Hi everyone, I'm another newbie but I promise I won't be too much of a pain. I just replaced my clutch and flywheel on my 94 LT1 6speed. My question is will the noise that comes with the fidanza SMFW ever get any less or am I pretty much stuck with what I hear now? The vette isn't a daily driver but it does get used enough that I'm considering switching back to a DMFW. The wife didn't like the noise from the borla's before, and now she won't even ride in the vette at all( ok, I know that might be a good thing but....) Any insight would be appreciated. The noise is so loud at low RPM's that I can't hear the Borla sound that I loved. Thanks you your help!
Darrin

 

unfortunately, i'm sorry to report that it will never get better. sort of like a bad transmission -- they never get better.

i had the fidanza SMFW and it raised royal hell in my '90. oppressive. i had that thing yanked in favor of a brand new DMFW and couldn't be happier with all the positive characteristics it affords for a daily driver. the only positive i ever got from a SMFW was the quicker revs. that was useless compared to all the negatives, and noise was just one of them.

 

that's what I was afraid of, just got off the phone ordering my new DMFW. Thanks for the info.

 

Well that's one opinion. Mine is the opposite. Although I don't care for the noise, (which is not so loud people stare at you!) it has many more benefits then just faster revs. Less overall weight, less weight stress on the end of the crank, frees HP due to less rotational mass and it's cheaper If the noise wasn't a factor, I think more people would agree. I will be switching to the heavier weight castrol 10W-60 oil that zfdoc recommends and see how that does with the noise.

 

I bought my trans. fluid from Gordon Killebrew at Carlisle, so I'm pretty sure that is ok. I have tried changing my driving style and that has helped to make the noise more bearable. Usually i'm pretty easy on the car mostly because I love that deep, throaty sound of my borla at low RPM's. I'm usually 1 to 4 to 6, and that is were the noise is the worst.
A friend of mine said something about a shroud to go over the tranny to soften the noise?? any suggestions on that?

 

no experience with a tranny shroud, that may help a little when it comes to noise from the outside of the car, but how about in the cabin? thats where it really counts anyway.

the previous post did mention the positives, but none of them will help you forget you've got rocks and clanging going on all day.

you made the right decision with getting a new DMFW. you'll be able to sell your Fidanza to someone who wants to use their car for the track. good luck with the changeback, my bet is you'll be glad you did.

oh , -db-, i had the bmw oil you mentioned in mine, didn't help at all. maybe it will help for you, i'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

In the cabin is where I used to get the resonance of the exhaust that I loved!!!!! now all I hear is not rocks, but boulders. thanks for your input.

 

you're most welcome. good luck and enjoy

 

I'm sick of the noise of my SMFW, and I'm going back to the original DM. I'm curious what it will be like, since when I bought the car, it came with a SMFW installed.

 

1. alot less stress from the numbness of hate of the smfw.
2. better off-idle response.
3. better perceived feel of the slingshot effect while winding up in 1rst gr.
4. smoother deceleration.

all in all, a much more enjoyable daily ride. the smfw is relatively lousy choice for the street in a C4. i suspect its more popular for a lightweight import.

 

What brand and part number of clutch disk are you using?

 

Valeo clutch kit
Part#52802203
as I said I drive it like an old lady, so I didn't see much need for an upgrade.

 

traveller, that fidanza is really better suited for track use.

for you (like me), going back to the dual mass is an upgrade.

when you have it installed, please report back......might as well refer to this thread while you're at it.

 

BINGO - Problem Found! That clutch kit is a standard Vette disk with no springs in the hub. That will be very noisy with a single mass flywheel. When you change to the single mass flywheel, you need to switch to a "sprung hub" clutch disk that has springs in the hub.

You need to use a clutch disk that is listed for use with 93-97 Camaros (Valeo or aftermarket). These will all be sprung hub and all the other dimensions are correct for use with the ZF6. For noise avoidance with the ZF6 transmission, avoid clutch disks that have some of the springs overmolded in plastic or Urethane (McLeod and RAM).

I would recommend changing it sooner rather than later. My friend tried to use a stock solid hub disk with his ZF6, and when he took it out after about 1k miles, you could see the transmission's input shaft splines just begining to wear from the rotational vibration impact.

 

Very interesting. You mention SMFW for "track use"? This stated by a profile named 'Hot Rod' and mods like this??

Mods: 355cid, AFR/TPIS 187cc fully CNC'd 56cc heads, Accel Superram, Accel 219 cam, Speed-Pro forged pistons, Melling lifters, Cloyes double roller chain, stock TB to 52mm by AS&M, CC ProMagnum 1.6 RR's, ARP studs & bolts, FMS 24# injectors, Holley AFPR, Racetronix 255 fuel pump kit, FlowKooler water pump, Hooker #2149 headers & Y pipe, Magnaflow SS catback, Hurst shifter & ball ****, Taylor 8mm wires, CAGS disabled, 180 t-stat, 10.18:1 C/R. Firestone WO's. Tuned by my hero, Alvin at pcmforless

Sounds to me like that car is well on its way to the track my friend. It's just funny to me with all that work done and you don't see the benefits of a SM over a little noise?? Well to each his own. I'm not here to start a problem or throw stones, just making an observation. You car seems like it would surely benefit from the SM. And you could actually here it over that loud exhaust?? I know I can't..except at idle. Nice mods btw

Travler, do a little more research on the forum and you will have opinions on both sides. Keep in mind, I DIDN'T go with a fidanza. I went with a nodular iron FW. A little heavier which makes a world of difference. Maybe that's why I don't experience all the negatives others do. Yes there is still noise but thats my ONLY drawback. Have fun

 

I appreciate everyone's input. I think I will be much happier in the long run going back to the DMFW. I wish I had been smart enough to visit this forum before I changed the clutch in the first place! I made the mistake of only getting 1 or 2 opinions before, but I think it's safe to say I won't repeat that error. The knowledge on this forum is invaluable and I will be seeking counsel from you senior members in the future. Thanks again, Darrin

 

Mr. 6 Speed, Could you tell me for sure if your friend that took it back out after 1k miles had match balanced his new FW?

 

Sprung hub is a must!

 

it is, and i had one, and that Fidanza still raised hell.

 

thanks for the kind words. for me the track would be no hobby, simply not interested in spending the countless hours. i get nothing out of living a 1/4 mile line. i dislike racing on tv as well (except for formula one which is pretty fun to watch), could never have cared less and it bores the living daylights out of me, its worse that watching golf. but i've always loved the idea of having a car that performed for daily real-life use, so here it is.

in my earlier post, i listed the cons of the ultra light SMFW. it is for track use, not the street. the benefit of some extra hp unleashed to the wheels is true, although its really not enough to feel SOTP. the quicker revs is kinda neat. the exhaust is loud, but that damn FW was louder still. it was unconscionable, a show stopper, and simply had to get yanked after 6 months.

i do have a strange mentality i suppose, if i could have a daily driver that had 10,000rwhp i'd drive it every day, even just to the grocery store 1 mile down the road, even if thats all i did with it. and i'd still never see the light of day at a track. i guess its just that i don't find the concept of timeslip as a validator.

i call myself "hot rod 90" because it was inspired by a friend of mine whom i respect, pete k.