Hey guys,

I just got a new Spec Stage II & aluminum flywheel installed about 2 months ago. I've been noticing a few things different with the drive and feel of the car. I've been having problems with the drive. Whenever I get off the line normally in first, unless I rev it up to 1500-1700 RPM before fully disengaging I get that sound as if you got off the line at 1000 RPM and dont ad enough gas (you know that marble-ish grinding sound). The thing is I get that sound in every gear if I am under 1700 RPM. Is it normal to hear a grinding sound when accelerating under 1700 RPM in 3rd, 4th and 5th? The acceleration is slow and the grinding sound gets more aggressive the more I step on the pedal, but once I get to 2000+ RPM the acceleration returns to normal and the sound goes away. What can I do to eliminate this?

Does this just mean that I've been driving my car wrong the whole time? I've read a post on here where people usually shift between 2500-3000 RPM. I try to shift at 2000 RPM to save gas but it always results in the situation mentioned above.

I also read that with an aluminum flywheel, unless your producing higher torque to compensate for something it becomes difficult to drive. What is the difficulty described (maybe I'm seeing it)?

Could my synchros be messed up? I have a SCT 4 bank chip with the mail tune but I got it when I first got my car. Maybe I need a dyno tune?

Umm...I was in a minor accident and noticed that my body was off alignment and it could be that my frame is not aligned or my fender got pushed back. If if it is the frame, how much would it be to align a frame?

-p3s7

 

I am running the same setup as you and noticed almost the same you are feeling. Dont worry there is nothing wrong. When you lightened up the rotating mass, you lost some lowend power or torque.
You will have to change your driving style due to the changes. You cant "lug" or run in the lower rpm range anymore. Dont use O/D during normal city driving. Shift at around 2500 and try to keep the rpms around 2000.

I know this is not what you wanted to hear, but remember,"There is no positive without a negative"

Are you running any gears other than OEM 3.27's? They will also make the problem seem alot worse. 4.10's will make it all better, except in O/D and below 45 mph. Good Luck!

 

Thanks so much for your post TUFF. I guess gears it is. Going to drop in some 3.73's by summer and work my way up to a supercharger. So I guess I have to revv it up a little higher before engaging 1st?

Anyways, that sorts out a whole lot in my head. lol

-p3s7

 

You need more rpms with just that clutch alone to make it engage smoothly. I know I have the same clutch in mine.

 

Did you find it more bothersome to drive your car? I try not to rev it too high cause I'm running a borla cat back with o/r bassani x pipe and it is loud, but the car is just more difficult to drive like that personally. Should I just just say f*** it and rev it up cause I'm sure all that grind and bog aint too good for my car.

 

A couple of days of driving like this and youll be use to it.

 

WEll the other thing is that my setup was very rough till i got past the 450mile break in and i beat on it. I dont know how many miles you have, but you might be like me. Also I have an o/r H with Mac pro dumps trust me your car isnt so loud you can give it some rpms to get going. Its not like the stock setup where you can almost let it out with no rpms you have to give it some rpms and slip it a bit in first to get a smooth take off and no chatter. It takes some getting used to for sure.

 

Thanks a bunch guys,

Spent the day fixing my car and it ended up that the problem I had was multiplying my problem by a lot.

I had an oil leak coming out of my pcv valve so I got a new one (@50k miles). There was oil all over my valve covers and something wasn't right with the car. Anyways, got that fixed, cleaned my MAF meter, and throttle body.

Coupled with the tips you guys gave me my car is running great now, no more chattering.

I also bought a can of seafoam today but didnt use it. I think the reason my pcv valve was so messed up was because of my previous uses of seafoam via pcv valve induction.

-p3s7

 

How do you think it was doing that?

Regardless I use the vacuum ports from the plenum there are 3 or 4 to choose from I use any one of those when i do it.