clutch query

[hsvvtmanta]

I own a vt manta with 5 speed.This is problebly a silly question but is the clutch that hsv put in their cars different to a normal clutch?.I ask this because the height at which the clutch pedal engages is very high,i only have to push the pedal down about 1 inch to disengage the clutch and the pedal still has about another 4 inches before it hits the floor.With all manuals that i've driven before the clutch lets go about half way down and allow a much more gradual engagement.Holden replaced the clutch a couple of weeks ago and i was expecting a change but it's still the same.So really what i'm asking is it normal to ride so high?.

[-HSV-]

I own a vt manta with 5 speed.This is problebly a silly question but is the clutch that hsv put in their cars different to a normal clutch?.I ask this because the height at which the clutch pedal engages is very high,i only have to push the pedal down about 1 inch to disengage the clutch and the pedal still has about another 4 inches before it hits the floor.With all manuals that i've driven before the clutch lets go about half way down and allow a much more gradual engagement.Holden replaced the clutch a couple of weeks ago and i was expecting a change but it's still the same.So really what i'm asking is it normal to ride so high?.im not really sure myself but i would think that your clutch needs adjusting. if you know how to do this, go for it, if not, take it somewhere, if you want to have a go there should be a cable underneath the car on the right hand side of the gearbox. there should be an adjusting nuts along it somewhere.

[dazzle260]

the vt commodores have a getrac gearbox and therefore have hydraulic clutch. there wont be a cable there anywhere.

[-HSV-]

the vt commodores have a getrac gearbox and therefore have hydraulic clutch. there wont be a cable there anywhere.ahh hydralic... stuffed if i know...

[Tim]

Your just better off taking it to a gearbox specialist and get them to adjust it. 8)

[hsvvtmanta]

Thanks people for your replys,i will take your advise and take the car to a gearbox specialist.I won't be taking it back to holden again they don't seem to want to fix anything properly but still charge for the work they supposedly do. 8)

[wagnman]

there are several reasons that could be making your clutch pedal high. The most likley one is from too much enthusiasm with launching the car or spinning the tyres. these cars are not exactly light weight and the clutch as fitted from the factory is a compromise as it is really only just strong enough to handle the v8s power and still remain soft and easy to use. This is something that really pisses me off because Holden and Ford too build cars that go really hard but, due to the blousey public out there who buy these cars and want to be able to drive them like old grannys the engineers cripple what are wiked vehicles with weak clutches so that after only a small amount of hard driving the things are rooted! You sound like either the clutch disk is worn and thus needing replacing (might as well upgrade to heavier unit). Or if the clutch has been replaced in the past it would be worth while investigating by whom the job was done as a good workshop will send the flywheel off to be machined when replacing the clutch but if this was not done or if the step was machined into the flywheel at the wrong hight this will also result in a high pedal. You could try to replace the clutch hydrolic fluid and bleed it up but this does not usually affect the pedal height. these clutches , as far as I know are not adjustable for pedal height which is why the step in the flywheel and the thickness of the friction plats is critical in giving your car a good pedal feel.

[SirHSV]

I was very disappointed with the whole gearbox thing in my Monaro CV8 the shifter had so much travel that sucked for quick changing gears I always thought the gear box was out of a Kenworth??? :? and the gearbox was noisy :shock: . After a few months of heavy take offs the clutch I could feel started to feel softer. Or maybe it was just me haha :lol:

I was told after the mods I did I should change to a harder clutch..

[hsvvtmanta]

The clutch thats in the car now is not even a month old , i had it replaced because it was to high only to get it back and its height is still the same.I had it done by holden which was a nightmare in itself , they said it would take 1 day max only to ring me up to tell me it could take another day or so to get flywheel machined . Im glad to say i only lost the car for 2 days.I agree with SirHSV trying to quick shift is very hard because of the travel in the clutch , but im finding that you only need to give the clutch a little jab and the car will change gears quickly , but is very uncomfortable and trying to get off the mark quick is even harder either the clutch slips because didn't quite have foot high enough or you light up the rear end. :D Not that i'm complaining about that but it would be nice to have the clutch at the right height.When i get some spare cash i will take her into gearbox-clutch specialist and get it fixed up.

[hsvvtmanta]

Just a thought has anyone had any experience with a light weight flywheel in their car .The holden one costs about $750 just for the flywheel , a light weight one cost about the same so if i need to replace the flywheel i'm thinking of going with the light one as long as i'm not going to have problems,any ideas????

[wagnman]

yeh id definatley go for the lightweight one if i was ghanging the flywheel. A light flywheel will help build revs faster. Some people recon the inertia of the heavier flywheel is good for torque and that a light flywheel makes the car more snatchy but i have had two cars with light steel flywheels and they were exelent to drive and reved noticably quicker with the lighter flywheel. Make sure you buy a good one though as some people lighten standard flywheels which is very dangerous. With a light steel flywheel and a heavy duty clutch youll be off and smoking them bags in no time. Might make you start to look at quick shifters and diff gears etc etc etc though so how for do you want to go.

[hsvvtmanta]

What quick shifter is good for the 5 speed getrag gearbox , the shifter in the car now has way to much travel and when you combine that with the problems i allready have with the clutch shift times seem like an eternity , i could change gears quicker in my dads old 78 gemini.I know i shouldn't admit this but i used to own a ford xa 351,it had a toploader gearbox and a hurst indy shifter fitted and it was great , the travel was short and the gearchanges were far quicker than i can perform now.It would be nice to have something that could at least equal that old ford if not better it , so any suggestions ? .Also how about the yellowterra flywheels are they any good , they have a 6.5kg one or is there a better brand.

[wagnman]

the yella terra bits have a really good reputation for toughness. Being an aussie company i would go for their flywheel.

[NixHSV]

I had my clutch replaced by Holden too. It came back and the pedal was still high. maybe just the way it is.

I'm not that impressed with the standard clutch and would like to fit something with a bit more bite to it.

As for the throw, there is a company in Melbourne that supply short throw shifters for HSV's, JHP Products (http://www.jhp.com.au/)

If you have any ideas about a better clutch setup, let me know...