the noise was worse than the helix because of it... and test same clutch in another car is silent.

Hollowpockets

5,908 posts

223 months

Friday 2nd May 2014
quotequote all
TuxMan said:
In that case mate DO NOT use the paddle plate it's horrible !!!
Don't be a drama queen, I drove my 6 paddle on the road for a year and it was fine, think it's squealed twice

TuxMan

9,011 posts

245 months

Friday 2nd May 2014
quotequote all
Hollowpockets said:
Don't be a drama queen, I drove my 6 paddle on the road for a year and it was fine, think it's squealed twice
Ok let Vikki drive it for a weekend and see how much it squeals !!!!!

951

614 posts

162 months

Friday 2nd May 2014
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Hollowpockets said:
TuxMan said:
In that case mate DO NOT use the paddle plate it's horrible !!!
Don't be a drama queen, I drove my 6 paddle on the road for a year and it was fine, think it's squealed twice
I think you went for the 5 paddle, Tux?

I have the 6 paddle and it's absolutely fine. It takes up fairly quickly, but is not at all "on/off" or unpleasant - it just drives like a normal car.

Also, it only makes a noise if you don't get the revs up a little when downshifting at fairly slow speeds. At least it did, this year it has started making a bit of a noise if you slip the clutch while pulling away sharply from standing.

As for the cooling, my is run from a temp sensor but never comes on - I guess I don't try hard enough. biggrin

andygtt

8,345 posts

271 months

Friday 2nd May 2014
quotequote all
My helix screeches on downshifts and on fumbled pull aways... not as badly as my tripple plate.... both the upgraded clutches were about the same weight and easier to use than the standard clutch in my old E36 my that I did 70k road miles in without worrying... So I don't think they are bad at all and are easy to use.

Lets be clear, its having to hold levels of torque significantly higher than say a ferrari enzo... so I think they are very good all in all smile

Incidentally the benefit of my tripple over the helix ( I still have the helix and fitenza flywheel on the shelf) is it weighs nothing so the engine revs so quickly on track, and its extremely fast activating without being heavier, helps reduce lag as well... so my pedal moves around 25-30% of the helix and thus consistant 0.3s upshifts are recorded on the motec on track, might even get that faster when I activate the flat shifts in the motec later in the year... the drawback is the downshifts are horrible as the revs drop like a stone between shifts and I have to heal and toe while braking even on the road to match the revs.

wessexrfc

Original Poster:

4,326 posts

193 months

Friday 2nd May 2014
quotequote all
Ok, so looks like the 6 paddle Helix with upgraded pressure plate and organic clutch plate. Not sure about fly wheel, might leave that as it is..... scratchchin

wessexrfc

Original Poster:

4,326 posts

193 months

Wednesday 28th May 2014
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If anyone is looking to upgrade their clutch, Dick or Mandy are the people to talk to on 01327 858006, very helpful people.
The uprated pressure plate comes in @ £320, the organic clutch plate is £172 and the release bearing set is £83, not too bad.

I think I will go with the organic plate rather than the paddle due to the wife driving the car at times. The thing that worried me was that the organic plate is rated to 350ftlb, I'm running over 400ftlb now, so I guess it can handle more. Tux hasn't had any problems and I don't think I'll go above 430ftlb as I feel 500bhp is more than enough for what I want to use the car for.....any thoughts??

GTO600

1,877 posts

258 months

Wednesday 28th May 2014
quotequote all
wessexrfc said:
If anyone is looking to upgrade their clutch, Dick or Mandy are the people to talk to on 01327 858006, very helpful people.
The uprated pressure plate comes in @ £320, the organic clutch plate is £172 and the release bearing set is £83, not too bad.

I think I will go with the organic plate rather than the paddle due to the wife driving the car at times. The thing that worried me was that the organic plate is rated to 350ftlb, I'm running over 400ftlb now, so I guess it can handle more. Tux hasn't had any problems and I don't think I'll go above 430ftlb as I feel 500bhp is more than enough for what I want to use the car for.....any thoughts??
Paul are you sure that's all the organic plate is capable of as it doesn't sound anymore or as good as a standard one in which case why bother ?

TuxMan

9,011 posts

245 months

Wednesday 28th May 2014
quotequote all
I thought the helix organic plate was rated at 450ftlb and what slave cylinder are they quoting for ? It's a Noble only part and cost best part of £200 !!!!!

wessexrfc

Original Poster:

4,326 posts

193 months

Wednesday 28th May 2014
quotequote all
Rated @350 but that's constant rather than in bursts that it would be in the real world. The worrying thing is they have the M12 clutch part number and the M14??? I did tell them they never went into production. Haven't priced for the slave, but worth replacing while its out. They are ringing me tomorrow, so I'll get that sorted as well.