Well huge props today to ImaKethings and MJR for help with the clutch swap. Am confident that without them I'd still be looking up at the transmission, confused, wondering how the hell I'm even gonna start taking it out. Think even if I'd somehow managed to get the mission off, the 54mm flywheel nut that greeted me would have destroyed me. They helped me out (or rather did the work despite my best attempts to assist/hinder them) and now I'm well on the way to breaking this clutch in.
Also, the lightened flywheel saga was sorted out in the end. Almost 3mm was shaved off it in order to try and find an undamaged surface. But find one we did and now the flywheel is extra-light. Means I have to rev a little more on hill starts, but found out on the way home that without the silencer in my exhaust, hill starts now set off car alarms! Felt so much lighter though: stock flywheel weighs 22lbs and the Exedy lightened one that went in was 10.2lbs after machining including rear counterweight which is a hell of a lot of difference (a weight reduction of 53% in fact). There was a bit of concern whether the flywheel would be ok with that much taken off the surface, but we reckoned that with the power I was making it's not gonna be an issue. Put it this way: am not gonna be running a T88 in the very near future!
So it went in without any huge drama and even the notoriously hard to remove pilot bearing was pulled out relatively easily. Threw in an ACT Street/Strip clutch setup which has been recommended by a lot of FC guys (cheers to Skylinessuck for help in getting that). Over 300 torques was applied in putting the big ass flywheel bolt back on and everything lined up perfectly. One thing I did notice while under the car is that almost all of the bushings I could see down there needed replacing. Will have to work on that, especially the front end, as it's a bit of a bumpy ride when you get onto the country roads. Could be the front coilovers need overhauling/replacing but not sure yet. Will go on the "to do" list.
And also got a short shifter fitted to the car after a bit of fabrication work by MJR. Can now go through all the gears with basically a flick of the wrist. Because the flywheel's so light, it makes hill starts a little fun, but overall am very pleased. The clutch pedal actually feels lighter than stock for some reason. Still breaking it in so no boost yet but when I put my foot down I know I'm gonna have to watch the gauge for that boost creep as it's gonna come up even faster now.
ACT Street/Strip clutch disc & plate
Counterweight to compensate for the lightened flywheel
Extra crap
Off with the old flywheel...
...and on with the new (should read 2.852mm cut)
Old clutch disc had seen better days
13B exposed
New pilot bearing in & ready for action
Counterweight on
And ready for the clutch
Apparently I must have been asked to look as much of a tool as possible on the photos!
Final shot of my trying to pretend like I did the work myself!
