New Clutch

[Bobjones]

Seeing as Dan uses NPC and does not mark up like ALOT of other places do, then I would NOT hesitate for a second to recommend Dan. NPC and Dan for a clutch has no competition!!!

(unless you want a Jim Berry...)

I will add that I am constantly amazed at how much people put credit on Japanese products when without a doubt there are better and cheaper home made alternatives...

[Bunta]

just got a quote from dan, its better then anyone else has quoted so far and he does good work from what I have read, im going with him now

Normally he does request not to have quotes posted up, cause things vary from time to time

[Russco]

I went an NPC twin plate ($1800) after I fried 2 Jim Berry single plates (albeit not the same as DirtGarage's one - Jim couldn't do me one of those for my application). Everytime I fried a single plate it cost me $770 to get redone (+ labour to install), a rebuild on the NPC twin plate is $220. The twin plate has done more work than both the single plates put together and it still has not required a rebuild. If anything spins at the track it is the slicks not the clutch

[IanB]

Slapper - how much power are you putting out?

[Russco]

Slapper - how much power are you putting out?

389rwkw running through the rears (RB26 in an R32GTST) - mind you the single plates let go on a lower tune with approx. 320rwkw.

Edited February 2, 2007 by slapper

[shanef]

was that using his 'full monty'?

[Russco]

was that using his 'full monty'?

It was not the same one as DirtGarage's as he couldn;t do that particular clutch for my application, so it would not have been the full monty afaik, it was a carbonic type unit. I asked for a 600hp clutch and it did not hold 600hp on slicks, rather than throwing more $$ away, I spoke to some of the boys at Willowbank with quick GTR's (10sec & under) - all ran twin plates cltuches (most commonly used were Direct Clutch or NPC units), this is why I went for a twin plate and it has held up flawlessly.

[shanef]

hmm interesting...could slicks be the deciding factor? im fairly sure dirtgarage runs on street tyres

[IanB]

Turns out the clutch in my car was the bog stocko nissan organic single plate that they came out with, the gearbox had never been opened.

Its getting a 6 button brass single plate clutch put in it now.

[Swiper the Fox]

hmm interesting...could slicks be the deciding factor? im fairly sure dirtgarage runs on street tyres

we run on mickey thompson drag radials...and 60' in the 1.4's...just as brutal as a slick.

the NPC twin plates are highly regarded, id put one of them in if you didn't want to go single.

dont put a brass clutch in it...you will regret it.

[IanB]

According to dan there quite streetable, so we shall see...

[The Dan]

Turns out the clutch in my car was the bog stocko nissan organic single plate that they came out with, the gearbox had never been opened.

Its getting a 6 button brass single plate clutch put in it now.

Correction...it is NOT a brass button clutch.

It is a 6 puk carbotic plate with a Nismo cover. The cover will be pivot modified to 3000lbs.

[The Dan]

they are harsh and i can just imagine what they are doing to the gearbox

one reason major clutch making companies (i.e os, orc, hks, exceedy, nismo) use more plates is to obtain a higher HP capable clutch, whereas say a well built single (jim berry) only needs one plate as the design of the springs & tabs etc are of such high quality it only needs the single plate. so inother words, the 'major' companies clutch designs are rather shit compared to one from jim. he also doesnt just do singles, he also makes twins (imported from europe) and he modify's the regular twins so they actually work properly. also one very fine example of how capable his clutch is, TWOOGLE (the 32 gtr drag car owned by dirtgarage off here) use to run on one of jims, 2 full years of racing with 440awkw and not one problem.

who would u rather trust and believe, a guy who'se been in the industry for 27 yrs and does solely clutches, or a major company that churns out 1000's of clutches off an assembly line for the domestic market.

I think you should check that statement in bold.

I know for a fact that Jim uses old covers and centres. He pivot modifies the covers to 3600lbs, which is possible but when you have that much clamping pressure on a single plate clutch...you WILL damage the crank. Skylines are renowned for crank damage due to excessive clamping force. I am not doubting that Jim has made some really nice clutches (Dirt Garage etc.) but when you are a regular joe off the street...do you really think you are getting the same clutch?

The friction coeficient on his single 'Full Monty' would enable it to hold around 800-850 flywheel hp and around 750 ft/lbs of torque. This is using a 5 puk carbotic plate. Regardless of this, I know the centre he uses will not stand up to STREET driving punishment of this nature for very long. His 'Full Monty' full face clutch is possible that it would hold around 650 hp at the flywheel and 700 ft/lbs of torque but these figures dramatically decrease during heat soak. In a drag application this clutch would be ok as the clutch plate is not subject to as much heat if it's engaged properly.

Then there is the problem of pedal travel and feel. The pedal feel can be made to be ok depending on the parts used but a full face clutch would have to be custom made without cushioning as the lift clearance of the diaphram would be insufficient otherwise. This would cause the clutch to engage similarly to a button style clutch and somewhat harsh to drive due to it's clamping pressure.

Then there is strength as mentioned before. The centre he uses is just the standard centre or exedy centres whereas NPC use the much larger Nissan centre hub which will pretty much handle anything you can throw at it. I have seen the smaller hubs explode before on only two launches.

There is also price to consider. Why would you go to Jim Berry and pay $1200 for his 'Full Monty' when I can supply you with the same clutch which has better quality parts used (Covers made for Nismo by daikin that are a true antiburst casting), a much stronger hub for around $650. Or the full face one for $550?

Same clutch...only stronger and better quality.

I put the question out there...why do customers constantly get ripped off by people like this? I mean seriously that clutch would retail for no more $750-$800 but he charges like 60% more.

and as for experience, NPC have over 30 years in the clutch industry

:END RANT

[Bunta]

Hai Fiiiiive

It is great to hear someone respond with facts rather than reading from a sales brochure

[IanB]

I get the feeling I have gone to the right man Looking forward to getting the car back.

Correction...it is NOT a brass button clutch.

It is a 6 puk carbotic plate with a Nismo cover. The cover will be pivot modified to 3000lbs.

My Bad

[Squizz]

Turns out the clutch in my car was the bog stocko nissan organic single plate that they came out with, the gearbox had never been opened.

Its getting a 6 button brass single plate clutch put in it now.

I would have kept that pearler to yourself...

...sorry still giggling, how can you possibly confuse a stock weak as a piss clutch with a Nismo double?

[The Dan]

I would have kept that pearler to yourself...

...sorry still giggling, how can you possibly confuse a stock weak as a piss clutch with a Nismo double?

That's easy...he was told it was a Nismo twin plate by the guy he bought it from in October. First Skyline, it's easy to fall victim to lies when it comes to these cars.

[Eug]

I would have kept that pearler to yourself...

...sorry still giggling, how can you possibly confuse a stock weak as a piss clutch with a Nismo double?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAA...

aaaanyway... go a triple plate. it'll be sweet.

[IanB]

Meh I can only go on what im told by the seller of the car. Having never driven a car with a twinplate before, how was I to know?

Its good to see that the situation has caused you to have a few laughs however.

Oh... Sellers comments from earlier in the thread:

I'd definately get that clutch rebuilt if you can, its got such a nice feel and control. Although Yahoo auctions said it was a Nismo twin plate, be prepared for the a small chance it may be a different brand or type, i've had the same thing happen to me before.

[Russco]

when you have that much clamping pressure on a single plate clutch...you WILL damage the crank. Skylines are renowned for crank damage due to excessive clamping force.

This would cause the clutch to engage similarly to a button style clutch and somewhat harsh to drive due to it's clamping pressure.

:END RANT

Funny you said this Dan, my single plate felt like a sledgehammer hitting the engine whereas the twin plate has a much softer engagement.

I never truly appreciated the physical size difference between these clutches until I put my old single plate side-by-side to the NPC twin plate - it was dead easy to see which was the stronger/better engineered unit. The NPC must have weighed twice as much.