So the car is back on the road, after years stopped at the garage, and some issues arose instantly.
1- the clutch... it slips midrange.
2- wheel bearings are shot.
Evidently, I instructed the mechanic to replace the bearings with OEM parts, but not the clutch. That, I took under my care as, again, I believe that OEM is always a compromise, and an s2000 should be a no compromise car.
As such, after looking for several alternatives, ai decided to go for: Competition Clutch.
Stage 4 to be precise, and since we are to open the thing... flywheel was an easy hoock-up, so, UltraLight flywheel is ordered too.
I'll update the post with new images as I get the parts, but for now, some ebay screeshots will do.
1- ultra light competition clutches flywheel
2- stage4, ceramic 6pad spring'd competition clutch with 300% clamp force pressure plate
Stay tuned... but this mod will make the already amazing mid-range (AEM V2) extend rigth into vtec range as rotational inertia is reduced and High flow (decat) will improve high-end delivery.
Response should also improve, but i'm cooking a diferent approach for that one... depending how the PUMA ST220 itb project goes, I may create a killer recipie that doesn't bankrupt you, for s2k's
Update: WOW
The car feels a lot more rev happy. And if you lift-off (or reverse) it sounds like a grinder, but hey machanical noise is part of the fun... this is why I hate comfortable and filtered-out cars in the first place.
Under vtec is seams quicker to gain revs and evidently it's a hitch in slow traffic. The engagement is close to all or nothing and with about 8cm pedal travel...but the worse is that, unless you plant the back of your foot on the car floor and leverage, the 300% more clamping force makes you stall the car or spin the tires. So yeah, slow traffic if bad, but the s2k was not built to live on a traffic in the first place.
The first day of rain made me spin 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (under vtec), and fortinately I heel&toe for years now, else the first shift down would have been... bad... bad is the word for locking your reqr wheels mid highway exit.
Very good upgrade, but DO take the driveability impact into consideration if you don't have a dailly driver alternative to your s2k.
The difference in weight between the oem cluth assembly (spring, plate and flyweel) is considerable. The car will stall easier and the speed to gain or loose rpms will also be quicker.
In my case, with an AEM v2 CAI and a decat job you can clearly feel a stronger vtec kick.
