Transmission ?'s

[Juice]

After a short stint at The Tire Rack in South Bend, IN I have realized that my clutch is shot. I have purchased a ClutchMasters Stage 3 Clutch as well as a Fidanza light weight fly wheel. However, I am being told that I might lose torque with this setup. Is this correct?

What are things that should be taken care of while the clutch is being installed. Are rings and pinions worth it? What about a 6 speed conversion? I do not know too much about this area of our car. I only want to have to do this once.

 

[nsxtasy]

What are things that should be taken care of while the clutch is being installed.

Basically, anything having to do with the transmission. If the car is in the snap ring range, then replace the snap ring and the upper transmission case. If the teeth on the hub selectors and/or synchros are worn, replace them. And any gearing mods you are considering - ring and pinion, short gears, etc.

Are rings and pinions worth it?

You'll get a variety of opinions, and it really depends on what you're using the car for. If you're looking at drag strip times, then it has real benefit. On a road course, it may help or it may hurt, depending on the particular track (because it only helps at some speeds, and hurts at others).

What about a 6 speed conversion?

The answer is similar to that of the ring and pinion in terms of benefits. However, the six-speed conversion is usually a lot more expensive than R&P and/or short gears, because you're replacing the entire transmission, and six-speeds are not easy to find cheap and/or used.

Here are 0-60 and 1/4 mile times for a '91-94, courtesy of Bob Butler, to help you decide:

Stock 5-speed 5.31 13.67
5-speed with 4.235 R&P 5.18 13.57
5-speed with 4.55 R&P 4.98 13.43
6-speed 5.09 13.56
6-speed with 4.55 R&P 4.74 13.36

Compare the above figures with those resulting from a mod that adds 15 horsepower: 5.00 and 13.35.

 

[Juice]

Interesting. The 6 speed conversion's cost is no where near proportional to the gains aquired. Nothing new there. I am more than a little suprised as to the results of adding 15 bhp.

Anything conveying the result a drop of 50 lbs would bring?

What of my lightweight flywheel? Will I lose more torgue? This is already one of the NSX's weak points and I would hate to degrade it even further.

 

[Ojas]

What of my lightweight flywheel? Will I lose more torgue?

While it may feel like you have less torque from a stop (due to the decreased interia) you will actually have more torque to the wheels.

 

[nsxtasy]

Anything conveying the result a drop of 50 lbs would bring?

Bob's analysis included the result of reducing weight by 100 pounds, and came up with figures of 5.15 and 13.51 seconds.