Hello, EvoM.....I recently picked up an 04 VIII from a local used car lot. I've done my reading and I'm familiar with common problems in pre-owned Evos. The car runs great so far, and it has a handfull of mods from the previous owner, but the seller wasn't 100% sure what exactly had been modified beyond the obvious.

The car has almost 80,000 miles on it, so I'm pretty sure the original clutch is gone. I plan to bring the car to a minimum of 400whp with an FP turbo, so an aftermarket clutch will be needed. I've been researching Evos for a while now, so I know its not uncommon for people to upgrade their clutch even with just bolt-ons on the car. Is there any way I can view the inside of the clutch housing without removing the trans completely? I don't need to know exactly what clutch is in there, but since a lot of clutch manufacturers use brightly colored parts (exedy purple or ACT yellow), I wonder if by getting a look inside, I can at least see if there's a non oem clutch. I plan to get a new FP Green, which won't make tons of torque on pump gas....so if there is an aftermarket clutch installed now, I can at least put off a new clutch install for the time being, and focus on making a bit more power. Thanks for any advice guys.

 

^^ IMO what does it matter? I would get the turbo and start in on what you want to do to the car. If the clutch slips, it slips....even if it was an aftermarket clutch in your car there is no garentee that it wasn't beaten on before, so it could slip regardless.

Just my thoughts

 

^^^^Yeah, drive it till it is gone. You will find out when you replace it.

 

Drive it ***** to the wall and see how long it lasts

 

Look through the rubber (boot) inspection cover in the tranny.

 

^ otherwise your guess is as good as mine as to what clutch it is.

 

definitely pull the rubber boot. that's how i knowi have an act because of the yellow pressure plate.

 

He pretty much summed it up and took the words out of my mouth err head?

Either way just drive it till it goes or starts slipping

 

Are you guys talking about the release cylinder boot right on the front of the trans? I thought of that but didn't wanna go prying in there without being sure. Can I just pull it to the side and peek in? Thanks!!

 

The clutch holds fine right now so Im confident its not at the end of its life. Ive rode in numerous stock turbo bolt-on evos and mine is right on par. I would hate to find out that clutch slips with the new turbo when Im on the dyno...cus thats the first place I will do any pulls with the new turbo installed. It would end up being a waste of a tuning session with a clutch that cant handle the power....hence the reason I want to know whats in there.

In another section as we speak...https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...fore-tune.html

 

Figure out how bad its slipping. But it in a high gear like 5th just going like 30mph and floor it. If it free revs like its in neutral youll know its gone. If the cars revs stay real low (2k or so) while your flooring it in 5th gear its not slipping, or at least to the point where its on its way out totally. Let the clutch warm up first before you experiment on any clutch wear, but IMO just GET A NEW CLUTCH!

 

If you could get a good enough picture from through the inspection boot hole and post it, I bet someone here could tell you what clutch it is.

It's a pretty large round hole towards the bottom of the trans with a rubber plug in it. Pull out the rubber and use a good camera with a flashlight to take a pic of what you can see of the clutch assembly.

It's big enough some people have had to unbolt the pressure plate through it because their TOB wouldn't release. You should be able to get a picture with some skills and some jackstands.

 

I have wondered this myself. Sounds like there's two different places people are suggesting you try. The clutch release cylinder boot on the front of the trans and then a different spot at the bottom of the trans...i stumbled on this pic and I think it's exatly what you need...

 

^Exactly what I was looking for...thank you sir. I guess I didn't notice that little plug under there. That looks like it will be easier access than the release cylinder boot..

 

Wow, you have to bond with it. Talk to it, babe it, love it, and it will respond to you. Whats wrong with you evo owners