ARGH! HELP! - Clutch goes bye bye

[Vimeous]

It's Christmas Eve.
Tonight I have 85miles to drive and a holiday period of running round like a loony....

Not anymore!

This morning my clutch expired and while I'm not overly preicous about what I do over Christmas my #1 priority now is getting my beloved motor back up and running again. However the clutch is one thing I've never investigated for the MB6 so I need advice from those in the know.

1. Is there an aftermarket clutch easily available that will better suit my unmodified MB6?

2. How much should I expect to be charged outside the Honda dealer network for parts & fitting? (Honda dealer quoted me close to £600 a month or two ago when I enquired out of curiosity)

3. Is the ITR clutch the same (mounting points etc) and does that have any bearing on my situation?

4. Where in the Milton Keynes area should / shouldn't I go to get this kind of thing fixed?

Any and all help is gratefully appreciated!

Thanks

Vimeous

N.B.
I've also posted this on the Honda Revolutions forums, hence the specific questions, but I aloso know many of you guys may hold the knowledge I'm in need of!

MB6 = Civic 5dr 1.8VTi with B18C4 engine

[Vimeous]

P.s.

Zak can you pop this in the Pit Stop for me, I got all carried away and popped it here

[Vimeous]

Just had a quote from a local motor factors (motorserv) for just parts.
The Blueprint (ADL) one would be approx £160 incVAT and is a special order.
Their standard stock item is a Borg N Beck at £228.46incVAT.

Funnily enough the chap I chatted with couldn't believe how expensive their standard part is but that leads me to the following question:

Which is better? I'll pay the extra for a better clutch simply because I'm an enthusiastic driver who wants parts that will help my driving enjoyment.

Any advice on this? Or should I keep hunting for an AP Racing supplier?

[Vimeous]

I just spoke to a gent at Mardi Gras Motorosport just north of MK and he has quoted me the following for Helix components:

£176 ex VAT - Cover
£71.30 ex VAT - Organic Face Plate
£30.67 ex VAT - Bearings
or
£243.57 ex VAT - As a kit

Again it sounds steep (and is probably overkill tbh) and I've never heard of Helix BUT somehow its soooo tempting.

Currently I'm getting great quotes from HondaRevs members for the generic parts direct from Honda....but Honda in MK are somewhat predicably on their hols it seems

[DR]

Blueprint from what I hear are good clutches and most of the time the same thing you buy as the part in the box from the dealer

[Jiff Lemon]

^^ the man hit the nail on the head ^^

Given that its probably the motors first clutch, how many miles have you done? Now think of the thrashing you've given it. Unless you're suddenly going to add silly amounts of power, dont bother with an uprated clutch.

[Vimeous]

Feedback I'm getting suggest OEM is a similar price to the BLueprint and I bet Honda has it in stock (if only I could get through on the damn phone).

Miles? The car has done 93k. Of those the last 37k are all mine.

Bloke at Mardi Gras laughed when I said 93k seemed short, apparently an Evo VI eats them every 6k. However esteemed parentage was shocked at only 93k. Dad loves to motor and yet has NEVER had a clutch change in not far from a million miles of motoring.

Under normal circumstances I'd be looking cheapest. However as I'm never likely to replace the clutch again it's the only chance I'll get to get better than standard. Besides round MK it does take a serious hammering.

[Vimeous]

Mmmm

Any thoughts on Exedy? I've been offered an Exedy Sports kit with organic plate kit (new unopened) for £200+del. If the OEM is looking like £160/170 the difference is small enough to make no odds to me financially.

Oh yeah and other than most likely make an already heavy clutch heavier should I expect any negatives to using a 'Sports' clutch?

[IainB]

I just spoke to a gent at Mardi Gras Motorosport just north of MK and he has quoted me the following for Helix components:

£176 ex VAT - Cover
£71.30 ex VAT - Organic Face Plate
£30.67 ex VAT - Bearings
or
£243.57 ex VAT - As a kit

Again it sounds steep (and is probably overkill tbh) and I've never heard of Helix BUT somehow its soooo tempting.

If its these people I have heard good things about them http://www.helix-autosport.com/
A quick Google shows them fitted to a variety of cars with good effect

[Vimeous]

Ooo ta Eazieb I've been looking for their site all day!

[Jiff Lemon]

Oh yeah and other than most likely make an already heavy clutch heavier should I expect any negatives to using a 'Sports' clutch?

You'll develop an overly powerful left left, and you'll wince every time you have to go into town or hit a traffic jam....

Where's Lowe when you need him most?

[Vimeous]

LOL well I'll bear that in mind, I'm sure there's some use in an overly powerful left left

Ok decision time.

Honda OEM are trying to scare me pricewise, so much so that all other offers, regardless of extremity, are cheaper.

If I were to say to you "Have a new clutch, the choices are Borg 'N Beck, Helix and Exedy" who would you choose?

[Moby-Dick]

Exedy - when you due back btw ?

[Vimeous]

If works calls this week......if not Monday/Tuesday next week I suspect.