I have a Center Force DFX in my 'vette. Finesse could be an understatement but it sure as hell grabs!

I taught Ayrton Senna how to drive!:icon23:


Edit: btw, IBTL

Not a manual to learn on
 

I have been driving manual trans. for most of my life and I have stalled out the 370 more than any other car. I don’t like to rev much in 1st gear because you shouldn’t have to but its a combination of left leg release speed & accelerator engagement that determines a smooth start, sometimes neither is well timed. When this car is cold it doesn’t like a quick 2nd gear exchange either.

:tup:

I don't get it. I have put more than 45,000 miles total across two different 370Z's and have stalled exactly zero times.

I questioned the gear box in my Z but after about 4000 miles she got broken in and now she shift like butter after warm up... She like it when you beat the "sweet spot" Cant be too soft.

Reading the thread, I'm more convinced that there's nothing wrong with the way these Z's shift.

:tup:

The problem, the reason, and the solution all in one post.:tup:

Why do you think that it was the car learning how you shift instead of you learning how the car likes to be shifted?

I can easily make the clutch judder (which makes the whole car shake) with improper clutch engagement. I can also make the flywheel chatter pretty loud with improper action. All OEM, mind you.

With proper clutch engagement I can start the car smoothly anywhere from zero to 2500 RPMs. I can engage the clutch properly at higher RPMs as well, but I wouldn't call it a smooth start - more like a launch :driving:

Btw, I had owned just one MT before the Z (99' Explorer Sport). It was a completely different experience, but it didn't take me more than a few weeks (not even DD) to figure out what the Z wants from me.

:tup:

[QUOTE shiftsE=MacCool;2771663]Why do you think that it was the car learning how you shift instead of you learning how the car likes to be shifted?[/QUOTE]

That's not what I said. My car was brand new and a brand new clutch has to be broken in and during this time they can let off bad smells and be extra sensitive. So a few hundred miles after "break in" all shifts are normal without smells, clunk/click noises, etc. And I control her the way I want :tup:

I saw my own experience differently. The car didn't "break in", I just learned how to shift it smoothly.

That was three years ago. My brand new 2014 Touring Sport 6MT with brand new clutch and brand new smells....I can shift that smooth as buttah from day 1. I suppose they might be building them better, but I was thinking that it's more likely that I can run the 6MT better after 3 years of practice. Is why I bring up the observation...

Well, I would think if you are getting bad smells from your clutch it means its burning, which means you aren't shifting properly and you are damaging it. I've owned manuals all my life and I'm 63 and the only time I got a burning smell is when I abused the clutch. I've owned many new cars including the Z and never smelled the clutch.

:iagree: There isn't.

But there are always those that blame the car. Funny how this thread has changed from supporters of a so called lousey tranny/shifting to those that possess the skills to smoothly engage a clutch on any car/truck, any year, any make or model, anytime, drunk or sober.

I used to be able to drive a 1968 F-100 with three-on-the-tree on 72 hours of no sleep and while tripping on mushrooms, in the snow, with my screaming ex-wife as a passenger, while balancing a tall-boy Schlitz between my knees and I did not stall it. :icon17:

See, that's what I'm talking about! Real men mastering the manual transmission! Three-on-the-tree. Brings back memories. Taught my ex-wife how to drive standard on one of those. An early '70's F150.

1. change to redline fluid.
2. change the clutch
3. dump the OEM flywheel

I have had quite a few manual cars and the Z was the hardest in stock form to drive, I looked like a noob from a stop, sometimes the car would hop and rock, I looked like an idiot. Once I dumped the stupid heavy azz flywheel, that all went away. While this is no s2k trans, and second gear syncro is terrible, its livable, it hold power, that's the most important part IMO.

I understand.. I've driven a couple manuals prior to getting my Z. And the overall experience driving it, is just different. I also shift like buttah :driving:

:wtf2:

:tiphat:

Well, with experience like that, no wonder you're that skilled...

:bowdown:

I get the shudder bug from time to time but I think its because I let the clutch out a little too quickly thanks to that dam helper spring. If I focus on either letting the clutch out a little more slowly or revving a little bit higher then all is well.

It happened on the 350 and it hasn't changed with the 370! Early morning hill starts get me every time! :icon23:

I judder every morning leaving the drive way. I always warm up before leaving, it judders less and less as it warms up. 3 red lights later judder is gone. I roll backwards out of my drive way, not in gear.

When I disengage the clutch at a slow roll I get a springy clunking. Not sure if its because the nismo has a differnet clutch or im just hitting the clutch fast?

Nismo clutch is no different than non-Nismo clutch. Likely you are just hitting the clutch a bit fast. Try slowing things down a bit and being more deliberate in your movements.

been driving stick shift all my life from s-10 to 240sx, 200sx, vw cc, GTO 6.0l, and never had this type of noise before....granted maybe because its brand new and not broken in yet.:driving:

Ive had the Juddering occur for a long time and the throw out bearing is super loud ( many of us seem to be in the same boat with this loud sound). I think the juddering is more prevalent when you have the Auto Rev match on. When I have it off I can blip the throttle let the clutch go nicely and it will take off smoothly. Leave Rev match on, and I'm stuck with the juddering.

that makes sense with the rev match on. I have to deal with bumper to bumper stop and go traffic and mine is not on take off but when i push the clutch in at a slow speed 15mph or less....ill try taking rev match off... ive been spoiled with that here lately time to go back to the standard method.

RJM pedal
 

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the RJM clutch pedal in this thread. I have a 09 6MT I bought used two years ago and had a hard time getting use to the clutch. I'm 61 years old and have been driving a manual since I was 15 so it wasn't me. I read about the RJM adjustable clutch pedal and immediately ordered one.

Wow! What a transformation. The stock clutch/tranny is wonderful now.

I have no affiliation with RJM, I'm just a customer, a happy one.

What the new pedal does is change the engagement point and spreads the engagement over a longer distance making it more controllable. You can still get jutter if you don't get the revs up but a lot less than the stock clutch pedal.

Now i REALLY LOVE my Z! :happydance: