jwt
Well-Known Member
- Thread starter
- #1
Hi
Just an fyi.
I was super unhappy with the clutch particularly consistent bite, gear change from 1st to 2nd, jerking etc.
For some background, I am from Europe have driven manuals all my life. Over 35 years of stick shift driving! I am pretty proud of how smoothly I can drive a car, while making progress. In the Bullitt I was jerking, slipping the clutch, mistiming the gear changes generally driving like a kid 3 months out of driving school.
At first I put it down to getting used to the car, maybe my seat position was weird, the gear box was notchy, etc etc.
Drove nearly 1000km (625m) and although my muscle memory was dialed in i was still just not getting it right. And for me the allure of the Bullitt was the non forced induction engine, manual shifting, man and machine in harmony making rapid progress.
But it was turning into a love hate relationship.
Until I read here and elsewhere about the helper spring. Less than a minute of tinkering and the helper spring was in my tool chest and I was ready for a test drive.
OMG what a difference! I'm back! Takeoffs were positive and smooth, 2nd gear came easily without jumps or jerks, 3rd was a dream. OK the gear box isn't the sweetest changing gearbox in the world and you have to take the transition from one gear to another in a deliberate fashion, almost pausing for an instant in neutral, before continuing the motion to the next gear. But still. I ripped off from a set of lights, full throttle, short changing at 3000 rpm (don't need a ticket) and it was like night and day.
To anyone struggling try it, whether or not you need a steeda replacement light spring I will leave to others to debate. As a committed stick shift driver with decades of experience under my belt driving all sorts of cars from all sorts of manufacturers this is the first time I ever doubted myself and the solution was dramatic and awesome.
John
Just an fyi.
I was super unhappy with the clutch particularly consistent bite, gear change from 1st to 2nd, jerking etc.
For some background, I am from Europe have driven manuals all my life. Over 35 years of stick shift driving! I am pretty proud of how smoothly I can drive a car, while making progress. In the Bullitt I was jerking, slipping the clutch, mistiming the gear changes generally driving like a kid 3 months out of driving school.
At first I put it down to getting used to the car, maybe my seat position was weird, the gear box was notchy, etc etc.
Drove nearly 1000km (625m) and although my muscle memory was dialed in i was still just not getting it right. And for me the allure of the Bullitt was the non forced induction engine, manual shifting, man and machine in harmony making rapid progress.
But it was turning into a love hate relationship.
Until I read here and elsewhere about the helper spring. Less than a minute of tinkering and the helper spring was in my tool chest and I was ready for a test drive.
OMG what a difference! I'm back! Takeoffs were positive and smooth, 2nd gear came easily without jumps or jerks, 3rd was a dream. OK the gear box isn't the sweetest changing gearbox in the world and you have to take the transition from one gear to another in a deliberate fashion, almost pausing for an instant in neutral, before continuing the motion to the next gear. But still. I ripped off from a set of lights, full throttle, short changing at 3000 rpm (don't need a ticket) and it was like night and day.
To anyone struggling try it, whether or not you need a steeda replacement light spring I will leave to others to debate. As a committed stick shift driver with decades of experience under my belt driving all sorts of cars from all sorts of manufacturers this is the first time I ever doubted myself and the solution was dramatic and awesome.
John
Sponsored
. I'm really liking the clutch now. Ha ha. Initially it felt like a light switch (compared to the Porsche), but now I think it has enough take up. Weird. And I'm glad, because I want to teach my 2 girls to drive manual, and the lighter clutch will help them. I'm also happy with the tranny; feels great to me. Better than the Porsche, and both are Getrags, simply because that one has a cable linkage, and ours is a rod linkage. Feels very mechanical; just the way I like it. Only 3rd is a bit notchy, but it's minimal when fully hot, and it might go away with use.
