I am having a hard time deciding what to do about the transmission in my 97 GSR. I want to add a LSD and a lightened flywheel and a street/HD ACT clutch. I use my car for primarily HPDEs and a couple of autocrosses a year. My conflict is should I just save up for an ITR trans or swap an ITR LSD into my GSR trans? Are the shorter gears worth the extra money that I would spend on the trans? My engine is all stock, I have only upgraded suspension and brakes thus far. Any help and/or guidance will be appreciated.

Update: Now that I can finally afford the tranny, I can't seem to find one for a decent price. I have only found 2 places after calling about 20 that are even willing to sell me one. Both of them are 4.4 final drive. I would be willing to buy a 4.4 and install the 4.7FD later if I can find a decent deal on one. Anyone have any advice where to get one, or better yet have one for sale?


Modified by racinjason at 11:25 AM 2/25/2005

 

ditch the act as it causes exsecive wear on parts....and you don't need it....

get an exedy organic....

get the ITR tranny....better gearing....will bring new life to your gsr...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ditch the act as it causes exsecive wear on parts....and you don't need it....

get an exedy organic......</TD></TR></TABLE>

Really?? I have used the same ACT street disk/HD pressure plate for 4 years of track driving/drag racing with the lude... Street disk is organic..

 

pressure plate is what is no good...

 

So you are recommending the Exeddy organic clutch then, right? How about a flywheel, go with the Exeddy street also? Thanks for the help.

 

I agree, go with ITR tranny and it'll transform your GSR on the track. Better initial investment than cams, etc, IMO.

 

Whats wrong with the ACT pressure plate? I've had one on my car for years now. It's a great clutch.

Anyway, I'd suggest ITR LSD into GSR trans. That setup is legal for more stuff (IT, HC, GAC) than doing a trans swap.

 

I had some...problems with the ACT. I'm a Clutchmasters man now, and will shortly be an Exedy man too. For flywheel, I like Fidanza, as it has the removable friction surface, nice low weight, and seems to be very well made.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by krshultz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Whats wrong with the ACT pressure plate.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Absolutely nothing. I had one for two years and over 30,000 miles of abuse. I'm putting one of the HDOO clutches in my new car. Slightly less aggressive then the HDSS that most use and the one I had previous. I also had the ACT ProLite flywheel. It's pretty much a dead copy of the TODA. All the weight out in the right places and fully balenced for cheaper.

The Exedy is a great deal for a clutch, but if you live in the Carolina's you can't run anything but and Exedy clutch and TODA flywheel. It's actually illegal otherwise. Surprised you didn't know that.


Modified by Mr Hammond at 8:52 AM 11/11/2004

 

If you can find a USDM ITR tranny with the JDM 4.785 final drive combined get that. It is more than a wake up call to acceleration. Although if you drive on the street going with traffic on the interstate at 4,800 revs might get old.

My ACT pp was broken when I pulled it out (two months after buying the car)but I am sure it was the prior owner's doing. I have put in a Spec stage III clutch/pp with spec lighetened flywheel and I like the ease of engagement, light pedal feel, but it feels "crisp" enough without being hard on the drivetrain. I know quite a few SCCA club racers running Spec stuff.

http://www.specclutch.com/specMain.html

 

a b16 tranny with a kaaz lsd would be a good option also. and what do ya know, i just happen to have one for sale. along with an act clutch and flywheel.

only if you are not in a major hurry though. everything is still in the car.

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1049387

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chad &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">get an exedy organic....

get the ITR tranny....</TD></TR></TABLE>

people still experiencing "installer error" with this, or did exedy change their clutch? otherwise, I'd reccommend NOT going with this combo..

I'd say ITR tranny and a different clutch.. I personally use ACT..

 

Thank you for all the input. I am going to start saving my pennies over the winter for an ITR transmission. As for the clutch it looks like it depends on who you ask. I just installed an ACT and a Fridanza flywheel (among other things) into my friends car, just waiting on the ECU, and then I can see for my self. Thanks again for the help.

 

I pondered the same thing and went with the ITR tranny. I also have an ACT HDSS and prolite flywheel and I like this setup quite a bit. The shorter gears on the tranny makes a nice difference.

The tranny swap porks you in some organizations so check the rules where you drive to make sure.

 

I will have a B16 tranny with LSD (same thing as a USDM ITR) coming up shortly

will be selling it for about $950+shipping

 

QUOTE=racinjason]Thank you for all the input. I am going to start saving my pennies over the winter for an ITR transmission. As for the clutch it looks like it depends on who you ask. I just installed an ACT and a Fridanza flywheel (among other things) into my friends car, just waiting on the ECU, and then I can see for my self. Thanks again for the help.[/QUOTE]

Hey, thats my car

I say go with the JDM itr tranny.

 

Im about the get a brand new itr trans for 1650 for a turbo gsr project, is it worth it for a turbo project. I have a jdm lsd with new bearings uninstalled(and downtime to order shims) but am just thinkin of getting a brand spankin new trans with the lsd already installed with 12 month warranty.

 

I have had an ACT clutch in each car I have owned and loved it. The pedal feel, clutch grabby-ness (or whatever you want to call it), and consistancy are

Organic Disc w/ the heavy duty pressure plate.

Only time one ever needed any attention after install was whne one of them failed after 30,000 miles - I missed a shift and hit 2nd instead of 4th gear. I sent an E-Mail to ACT, just told them that it failed, and they over-nighted a new one to me for free.

The only reason I even bothered trying (didn't think they would care) is because a guy w/ a turbo GS-R that routinely does 8,000 RPM drop-clutch launches on full slicks had his fail after a year of drag use, and they sent him one also.

I will always buy an ACT clutch for any car I own as long as there is an application for it.

 

I had the same question on my GSR tranny. After pricing it all out, you can sell your GSR tranny for 6-800$, figure in the cost an LSD, better gearing and you've already paid for your ITR tranny.

 

Yeah I agree, I am going to get the ITR. I am debating if I want to sell my GSR though, I can always swap them for different tracks if I have the need and the ambition.

 

I was on the verge of getting one just now but ended up not. I already got a jdm lsd so I guess ill just drop it in my existing gsr trans and see how it comes out.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by racinjason &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> I can always swap them for different tracks if I have the need and the ambition.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I can barely find the time to swap brake pads before going on track...........

 

For turbo which would be better, I seen the vid on the turbo itr from inside, seemed like the gears were really short.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by TurboTeG4 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">For turbo which would be better</TD></TR></TABLE>

?

https://honda-tech.com/zeroforum?id=16

 

honda turbo makes so much torque/hp imo it really needs a lower FD to compensate. i don't think there are much shorter FD options though.