I am very glad that I found this thread. I am getting the same horrible clattering sound like everyone else described in the thread. It only happens sometimes and it's some times less sometimes more loud. I noticed that after a longer drive and after some spirited driving, it can get VERY loud.

Can anybody find out the weight of the flywheel and see if really is that light?

I wanted to take the car to the dealer, but after reading this thread I see that it won't be much help. The noise is annoying and very embarrassing if there are people around.

 

It's 28 lbs which is most certainly not light and highly unlikely to be the cause. I'm still sold on it being nothing more than the throwout bearing.

 

My left calf muscle is becoming quite a bit larger from having to hold in my clutch all the time to save myself the embarrasment, lol..... the noise is getting really old, I even hold in the clutch when I shut the engn off, that usually give a good clanking ; ( Sounds like a a beater, would really like to see a simple fix for this stupid noise, something this loud seems like it would be easy to diagnose and fix.

 

fwiw, i had a 240sx that made the same sound. did it even after replacing the clutch and throwout bearing. i believe it is in the front bearing of the tranny and is nothing to worry about. it only occurs when the driveline is unloaded in neutral with the clutch engaged (throwout bearing released).

fwiw, i wouldn't consider a 28lb flywheel to be "heavy" by any means. but, i also don't think the flywheel has anything to do with the sound, either. you want "some" mass to your flywheel to dissipate heat and keep it from warping. just not too much to make it harder for the engine to spool up.

i think it's just a minor design issue with the fairlady and silvia lineage manual transmissions and probably carry over into the skyline lineage. it doesn't seem to affect long term durability.

look at it this way: if your car had a supercharger whine at a stop light, you wouldn't be embarassed by that would you? why not just see this as part of the quirky charm of owning a classic japanese sports car?

having owned a 280z, 240sx and now a g35, i can tell you there are many little "bugs" in the japanese designs, but you get used to them and they become part of "the car experience". most of us wouldn't trade away from the model just because of the quirks. we love our cars ;-)

amp