RS Flywheel and clutch

[wozy]

My DMF is well on its way out and I was about to press the go button and have it and the clutch replaced when a heads up on here about the quotation I had received and its price, made me sit up and think about different options and also looking to reduce the cost .

Anyway, a very slightly used RS clutch and flywheel is on its way (1500 miles, non track).

I know about the stalling issues, but anymore feedback (good or bad) would be most appreciated of what to expect.

 

[Ridders]

Hi Wozy,

interested in how you get on as my C2 is on 66,000 miles with no record of clutch change and fancied an RS unit when it needs replacing

Obviously no help to your question - sorry (but I'm sure I'm not alone)

Ridders

 

[Endoman]

Evidently a bit of gearbox chatter at idle and a tendency to stall if you are a bit slow footed which is why the idle speed is increased, re chip needed. More a track mod than a street one. The MGA twin cam used a steel flywheel which was substantially lighter than the std cast iron one enabling better acceleration and faster gear changes and that was nearly 60yrs ago. What a beautiful car that was.

 

[Sutton]

I had a lwf fitted by JZ Machtec. The idle speed isn't increased but the car will blip the throttle itself for the first 30 seconds when cold and then settle into a steady idle afterwards.

There is increased gear chatter, barely noticeable at idle but can be very pronounced when pulling away at low speed in a high gear. The extra responsiveness makes the car easier to heel and toe and increases enjoyment as a result.

 

[Gaity]

As Sutton describes, there can be a bit of chatter under load from low speed if you've been too lazy to change down a gear but this is easy to live with and it is an enjoyable addition to the car. Throttle response is improved - blips very crisply. No stalling issues with mine ('96 C4S), although my install included a 200 cell sport cat and remap (Wayne Schofield) at the same time. It's a bit of a hooligan now but I wouldn't have it any other way

 

[wfarrell]

...I've had this set-up on my 993 for just over a year now ...took a bit of time to acclimatise (i.e. avoid stalls etc)

Obviously the lightweight flywheel has lower inertia - the negative is that there is less "torque reserve" for stop-start town traffic, junctions, etc. Couple this with higher clutch pedal force and improved throttle response -- the car feels quite sensitive and it's quite easy to stall and/or flare the revs during pull-away.

After experimenting, my humble advice is to deploy a deliberate slow clutch application and virtually no/min throttle during pull away. This will increase clutch life and help reduce stalls (always embarrassing!)

None the less, the car feels greatly enhanced during "spirited" driving -- much more responsive vs. the DMF alternative.

Hope that helps (a bit)

Will

 

[wozy]

Cheers lads

Getting the LFW and clutch next weekend and hopefully getting installed the week after. it seems most like it a lot, I'm getting quite excited. My worn DMF is becoming a pain in the butt.

 

[soin]

My newly acquired c4 cab has a lwf fitted and on occasion will stall, I recently fitted a Steve Wong chip lwf3 version which did nothing to cure stalling issues and caused the engine to hunt quite often, usually when trying to park or make 3 point turns in crowded areas ( people looking at you as if you couldn't drive ), on the plus side the idle was raised from around 750 to more like 900 which feels a little better, there may have been a little more oomph towards the top of the rev range but barely noticeable, I have returned the chip for a refund as it did not cure my stalls as advertised and have refitted the factory chip, alls I do is work down through the gearbox and use engine braking as much as poss depressing the clutch at the very last minute from 2nd gear just above 1500 rpms and stalling can be easily avoided, it ll catch you out every now and then but is not a major issue, the car does rev a lot freer than the previous cars I viewed and felt faster than the 98 VRAM car I was viewing, mine is a 95, I think you'll appreciate the setup

 

[Endoman]

Shame about the Steve Wong chip I have one in my non VR and its great though I will probably let Wayne at it sometime. As I keep saying lwf is not a street mod but wtf do I know after 20 yrs of racing.

 

[wozy]

Shame about the Steve Wong chip I have one in my non VR and its great though I will probably let Wayne at it sometime. As I keep saying lwf is not a street mod but wtf do I know after 20 yrs of racing.

The reason behind it for me at least was cost. I need a new DMF and the parts alone to include a clutch were over £1K. I've been offered a nearly new (1500 mile) RS clutch and LWF and all the gubbins for £300.00, with no track work, hence a large saving.
This was why asked the question before I bought it on here and on PH. If all or most of the replies had been negative then I wouldn't have gone any further.
The outcome has suprised me, (because I expected to be talked out of it)as those that have fitted it mainly state there are some stalling issues, but at least 90-95% of the replies still think it worth it for the more enjoyment it offers, be it acceleration or making the 993 feel a more sporty ground roots sports car. I don't think I have come across more than one person who has actually regretted it.
I can only go off the majority of these replies as I have no idea.

Agree with your thoughts on the Twin Cam, fab car. I remeber when they were silly money, meaning silly cheap money and very much unloved.

 

[TMin]

well, wtf do I know, never taken it on a track...but, I recently had the LWF and new RS clutch fitted, and the differences for me are:

1. chatter at idle (goes when you depress clutch)
2. whine up to 2k rpm

neither of the above bother me . It hasnt increased idle speed or tendency to stall. I struggled to get a smooth take off at first, but soon learnt to drive it properly!

I will be getting a 'live' remap though to maximise the potential, ie decat.

My car is a VR BTW.

 

[Gubsta]

I've had the RS clutch and flywheel on my non-VR for a few months now. It took some getting used to (hill starts were interesting on the first drive - everything from stalls to wheelspinning out of junctions!)

Now either it has bedded in - or my foot has.

In summary it's slightly more difficult to drive in town but on the open road feels fantastic - downshift blips etc feel much more responsive. Engine seems to rev more freely.

A brillant upgrade IMO.

 

[ch3tman]

There seems to be quite varying feedback as to whether non-VR owners have seen their car plagued by stalling issues following the switch to the RS clutch/flywheel setup - before any remapping to raise the idle revs.

Can this behaviour be narrowed down to anything specific? Why would some non-VR cars be worse off than others? Dirty idle stabliser valve?

Cheers lads

Getting the LFW and clutch next weekend and hopefully getting installed the week after. it seems most like it a lot, I'm getting quite excited. My worn DMF is becoming a pain in the butt.

wozy - how did you get on? Have you seen the stalling issues that seem to affect non-VR models? Any regrets?

 

[wozy]

Hi haven't got there yet, I've got it on my profile but the day I did it was the day I had to cancel it due to work commit ants and not being able to drop it off.
Should be done mid jan so I'll update when it's done