Need help choosing a clutch kit for an r154

[Dan88t]

Heloo! I haven't posted here in a looooong time but it's spring and I'm finally have a drivable Supra again after years of staring at piles of parts and parts-cars and now I've got to choose a clutch kit.
Here's the background on my dilemma: 1. I've been driving for 17 years but I've got less than 6 hours total driving time in a car with a manual transmission - in other words, I suck at driving stick right now.
2. In the car right now is a w58 tranny with an iffy clutch that I'm learning on and killing - I have 2 working r154 trannys but no good r154 clutch - hence the need for one, I do have the stock pressure plate and flywheel but I don't know if the stock pressure plate can handle whatever HP/TQ I manage to put out
3. Some of the Mods installed: 3" turbo back exhaust, Lexus/550/Walbro/SAFC2, big IC w/2.5" hard pipes,EBC, Wideband... (all completely untuned at this point obviously due to 5+ pounds of boost slipping the clutch)

Anyway, I need recommendations, I need a clutch kit that won't be too hard for a newbie like myself to handle, will hold the horsepower the car will make (once tuned), and will be comfortable for a daily driver... I really want to stay in the $500 range but from what I'm seeing the sub-$500 ones don't have the greatest reviews.
I see XTD clutch kits all over ebay for cheap - how bad do they suck?
I see Spec stage 3's for $500'ish but I'd heard those are hard to drive?
I saw that the HPF bronze kit had good reviews but some people said that it was a bear to drive - and it's more than i'd like to spend...

Thanks for any advice! I'm new to this manual tranny stuff, hopefully i can at least get used to driving one soon!

 

[customs]

Drift motion sells ACT clutches. I like mine ALOT.
I am running the ACT extreme clutch kit (stage 4 as they call it). I had never owned a manual car before my supra and basically learned to daily drive a manual car with this clutch. The engagement in the clutch isnt really aggressive but it does chatter at lower rpms due to it being a 6-puck. The clutch pedal is also considerably heavier than the stock setup. I have always been one to do things once and do it right the first time, that is why I suggest this clutch. If this is out of your price range or want something a little more forgiving you can go with the ACT heavy duty clutch kit with the full face disc.

Shit, you could even buy the stock pressure plate and purchase the action 6-puck ceramic/metallic disc. will hold more than the stock pressure plate and disc while keeping the stock pedal feel with a little more harsh engagement.

In the end I say fork out the cash and get the good clutch that will hold anything you can throw at it, and still offers street like qualities.

 

[northwestsupra]

There is a sticky on xtd clutch. Don't buy it they are awful. Mine chattered really bad. I have opted for the act extreme also. I don't know how it is but I can at least say the pedal is heavier. Act told me it wasn't aggressive though but it was strong.

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[Dan88t]

Thanks for the advice!
On the XTD, I was looking at them on Ebay saying to myself "man, that name is familiar, must be a popular kit!" then I saw the sticky and went "oh yeah! That's where I remember the name from"

On the ACT kits on Driftmotion, there's the stage 3 that says it's rated to 408ft/lbs and the Extreme (stage 4) that you guys are recommending that holds over 630ft/lbs. From what I've read of other people having the same mods as myself it seems that I'm going to be just under 400ft/lbs right? I'm not being cheap, the price is close enough on the two that that's not an issue, I just want to make sure I don't give up a ton of comfort - the stage 3 has a full face disc and, I may be wrong here, I was thinking that would cut down on chatter and shift smoother? I assume with the lower

The car isn't going to be raced, I mean I might show off here and there and make high speed pulls on the highway sometimes but I won't be drag racing or taking it to any track days... Would the stage 3 be 1. easier to drive and 2. able to handle the car with the mods listed in my first post?

Thanks again!

 

[customs]

The car isn't going to be raced, I mean I might show off here and there and make high speed pulls on the highway sometimes but I won't be drag racing or taking it to any track days... Would the stage 3 be 1. easier to drive and 2. able to handle the car with the mods listed in my first post?

Thanks again!

I think thats a good bet. Having the full face disc will give you a smoother engagement thus making it easier to drive. You wont be making over 400 ftlb with those mods and this clutch will hold atleast that.

I say you would be safe to go with the "stage 3" ACT clutch kit. Make sure you go with the whole kit which replaces the throw out bearing, as well as the pilot bearing.

 

[SupraMedical68]

I'm going to be trying out the Spec Stage 3+, it's sitting around right now just waiting to be put on. The stage 2+ and stage 3+ are both full disc which should make them alot less of a "on and off switch".

 

[jonny87turbo]

I have the south bend OFE Street Series Clutch thats a full face clutch in my car and my car puts down 500rwhp with no problems..

 

[FullNelson]

I can attest to Southbend clutches being easy to drive. No comment on how much power it holds or price range though.

 

[midnight_mk3]

Not to hijack the thread but I've got the same issue. just picked up a 1j swapped car with a dead clutch, car just has bpu mods nothing crazy. i wanted a better than factory clutch but I've been scared shitless with all the talk of crank walk on these motors due to heavy pressure plates. i was thinking of a spec stage 2+ or a clutchmasters fx200 like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250488131964&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en


anyone care to chime in? please i REALLY need someone else's opinion on this matter..

 

[Supra60-1]

Drift motion sells ACT clutches. I like mine ALOT.
I am running the ACT extreme clutch kit (stage 4 as they call it). I had never owned a manual car before my supra and basically learned to daily drive a manual car with this clutch. The engagement in the clutch isnt really aggressive but it does chatter at lower rpms due to it being a 6-puck. The clutch pedal is also considerably heavier than the stock setup. I have always been one to do things once and do it right the first time, that is why I suggest this clutch. If this is out of your price range or want something a little more forgiving you can go with the ACT heavy duty clutch kit with the full face disc.

Shit, you could even buy the stock pressure plate and purchase the action 6-puck ceramic/metallic disc. will hold more than the stock pressure plate and disc while keeping the stock pedal feel with a little more harsh engagement.

In the end I say fork out the cash and get the good clutch that will hold anything you can throw at it, and still offers street like qualities.

Is the ACT made with the same massive cast pressure plate housing? What power are you making?