Gearbox build first impressions..


haitch

haitch

Donator
Donator
Joined
Jul 6, 2007
Messages
3,166
Got the car back today, what was done:

Exedy stage 1 clutch.
Exedy lightened flywheel.
Spoon LSD.
MFactory 3/4/5 close gearset. (1.695/1.296/1.000).

The LSD is very noisy, clunking when not under load, but will settle a bit after 1k, as its not a daily drive I can live with it for the grip, which is outstanding. Heel & toe is excellent with the clutch & flywheel. But the best has to be the gears, you change up when in vtec like they arnt there, the revs drop only 1k, vtec is instant! Changing up from 2-3-4 is absolutely awsome, sadly 5th could be shorter, as it drops about 2.5k, not much in it from oem. I may change it to the MF 1.130 5th. Still labour, but it is at the top of the shaft so easier. I dont know about this combo with the 4.9 or 4.78, I guess it depends on what you need, for me it is plenty fast. Town driving feels strange, 5th @40mph! Overall massive grin factor! :D Just a quick review as its the first day back..
 
did you have it done at TGM by any chance?

how is the Stage 1 clutch and Lighten flywheel combo? I am looking to change but not sure if it will be good for everyday use.

how much does it differ to OEM? rev much quicker? and drop quicker? Clutch much heavier?

some of the guys on DC2 said the Exedy kit makes noise and having problems?
 
The combo is good, and clutch differs very little from oem, very slightly heavier but really nothing in it, revs more freely & didnt drop quicker ie no shuddering etc, heel & toe at first was a touch awkward as I kept missing the bite but 20mins later all was good, Im no expert at it but it takes a lighter touch now. NO noise from the exedy stuff at all & fine for everyday use m8. Those gears I would do before ANY other mods, the vtec just keeps screaming, its beautiful!
 
good stuff, mate just had same gearset done with kazz diff, transformation is shocking to say the least, this should be 1st mod anyone does before even touching engine or general suspension
 
What did you think of the change from 4th to 5th iceman? Will you change it for that shorter 5th?
 
good to know, going to go for stage 1 + flywheel as well when mine gets a bit more used, its on its way feels like.

saw your car and chatted to Tom when I visited TGM, said you just dropped it off and it was coming in for gearbuild rebuild with MFactory gears.

Hows the MFactory quality BTW?
 
The MF quality looked good when I saw the parts, but best to ask Tom on his opinion of them. Said he had somebody with a stroked EK9, cams etc, said the car was reving to the max on a recent trackday but not really going anywhere because the revs still drop too much, he has recomended the MF gears to that customer..
 
Thanks for sharing this information, I want to buy the mf kit you got! can you post any videos ? :nerv:
 
how did you find the gearbox changing itself? was it a little stiff getting into gears?
 
Gears feel like oem m8, you just change so fast in vtec, no need for aggression tho or to be hard on the box. 3/4/5 do whine a bit but it is minimal and for me adds to the racing feel. As for vids my camera bar doesnt work on these seats, I will get some on the next trackday but it wont be til after xmas.
 
Out again today, with this combo, some roundabouts/corners I might have taken in say 2nd are now done in 3rd. The front has so much grip the back is lively which makes for some fun driving! The LSD is so loud when not under power it sounds like Im dragging my bumper and a bag of tools around under the car, 3 passengers so far all think its broken. But through some B-roads today it hung on like a limpet in a storm (oem suspension), cant wait for the track. Definately need the shorter 5th & some better brakes..
 
strange how the LSD makes noise... nice work!!! :nice: post some short run videos.
 
I believe it moves until you apply power then it locks, its supposed to bed in after about 1k miles but it seems much quieter all of a sudden after 400ish, sadly vids will have to wait for the track as the law is always watching :( just got to get a new camera mount!
 
Well after further driving and now the diff has eased off slightly I have now noticed some juddering at low speeds, not all the time but its there and a touch annoying, I dont mind the noisy diff but not to keen on the judder. Im guessing this is due to the lighter flywheel rather than the clutch, I will see what Tom thinks..
 
Got the 9 back today, changed the 1.000 5th for the 1.130, what a difference, WOW! It feels like a race car, acceleration is intoxicating! Once the new discs & pads have bedded, I will post up some gear/speeds/revs along with a vid later. My speedo has been bodged (by importer) but Im still limited so I need to sort this first. As for the exedy clutch its normal while bedding in and it will minimize but not go permanently, I would defo choose the AP unit next time (extra £40). Whoever gets these gears my only advice is to get as much done/replaced with the box that you can, selector fork, synchros etc. MFactory rocks! :D
 
good work mate. i seen a vid of an other civic with this gear set its awsume the sound it dont change from 2 till 5 and just tackes off like nothin on earth. looks well worth doing.

what weight of fly wheel u running haitch cos my mate has got the same clutch and fly wheel set up as u. his is a 9.5kg fly wheel its perfect engine revs nice and free. but his dont judder
 
Exedy 9.5lb fly, so the same. Some have the judder on the teg forum, some dont, strange. Everybody with the AP has no complaints though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top