2.4 upgrades - Clutch, Flywheel, Ram air intake

[cerberus]

I really like my Sky. It's my fun car. Everyone has their own perceptions and expectations with their cars and I have some pretty specific ones of my own. I've had my car for about 15 months and some things about the 2.4 have bugged me for most of that time. I don't want to buy a RL and I like to experiment and try things, so I made a plan and had RPi make a few changes.

- Clutch. I didn't care for the engagement point, and the thing felt too light to me. We changed that to a Stage 2 performance clutch with a heavier feel and much lower engagement point.

- Flywheel. To me, it seems like the revs build slowly and fall slowly. 21.4 lbs IIRC with the stock flywheel made the car feel lethargic and slow. The 2.4 has power and torque, but I wasn't feelin it. The lightweight flywheel we added really opens up the rpms.

- Intake. My biggest complaint in normal day to day driving comes from cruising in 5th gear on a slight uphill grade at freeway speed. That's my most uncomfortable time, and it seems I spend a lot of time thinking about gearing and rpms when I need to move. I figured my biggest power addition considering CARB legal options was a custom ram air intake.


I picked my car up two days ago, and what a difference. This is very close to the car I wanted to buy. It's a little louder and deeper with the dual Stealth exhaust it already had. Pickup is much improved. The thing really pulls in low gears now. I gotta watch that as I've already had one surprise on a road I know well. Good thing the car behind was so far back. Well, sorta. On the highway I can accelerate where I couldn't do much before. It's not turbo accel, but enough to get the job done. This is a very fun car. It may be a bit brutish, with perhaps a touch of Brutus, but this is much more of the car I had in mind back when I placed my deposit in '05.

Eloy already posted some pics in the Cronus: Lung and Hip Surgery thread. We'll get this thing on the dyno once I get the clutch broken in.

[vfx]

you forgot to mention that the intake looks cool!

chris

[Seagull]

It is nice when you can make something the way that you want it.

[cerberus]

Originally Posted by vfx

you forgot to mention that the intake looks cool!

It really changed the sound. Driving up to the house that first night a neighbor stood out on the corner listening and grinning. It's very deep now. He loved the sound. Said it didn't sound like those tinny fart can cars buzzin around town. It reminded him of the old cars he used to have. 'Course I looked cool pullin up the driveway into the garage in my new "fixed" ride. Yup. Stalled it.

[RPIpower]

The cool thing also is that you are not getting ANY thing but ambient air now. There is absolutely no in engine compartment air getting into the engine now.

[Valistener]

Originally Posted by RPIpower

The cool thing also is that you are not getting ANY thing but ambient air now. There is absolutely no in engine compartment air getting into the engine now.

Have you tried making a scoop type hose to go into the intake? I dont much care for the holes cut into my grill. I'd prefer some more subtle.

[RPIpower]

Originally Posted by Valistener

Have you tried making a scoop type hose to go into the intake? I dont much care for the holes cut into my grill. I'd prefer some more subtle.

I dont know how much more subtle a scoop would be. Hehe. The original design was to go by the fog lights but Mark wanted maximum performance and with a straight shot from the center, it gave the intake a more "ram" affect.

[cerberus]

Cutting the grill may not be for everyone, but the center grill seemed a pretty good place for me. I'll get some pics up this evening. The intake hoses dont stand out much from a distance as they get lost in the shadows underneath the front of the car. Seemed a pretty small price to pay for the results.

[Ernest]

Awesome, I can attest to lighter flywheel, it really brings the power on quick I installed a 10# lighter flywheel on ZOE and the quickness was very notable

Congrats on the MODS, ain't horsepower addicting?

[RPIpower]

Originally Posted by Ernest

Awesome, I can attest to lighter flywheel, it really brings the power on quick I installed a 10# lighter flywheel on ZOE and the quickness was very notable

Congrats on the MODS, ain't horsepower addicting?

Hahah, you know it! Its even more addicting doing stuff that actually works.

[Valistener]

Originally Posted by RPIpower

I dont know how much more subtle a scoop would be. Hehe. The original design was to go by the fog lights but Mark wanted maximum performance and with a straight shot from the center, it gave the intake a more "ram" affect.

I guess I was thinking of a black platic scoop that would be at the top of the grill (no holes) that would have a short hose running into the stock air box. This was you wouldn't notice anything different unless you squated in front of the car and it would be tough to see even with the hood up.

[RPIpower]

Originally Posted by Valistener

I guess I was thinking of a black platic scoop that would be at the top of the grill (no holes) that would have a short hose running into the stock air box. This was you wouldn't notice anything different unless you squated in front of the car and it would be tough to see even with the hood up.

If you are talking about the fake grill just under the chrome saturn emblem, its not a good location as that piece under there is part of what secures the bumper in place. Having to put a scoop there will not only ram water in, it would compromise how the bumper is secured to the car. That area is also almost in line (verticle position) with the air filter making it more difficult for the air to pressurize in through the filter.

[Valistener]

Originally Posted by RPIpower

If you are talking about the fake grill just under the chrome saturn emblem, its not a good location as that piece under there is part of what secures the bumper in place. Having to put a scoop there will not only ram water in, it would compromise how the bumper is secured to the car. That area is also almost in line (verticle position) with the air filter making it more difficult for the air to pressurize in through the filter.

Nope not that grill, the lower one, just at the top of that grill.

Edit: Looking at the picture again, basically where the two holes are now, but wider but nut as tall maybe.

[RPIpower]

Originally Posted by Valistener

Nope not that grill, the lower one, just at the top of that grill.

Edit: Looking at the picture again, basically where the two holes are now, but wider but nut as tall maybe.

Im not sure which one you are talking about but we have looked at different options before going with this solution. You have the hood, then chrome piece with saturn emblem, then right under it is a fake mesh/grill, then bumper, then main mesh/grill (where we drilled).

[Valistener]

Originally Posted by RPIpower

Im not sure which one you are talking about but we have looked at different options before going with this solution. You have the hood, then chrome piece with saturn emblem, then right under it is a fake mesh/grill, then bumper, then main mesh/grill (where we drilled).

I am talkng about the main mesh grill where you drilled. I am sure what you have done is very efficient. I am just trying to think of something as good or ever nearly as good without cutting and that would be nearly undetectable..

[Valistener]

A very quick-rough example in paint

[RPIpower]

Originally Posted by Valistener

A very quick-rough example in paint

Ah ok, I gotcha. That wouldnt work out too well since the clips are above that area you painted black. It would also be very expensive to fabricate a scoop going from that surface area up to the box completely sealed. We could probably do it but I dont think anyone would want to pay $1500+ to fabricate something like that.

[xmicro_Redline]

When I eventually replace the clutch, I am going with a lighter fly wheel for sure. I also will do the RPI Larger Intercooler for the turbo. I am going for the slotted rotors when I eventually need to replace the factory ones.

I am happy with the RL as it stands but as I need to do work I will be upgrading. Thanks for the positive informative post and......pictures....please!

[cerberus]

Originally Posted by Valistener

A very quick-rough example in paint

I have got to bust out the touch up paint.