On Saturday, XtremeRS and I got the car up and running. In case some of you don't know what we were doing, we installed the built howell block, Corbin's 8 injector setup, and a SPEC Stage 3 clutch with a fidanza flywheel. At this point I have some issues with the block from Howell that I need to get straightened out, but nothing major. If any of you decide to go this route, e-mail me and I will let you know about some things to watch out for, but on the hole she runs good. Also, that SPEC clutch sure grips hehe... I am still in breakin so I obviously havent pushed it at all, but I can tell that its gonna be like an on/off switch when shifting.

I also posted about having clutch problems awhile back in the general section (i think) and some of you thought it was my throwout bearing. I also thought thats what it was, but it was something much more stupid than that. When we installed the fidanza flywheel, we forgot to put the stock centering ring in...wooooops. Oh well... live and learn I guess.

I have a couple oil leeks to take care of, but at least I have 25 miles on the new motor... only 2975 more to go till 15 psi }>

3000 mile break in? hmmm you're taken things safe! good luck bro

Yea hehe, but I can't afford not to take things safe since I'm flat broke now...

good to hear you got it up and running... could you email me some info about this 'howell block' im thinking about going this route maybe or just buy a used block and built it up...3000 is about right, some people go into boost within a 1000 miles some wait 5000 or more it all depends on that certain person




Michael 99gs
HRC Stage 2
http://www.dreamwater.net/purplebeast

I boosted 5 psi at 1500 miles or so....boom..... engine blew(acutally it ran great at 3 psi but as soon as I upped the boost it blew). That was of course on stock internals. I am blameing my self for the blown engine, I should have put in new pistons when I had the chance. I just reused my old ones. From the looks of it, another ring landing broke.

Glad to know she's all together. I hope your minor "issues" will be solved soon. Good luck!

It's good to see someone else with the SPEC stage 3. I was starting to think nobody else would ever use that clutch. I like it. Mine felt, past tense cause I haven't driven her in a month, like or better than stock so I didn't know about others with different clutches that are hard on the leg. You experience the same or what? But nothing is better than boosting...:)

I'd actually like to hear a bit more about the SPEC clutch.

If anyone would offer some feedback on it, I'd love to hear it. Thanks!!

Ahhh yeahhh!! Well man, it was a battle with all the stupid things that plagued this project, but like i was sayin, it will be WORTH IT when you feel that 15 psi pull :) I had a lot of fun helpin out, and if those stupid things didn't happen, we both would have not learned as much as we did from this install. To me, that knowledge is priceless. Now we just got to figure out those damn oil leaks...Felt good drivin her again didnt it?? Good luck with the oil leaks, and the break in of the soon to be BEAST }>

For those of you interested in the SPEC Clutch, it is a 4 puck spring loaded disk with centered iron facings (also known as ferramic facings). I believe it uses the same amount of pressure as the stock pressure plate uses, it just uses a far more aggressive facing (this is true for almost all clutches including the CM Stage 4). So far it grips extremely quick. Like I said before, i haven't been able to push it yet and I won't be able to for awhile so I can't give my full opinion on it yet. Throughout this process, I have learned a TON of extremely valuable information on clutches from a Nationaly recognized clutch builder here in town. He has one of only a few plate load testers in the country at his shop and builds custom clutches for all applications including drag racing, tractor pulls, and simple around town driving . I would've bought one from him had I known of his existance before I bought mine. My brother just installed one of his ceramic clutch disks on his GSX with the stock pressure plate, and it grips soooooo good for a much much much lower cost. I would mention the name of his business, but I'm not sure that he wants much more volume than he already has.

Jason: If you are interested in buying a clutch anytime soon, please hit me up with an e-mail. I have some good info on what we can do to get an amazing clutch for far less money than for say a SPEC or a CM, and the clutch will be the exact same minus the label.

Thanks Matt!

You've got mail! :-)

hey man, good luck on finishing all the minor setbacks. could you email me with the problems you ran into with the howell block, I will most likely be going this route and this is the second time I have heard something not exactly good about the built block. thanks. email is coconut10g@yahoo.com

I just posted the issues on the 2gnt e-mail list. If you don't subscribe to that list, let me know and I'll send it to you individually.

Wow I just read that and it's pretty crappy. That's just unnacceptable IMO. Especially the freeze plug part. I would have sent it back.

im not on the email list, i sent an email to you tho. ild like to read what problems you had, my email is avengr1995@aol.com thanks!