Need new clutch for a NA8, 1.6 Clutch setup on a 1.8?

booki89 · Postby **booki89** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 12:31 am

Hey all,

Been doing some reading and can't quite determine a few things. I need a clutch for my 1994 NA 1.8.

Have been hunting around on eBay for something reasonably priced, found this
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/XTD-HD-CLUTC ... c7a&_uhb=1

The flywheel weight is attractive, its the right price, its HD, but....its for a 1.6?

Do these fit with no mods, is it recommended to run a 1.6 setup? Or am i running a significantly weaker clutch?

The car will be my daily, but hoping to see alot of track work and many spirited runs through the hills.

Any tips recommendation's on what clutch to get would be great! Do I need a HD for what I want to do?
Does anybody run a XTD clutch in there MX5? If so how has it been? Read lots of horror stories...but if a product was so bad, why are they still in business? They must be doing something right!

sailaholic · Postby **sailaholic** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 6:23 am

1.6 clutch is fine aslong as you run a 1.6 flywheel. If your not boosted 1.6 clutch will be fine.

Given the cost of doing a clutch why screw around with something that's got plenty of horror stories. Do it right the first time. Keep in mind if you pay a shop to install and something goes wrong you'll loose the cost saving and more.

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CQYD · Postby **CQYD** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 11:24 am

http://949racing.com/miata-twin-disc-clutch.aspx

I put this in and never looked back. Revs like a motorbike, still streetable and will make your left leg stronger.

Only downsides are that its not very friendly with hilstarts or steep driveways.

if you are not planning much more power, then thats a cheap combo that would work, if you have bigger plans then maybe not.

Personally i would stick to the 1.8 and a more common/ proven setup like Exedy or ACT than for the sake of saving $200.

booki89 · Postby **booki89** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 11:49 am

Hmm, well that 1k setup is probably a bit our of my budget...

Is a standard OEM clutch OK for track days? Or should I go a heavy duty one?

emily_mx5 · Postby **emily_mx5** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 12:26 pm

Get a second hand 1.6L flywheel, have it machined and remove the inertia ring, it shaves a bit of weight off it.
Then pair that with an Xtreme or Exedy HD 1.6 clutch, MX5Mania have really good prices on both.
Will rev more freely than your NA8 currently, and hold more power if you decide on some power mods later.

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CQYD · Postby **CQYD** » Tue Mar 11, 2014 12:34 pm

booki89 wrote:Hmm, well that 1k setup is probably a bit our of my budget...

Is a standard OEM clutch OK for track days? Or should I go a heavy duty one?

how long is a piece of string? really depends of how you drive and how many kms you do and how sticky your tyres are.

But You'll find that the oem clutch will have a shorter service life if you do say 1 track day a month.

don't go Valeo OEM replacement clutch, that lasted me like two trackdays and a motokhana before it was slipping like butter.

booki89 · Postby **booki89** » Wed Mar 12, 2014 5:29 pm

Will be installing the clutch myself,

Where is the best place to buy one? Should I keep hunting on eBay? This car is my daily, but will be my track car as well.

speed freak · Postby **speed freak** » Wed Mar 12, 2014 6:07 pm

Going to the 1.6 flywheel and clutch is great, I did this on my NB8B and the difference is huge. Highly recommend but only if your staying around stock power level otherwise think about your future plans now and get the clutch beefed up a little if you like.

booki89 · Postby **booki89** » Wed Mar 12, 2014 6:21 pm

What clutch did you install? Did you get a used flywheel then just machine it?

It will get some abuse from the track I'd imagine.

speed freak · Postby **speed freak** » Wed Mar 12, 2014 8:04 pm

TBH I dont know the brand of flywheel but its an Exedy clutch kit. HD clutch kit for the B6 motor (NA6) and lightened flywheel for the 1.6 B6 motor. Doing this on my nb8b was a massive improvement since the flywheel is so big and heavy. I think thats why everyone says the 1.8 doesnt like to rev like the NA6 does.

I got mine through Automotive Plus and they also fitted it. Id recommend giving them a call and speak to Jason and have a chat with him. Im sure they would ship a clutch kit and flywheel to you. Or look at MX5 Mania?

cookie · Postby **cookie** » Thu Mar 13, 2014 9:10 am

I've just replaced my na6 stock flywheel with hd clutch with a 10lb wheel and clutch from npc. Is a great combo. If you want a cheap na6 setup for a similar effect I've got one sitting here. Can't comment on the strength require ments of the 1.8 however. Just get a new center and machine flywheel and pressure plate for an instant improvement.

booki89 · Postby **booki89** » Fri Mar 14, 2014 9:18 pm

speed freak wrote:TBH I dont know the brand of flywheel but its an Exedy clutch kit. HD clutch kit for the B6 motor (NA6) and lightened flywheel for the 1.6 B6 motor. Doing this on my nb8b was a massive improvement since the flywheel is so big and heavy. I think thats why everyone says the 1.8 doesnt like to rev like the NA6 does.

I got mine through Automotive Plus and they also fitted it. Id recommend giving them a call and speak to Jason and have a chat with him. Im sure they would ship a clutch kit and flywheel to you. Or look at MX5 Mania?

How recently did you get it fitted? Do you mind me asking how much the kit was? Pm if you like..

Also is there anything else that I should be changing while doing a clutch?

D-Train · Postby **D-Train** » Fri Mar 14, 2014 9:27 pm

I have the 1.6 clutch and flywheel on my NA8 racecar. Highly recommend it! Revs fast and improved acceleration. Felt like a completely different car.

booki89 · Postby **booki89** » Fri Mar 14, 2014 9:29 pm

What brand did you get and where from? Just the standard 1.6 Flywheel or did you get a lightened one?

Did you change any seals while you were in there? Rear main/gearbox ones?

speed freak · Postby **speed freak** » Sat Mar 15, 2014 5:30 pm

booki89 wrote:
speed freak wrote:TBH I dont know the brand of flywheel but its an Exedy clutch kit. HD clutch kit for the B6 motor (NA6) and lightened flywheel for the 1.6 B6 motor. Doing this on my nb8b was a massive improvement since the flywheel is so big and heavy. I think thats why everyone says the 1.8 doesnt like to rev like the NA6 does.

I got mine through Automotive Plus and they also fitted it. Id recommend giving them a call and speak to Jason and have a chat with him. Im sure they would ship a clutch kit and flywheel to you. Or look at MX5 Mania?

How recently did you get it fitted? Do you mind me asking how much the kit was? Pm if you like..

Also is there anything else that I should be changing while doing a clutch?

From memory all up it was about $1200 fitted. About 5 hours labor at $90 p/hr or there abouts then the rest was clutch kit and flywheel cost. Definitely do the rear main seal while the clutch etc is off. Apart from that maybe take a look at the front and rear gearbox seals apart from that not much else to do. Its been in for a few months now, got it done just before christmas.