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THE ABSOLUTE POWERRR GUIDE TO ACTION CLUTCH OPTIONS FOR THE NISSAN 350Z

INTRODUCTION... IN THE WORLD

Let me tell you about the Nissan 350Z. It's a proper sports car, this. Not some namby-pamby pseudo-sporty hatchback with delusions of grandeur, but an actual, honest-to-goodness, rear-wheel-drive Japanese muscle machine. From 2003 to 2006, Nissan blessed us with the VQ35DE 3.5L engine, which makes a noise so glorious it could make angels weep tears of petrol.

But here's the thing. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING about these Japanese thoroughbreds isn't the engine, or the chassis, or even those aggressive haunches. No, it's the clutch. Get that wrong, and you might as well be driving a Morris Marina with a puncture. Action Clutch, in their infinite wisdom, have created a range of clutch options that go from Stage 1 to Stage 6. And I'm going to tell you why that matters more than anything else in the ENTIRE UNIVERSE.

UNDERSTANDING CLUTCH STAGES, YOU BLITHERING IDIOT

Before I unleash the FACTS and POWERRR upon you, you need to understand what these stages actually mean. It's not rocket science, though it might as well be for some people who think "performance upgrade" means sticking a tedious carbon fiber gear knob in their dreary hatchback.

  • When the stage number gets BIGGER, it means the clutch can handle more POWERRR. It's that simple.
  • As you climb through the stages, the clutch gets more and more ANGRY. Stage 1 is like shaking hands with your grandmother. Stage 6 is like arm wrestling a silverback gorilla that's just discovered its wife's been cheating.
  • The materials change dramatically. We start with organic compounds that might as well be made of CHEESE, and end up with materials NASA would reject for being TOO EXTREME.
  • Your left leg will KNOW about it. The higher the stage, the more your clutch pedal feels like it's connected to a concrete block.
  • And let's be absolutely clear: drivability goes out the window faster than a brick thrown by an angry teenager. Stage 1 is for shopping. Stage 6 is for WARFARE.

STAGE 1: THE "I WANT TO FEEL SPECIAL WITHOUT ACTUALLY DOING ANYTHING SPECIAL" CLUTCH

Technical Specifics (Pay Attention):

  • Torque Capacity: A pathetic 350-400 ft-lbs, which is barely enough to excite a narcoleptic hamster
  • Disc Material: Organic compound, which is essentially PLANT MATTER. You're literally driving on COMPRESSED VEGETABLES.
  • Pressure Plate: Standard ductile iron that's 10-15% stronger than the factory rubbish. It's like upgrading from a water pistol to a slightly larger water pistol.
  • Flywheel Options: Chromoly steel or aluminum. One's HEAVY, one's LIGHT. Not exactly the Sophie's Choice of engineering dilemmas.
  • Pedal Feel: A whisker firmer than stock. If you notice the difference, you probably also notice when someone changes the hand soap in public toilets.

What It's For:

  • For people who own a 350Z but are TERRIFIED of actually using it properly
  • Perfect for posers who want to tell their mates they've "upgraded the clutch" without any discernible effect
  • Suitable for cars with "modifications" that consist of an air filter and a shiny exhaust tip

Why You Might Like It:

  • It's basically like the standard clutch, but won't explode quite as quickly
  • So smooth and gentle it's practically FRENCH
  • Quiet enough that you can still hear your passengers complaining about your driving
  • Will outlast the factory clutch, which isn't saying much
  • Cheap enough that you'll still have money left for those tacky LED underbody lights

Why It's Rubbish:

  • About as exciting as a documentary about filing cabinets
  • Put it anywhere near a track and it'll burst into flames and tears
  • Launch it hard more than twice and it'll COMMIT SUICIDE
  • Gets hotter than the SURFACE OF THE SUN if you even THINK about driving enthusiastically

STAGE 2: THE "I OCCASIONALLY REMOVE MY CARDIGAN" CLUTCH

Technical Specifications (For Those Who Care):

  • Torque Capacity: 400-450 ft-lbs, which is like upgrading from a water pistol to a SLIGHTLY LARGER water pistol
  • Disc Material: Kevlar composite, the same stuff they make bulletproof vests from. Though in this application, it's about as extreme as wearing safety goggles to open a bottle of champagne.
  • Pressure Plate: 20-25% stronger clamping force, which means it grips the flywheel like a nervous teenager on a first date
  • Flywheel Options: Same as Stage 1, but you'll convince yourself it feels different
  • Pedal Feel: Like stepping on a medium-rare steak rather than the raw mince of the Stage 1

What It's Actually For:

  • For 350Z owners who've discovered the accelerator pedal goes ALL THE WAY DOWN
  • PERFECT for people who drive like accountants Monday to Friday but think they're Lewis Hamilton on Sunday mornings
  • Good for those who've fitted a turbo that produces all the boost of an asthmatic mosquito

Why It's Not Completely Terrible:

  • Might actually hold onto your flywheel if you discover a corner
  • Street drivability that won't make you want to SAW OFF YOUR LEFT LEG
  • Won't burst into flames quite as quickly as Stage 1 when you drive it like you stole it
  • A compromise that, like all compromises, satisfies nobody completely
  • Should last longer than your significant other's patience with your car obsession

Why It Will Disappoint You:

  • Pedal feel that will remind you, constantly, that you "upgraded"
  • Engages with all the smoothness of a 15-year-old asking someone to prom
  • Makes more noise than a politician caught in a scandal when you start it cold
  • Anything over 400 horsepower will make it SURRENDER like it's French

STAGE 3: THE "I'VE DISCOVERED TRACK DAYS BUT I'M TOO SCARED TO COMMIT" CLUTCH

Technical Specifications (The Sciencey Bits):

  • Torque Capacity: 450-500 ft-lbs, which is starting to enter the realm of "Actually Quite Respectable"
  • Disc Material: Ceramic-metallic hybrid or carbon Kevlar composite - materials so special you'll mention them EVERY TIME someone gets in your car
  • Pressure Plate: Heavy-duty unit with 30-40% more clamping force - now we're talking about a grip that would make a professional arm wrestler wince
  • Flywheel Options: Still the same two, but now you'll spend WEEKS agonizing over which one to get
  • Pedal Feel: Like trying to compress a tennis ball with your foot. Through concrete.

What It's ACTUALLY For:

  • For 350Z owners who've discovered there's such a thing as a "racing circuit" and want to have a go without EXPLODING their transmission
  • For people who've added enough boost to make passengers say "Is it supposed to do that?"
  • IDEAL for those who want to tell everyone at the pub they "do track days" after having done precisely ONE

Why It's Actually Quite Good:

  • Can actually handle POWERRR without throwing in the towel
  • Won't immediately disintegrate if you take it on track and remember which pedal is which
  • Can deal with heat that would make lesser clutches WEEP MOLTEN TEARS
  • Might actually outlast your interest in track days
  • Can still be used on the road without requiring physiotherapy afterwards

The Inevitable Downsides:

  • Clutch engagement like an on/off switch operated by an over-caffeinated teenager
  • Will turn your left leg into something resembling Popeye's arm after a commute in traffic
  • Makes enough noise to wake neighbors THREE STREETS AWAY
  • All the smoothness of a gravel driveway covered in LEGO bricks

STAGE 4: THE "MY CAR IS MY PERSONALITY" CLUTCH

Technical Specifications (For Nerds):

  • Torque Capacity: 500-550 ft-lbs, which is getting properly serious now
  • Disc Material: Ceramic-metallic or carbon composite with all the dampening properties of CONCRETE ON CONCRETE
  • Pressure Plate: Race-spec unit that clamps down 50-60% harder than stock, like a crocodile that's missed three meals
  • Flywheel: Now PROPERLY lightweight options appear, for when every gram matters more than your passenger's comfort
  • Pedal Feel: Like trying to push your foot through the floor of the car. LITERALLY.

What Sort of Lunatic Buys This:

  • The kind of person whose 350Z now has more aftermarket parts than original Nissan components
  • People who use phrases like "time attack" and "corner balancing" in normal conversation
  • The sort who've spent more on boost than they did on their first car

Why It's Actually Quite Brilliant:

  • Can handle enough torque to tear the fabric of space-time
  • Stays cool enough under pressure to make an airline pilot jealous
  • Will perform consistently even when you're driving like your hair's on fire
  • Engages faster than a celebrity getting married in Las Vegas
  • Can handle launch after launch after LAUNCH, which you will absolutely show off at every opportunity

Why You'll Regret It Every Day:

  • Street driving becomes an exercise in PAIN and SUFFERING
  • Clutch engagement is now BINARY - it's either gripping or it isn't, with nothing in between
  • Your entire car now vibrates like a pneumatic drill at idle
  • Your left thigh will develop muscles visible from SPACE
  • Will wear out faster on the street than a pair of paper shoes in a rainstorm

STAGE 5: THE "I HATE MYSELF AND EVERYONE AROUND ME" CLUTCH

Technical Specifications (As If You Care At This Point):

  • Torque Capacity: 550-650 ft-lbs, which is OBSCENE for what was originally a gentleman's sports car
  • Disc Material: Full ceramic or sintered iron - materials so aggressive they're basically WEAPONS
  • Pressure Plate: Competition-grade with 70-80% more clamp load - now we're talking about pressure that could LITERALLY crush diamonds
  • Flywheel Options: Aluminum so light it practically FLOATS or steel machined to within an atom's width of structural failure
  • Pedal Feel: Like trying to compress a BRICK with your big toe. While wearing flip-flops.

The Sort of Maniac Who Buys This:

  • People who trailer their 350Z to the track because it's now COMPLETELY UNUSABLE on the road
  • The kind of person who has a separate RACING BUDGET larger than most people's annual salary
  • Individuals whose YouTube channel has the words "INSANE" and "BOOST" in every video title

Why It's Actually Amazing:

  • Could probably hold enough torque to reverse the rotation of the EARTH
  • So heat resistant it could probably survive re-entry into the atmosphere
  • Will perform flawlessly even when every other component on the car is SCREAMING FOR MERCY
  • Engages with the speed and subtlety of a GUILLOTINE
  • Designed for launch after launch after launch, because clearly you hate your transmission

Why It's Completely Ridiculous:

  • Street manners? WHAT STREET MANNERS?
  • Clutch engagement requires the finesse of a brain surgeon and the leg strength of an Olympic weightlifter
  • Makes so much noise and vibration you'll think your car is trying to COMMUNICATE WITH ALIENS
  • Will give you the left leg of a GREEK GOD and the right leg of a NORMAL HUMAN
  • Using this on the street is like using a CHAINSAW to butter your toast

STAGE 6: THE "PURE MECHANICAL VIOLENCE" CLUTCH

Technical Specifications (COMPLETELY INSANE):

  • Torque Capacity: 650+ ft-lbs, which is approaching "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO A 350Z" territory
  • Disc Material: Full metallic/ceramic race compound that's one step removed from INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY
  • Pressure Plate: Professional competition grade with DOUBLE the clamping force of stock - essentially a hydraulic press you operate with your left foot
  • Flywheel Options: So lightweight they're basically made of HOPES AND DREAMS
  • Pedal Feel: Like trying to push your foot through the EARTH'S CRUST

Who On Earth Uses This:

  • People whose 350Z hasn't seen a public road since the Obama administration
  • Individuals with a race engineer on speed dial
  • Drivers whose idea of "mild" boost is 25 PSI

Why It's The Pinnacle of MADNESS:

  • Could theoretically hold enough torque to ALTER THE EARTH'S ORBIT
  • Designed to be ABUSED in ways that would make a rental car weep
  • Could probably withstand the heat of a SMALL STAR
  • Engages so quickly it's measured in MILLISECONDS
  • Can handle more power than the VQ35DE was ever meant to produce, which is just ASKING FOR TROUBLE

Why It's Completely, Utterly RIDICULOUS:

  • Street use? You might as well try to use a FIGHTER JET for your commute
  • Engagement characteristics requiring the skill of someone who's spent more time on racetracks than they have with their family
  • Makes your entire drivetrain sound like a CEMENT MIXER FULL OF SPANNERS
  • Requires modifications to other components just to SURVIVE its presence
  • Pedal so heavy you could use the resistance to do one-legged squats
  • Needs checking more often than a newborn baby

THE GREAT FLYWHEEL DEBATE: HEAVY METAL OR FEATHERWEIGHT?

This, dear reader, is where things get PROPERLY interesting. Action Clutch offers two completely different flywheel solutions, and choosing between them is about as straightforward as Brexit negotiations.

Chromoly Steel Flywheel: THE SENSIBLE OPTION

  • Weight: 15-20% lighter than the factory anchor, which is like losing a bit of weight but still enjoying cake
  • Heat Capacity: Absorbs heat like a THERMAL SPONGE, which is actually good in this case
  • Durability: Could survive a DIRECT METEOR STRIKE and still function
  • Performance: Keeps just enough rotational mass to stop you stalling at every set of traffic lights
  • Best for: People who occasionally want to drive their car WITHOUT LOOKING LIKE A COMPLETE NOVICE

Lightweight Aluminum Flywheel: THE LUNATIC OPTION

  • Weight: A MASSIVE 40-50% lighter than stock - it's practically made of HELIUM
  • Heat Capacity: Heats up faster than political arguments at Christmas dinner
  • Durability: Actually quite good, until you treat it like it's indestructible, at which point it will SPECTACULARLY PROVE YOU WRONG
  • Performance: Makes your engine rev so quickly you'll think the tachometer is BROKEN
  • Best for: People who enjoy the challenge of pulling away from junctions with all the smoothness of a KANGAROO ON CAFFEINE

THE INSTALLATION: OR HOW TO MAKE MECHANICS WEEP

Let me be crystal clear about this. Installing a clutch in a 350Z is not like changing a light bulb or putting together IKEA furniture. It's a PROPER JOB that will test your patience, your vocabulary of swear words, and potentially several relationships.

  1. Transmission Removal: You have to remove THE ENTIRE GEARBOX. This is about as much fun as performing dental surgery on yourself without anesthetic.

  2. Concentric Slave Cylinder: Replace this while you're in there, or face THE WRATH OF MECHANICAL KARMA when it fails 500 miles later and you have to do the WHOLE JOB AGAIN.

  3. Flywheel Condition: If your flywheel looks like it's been attacked by an angry badger with a grinding wheel, REPLACE IT. Don't be THAT PERSON who puts a £500 clutch against a scored flywheel to save £150.

  4. Break-in Period: You'll need to drive LIKE A NORMAL HUMAN BEING for 500-1000 miles. This is apparently physically impossible for most 350Z owners, who seem to be allergic to mechanical sympathy.

  5. Alignment: Get this wrong and your clutch will have the lifespan of a mayfly with a smoking habit. PROPER TOOLS are non-negotiable here.

  6. The Other Bits You Didn't Think About: Because nothing is ever simple, you might also need:

    • Transmission mounts that aren't made of CHEESE
    • A solid pivot ball that doesn't flex like a yoga instructor
    • A clutch line that doesn't expand like a balloon animal
    • A master cylinder that can cope with the INCREDIBLE VIOLENCE you're about to introduce to your drivetrain

MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE: DON'T BE AN IDIOT

Right, pay attention, because this is IMPORTANT. Choosing the wrong clutch for your 350Z is like choosing the wrong shoes for a marathon - a CATASTROPHIC MISTAKE that will lead to PAIN, SUFFERING, and possibly TEARS.

Selecting the right one depends on:

  1. POWERRR: Get a clutch that can handle at least 20-30% MORE than what you've got. Because let's face it, you're going to add more power later. It's a disease.

  2. What You Actually Do With Your Car: Be HONEST. Are you really tracking it, or do you just want to LOOK like you track it while you crawl through traffic to your office job?

  3. How You Drive: There's a difference between "spirited" and "absolutely demonic." Know which one you are.

  4. Pain Threshold: How much NVH can you tolerate before you start questioning your life choices? Be realistic.

  5. Your Wallet: Higher stages cost more money. This is the law of the universe. Deal with it.

  • The ACTUAL Recommendations:

    • Stock or Mildly Modified Daily: Stage 1. Because you're not fooling anyone.
    • A Bit More Power and Showing Off Occasionally: Stage 2. Because you want to FEEL like you've done something meaningful.
    • Forced Induction and Track Day Heroics: Stage 3. The sweet spot between PERFORMANCE and not wanting to AMPUTATE YOUR LEFT LEG.
    • Serious Track Car with SERIOUS POWER: Stage 4. Now we're talking about a proper weapon.
    • Dedicated Track Monster: Stage 5. For when you've accepted that your car is no longer suitable for collecting groceries.
    • Full Competition Machine: Stage 6. Because at this point, you're beyond reasoning with.

    CONCLUSION: THE FINAL VERDICT... IN THE WORLD

    Let me be absolutely clear. The clutch you choose for your Nissan 350Z says more about you than your choice of clothing, hairstyle, or even political affiliation. It is a STATEMENT OF INTENT to the world about what kind of driver you think you are.

    The Action Clutch lineup gives you six distinct ways to either enhance your 350Z's performance or ruin its drivability, depending on your perspective and, frankly, your skill level. From the barely-noticeable upgrade of Stage 1 to the mechanical VIOLENCE of Stage 6, there's something for everyone from shopping-trip enthusiasts to track day warriors.

    The key is HONESTY. Be honest about how you drive, where you drive, and what you're trying to achieve. Choose a clutch that's slightly above your current power level because, let's face it, you WILL add more power. It's the law of nature for 350Z owners. Like gravity, but more expensive.

    Choose wisely, and your clutch will provide years of service. Choose poorly, and you'll be revisiting this article sooner than you think, with a newfound appreciation for the importance of getting it right the first time.

    And remember: a clutch is only as good as the HAMFISTED APE operating it. Even the most BOMBPROOF clutch can be destroyed by someone who changes gear like they're trying to MURDER the gearstick. So whatever stage you choose, treat it with the respect it deserves.

    And on that bombshell, it's time to end. Goodnight!

The full range of ACTION CLUTCH is now available at TORQEN.