Sportshift Twin Plate Clutch and Lightened Flywheel

[ADvantageV8]

I know the subject of standard single plate clutch on the V8 Vantage versus Twin plate upgrade has a few threads over the years but as I've just had mine done I thought it would be helpful to others considering it on the 4.7 to give my personal views on why have it done and the outcome, so here goes;

I've had my 2010 4.7 V8 sports shift for 3 years now (mileage is 23k) and in the last 12 months completed a woeful 439 miles, yes really 439 - I'll own up and confess to being very very obsessed with when and how I drive this car and also my very black and white view of what I consider is engineered right and conversely when something is just that bit lacking. Part of the reason for so few miles was because rather than focus on the enjoyment of this beautiful car, and despite religiously doing clutch learns every time started, I would spend my time fretting about getting the smoothest shift / the occasional judder on pull away / will there be heavy traffic / stopping the inevitable nodding effect on upshifts / and that slight inertia and momentary hang between shifts - All of which for me meant if its not 100% right then actually I'm not quite so in love with driving my P&J as sitting polishing it instead - sad but true !

With the annual service due and so few miles in the year I was at the point of either selling the car or trying to have an upgrade to make something okísh into something excellent that I want to get up at 5am on a Sunday morning and just drive for the sheer fun of it - so 5am and I'll be doing just that as soon as I hit submit on this one

Having spent a lot of time researching options and reading a lot of threads I spoke with Mike at Bamford Rose when we met up at Burghley and having seen the quality of engineering in their lightened and balanced flywheel and spoken at length related to the twin plate clutch I booked my car in and took the plunge together with the annual service, MOT and a geometry set up to improve the dynamic set up of the car. Have to say real pleasure dealing with what I consider to be dedicated and seriously knowledgeable engineers who took the time to really help me understand what the changes do and more importantly why.

So picked the car up on Friday, having had a very reassuring call that the car had been given a clean bill of health, and had some great conversations whilst there with fellow Vantage owner Mark.

Outcome : The upshift change is now smoother and instantaneous without any lag or momentary hesitation. Instead of having to concentrate on shifting I can now just concentrate on a great driving experience its crisper and sharper on the changes and feels more akin to how a well engineered change should be. The effect of the lightened and balanced flywheel is seriously transformational, genuinely it just spins up that much better and again everything happens just that bit faster, smoother and without lag.
The geometry set up up gives the car a better balance and feel on the road with greater poise in the bends and a more planted feel.
Sometimes its hard to find the right words to define what feels to be right but if it makes any sense this now feels right and is absolutely transformational in comparison to the original single plate clutch. The guys at BR did a fantastic job, with fantastic customer service and I do fully appreciate that other Indy's offer similar services this is just my own hopefully helpful owners insight on the benefits of twin plate as opposed to the single.
NB : My original clutch was not slipping or worn out I had this changed for the reasons above in terms of wanting it changed and not having to have changed.
OK 5.05am now I want to go drive - and I've never wanted that so much in the past 3 years of ownership
Drive safe and enjoy
Andy

[ADvantageV8]

V8V Pete said:

Great that you've rediscovered your car through your mods. Early Sunday is definitely the best time for a drive. Out of interest, did Mike say how much of your clutch was left after 23,000 miles?

Hi Pete, I think my clutch just had fairly limited wear as Mike said there were no signs of it having caused blueing and or heat spots / witness marks on the flywheel mating face and the wear on the plates was nothing untoward for the mileage and not yet in need of change due to slippage etc - but that's most likely me having driven her like driving miss daisy for past 3 years - must now try harder

[ADvantageV8]

Jon39 said:

Pleased to read Andy, that you can now enjoy driving your Vanatage more.

Whilst reading the above, I wondered if you might have preferred to have the manual gearchange?

I enjoy still being involved in changing gears, and the clutch pedal is lighter on the 4.7s.

Thanks Jon I know its completely different but the previous car was a 911s manual and put myself off of manual sports cars as that was really painful so was very keen to try the ASM although fully appreciate its not like a PDK at all. Agree with you a well set up manual, especially the 4.7S, would give a lot of involvement and a very dialled in drive so very much hear what you're saying and its great for me to have that driving enjoyment back now.

[ADvantageV8]

Really happy to hear that you found a similar really decent improvement following the conversion and can now likewise really enjoy the dream car that they are - enjoy the miles thanks Andy

Chevykevv said:

Following this thread I took the plung and contacted Bamford Rose.

I too was unhappy with my "dream car" and was considering selling it as it wasn't nice to drive, especially when cold.
Now three weeks on from having it done, I still can't believe the difference it makes to the car, what a pleasure it is to drive now.
No longer do I have to worry about kangarooing down the road or jerky up changes.

I'm enjoying the car so much, I have done more miles in the last 3 weeks than I had since I bought it in April.

Thanks guys for making me love my Vantage again.