Helix AutoSport (UK) stepping up to manufacture upgraded clutches

[802SHO]

can they also spec case strength and seal strength to go with the increased power? is oem sufficient or do we need to upgrade those as well?

They really wanted a whole transmission to start at the clutches and work their way back. They could also test the parts prior to sending anything out. At the time I got one quote of nearly $4,400 to ship my whole transmission….so we quickly decided just to send the clutch packs and drum/basket assembly. Helix agreed for now we’ll just start with the clutches.

Additional upgrades are likely to be needed

 

[SHOdded]

cool beans

 

[Ecoboost_xsport]

can they also spec case strength and seal strength to go with the increased power? is oem sufficient or do we need to upgrade those as well?

I don't think that is an issue. At least not one close to being a problem. Sure...a billet case would be awesome...but let's not get ahead of ourselves, lol. Let's start with the clutches and basket and go from there.

 

[Ecoboost_xsport]

They really wanted a whole transmission to start at the clutches and work their way back. They could also test the parts prior to sending anything out. At the time I got one quote of nearly $4,400 to ship my whole transmission….so we quickly decided just to send the clutch packs and drum/basket assembly. Helix agreed for now we’ll just start with the clutches.

Additional upgrades are likely to be needed

What sucks is, this platfrom isn't sold in the UK/Europe (not in any great numbers, at least) so the 6F55 isn't as common as it is here for them to find in a salvage yard locally. Otherwise I'd say buy one online at a salvage yard near them and have them pick it up.

 

[802SHO]

Helix Update: It’s begun

 

[Ta2dResqr]

Wait... a company that reaches out to update you without prompting?! Is this that fabled thing my grandparents talk about... dare I say it... "customer service"?!

Awesome news!

 

[802SHO]

Wait... a company that reaches out to update you without prompting?! Is this that fabled thing my grandparents talk about... dare I say it... "customer service"?!

Awesome news!

Right! What a relief

 

[802SHO]

Update:

 

[802SHO]

I love this bc we’ve been waiting over a decade for friction clutches and he’s had my clutches for about 1 month and he’s apologizing for it taking so long! Man if he only knew….so far Helix has been the ONLY company taking this seriously.

 

[Iqoniq]

Wow. Awesome.

 

[802SHO]

Helix has updated me on parts, materials and pricing. I want to be as transparent as possible. I’m going to take a call with Rob next week to discuss more details but I’m assuming this is the price to make one set so it’s much more expensive than what a mass produced item at retail should be.

Some of the materials

Basically about $4,000 USD

 

[802SHO]

 

[802SHO]

Ok just got off the phone with Rob. Love the European accent, said he’s got the day off tomorrow and going shopping with the misses….hahaha! Cheers!

So he’s making disc pack 1 of 1-5 all upgraded friction materials, since disc pack 2 and 3 look great still, increasing friction of disc 1-5 could create stress to disc pack 2 and 3 that they’ve never seen before. So he’s also going to upgrade all the friction discs of disk pack 2 and disk pack 3. The list price he gave me itemized is everything completed…so ready to ship basically. So doing disc pack 1 (1-5) and all the other friction discs of disc pack 2 and 3 it will be $2,535.87 USD. That is one set of one.

Now he said to get orders of 10,20,30 sets it’ll go 10%, 20% ,30% cheaper. He’s making 2 sets of the first set of new friction clutches, 1 set for him to test and 1 set to send me if everything works out. And bc I’m testing them, as it’s all on me to install and do all the work I should receive a large discount and he’ll let me know what my price will be next week. He said if for some unforeseen reason I need to get another clutch upgraded that he isnt making, bc it’s on file he can just create them and send them to me without me needing to send in anymore parts and have a lot less downtime. And all the parts will be heat treated and some oil treatment he said. I’ll provide more detail later. He apologized again for delays which is crazy considering we started correspondence in late January and he only got the clutches about 5 weeks or so ago. He said 4-5 weeks he should be ready to send me the prototype friction discs.

Also the friction material he wants to use stopped the motor on his test rig (dry test) and the motor started smoking. It broke his test rig….that’s pretty cool as much as ir sucks he has to get a new motor. Then he’ll do wet testing with mercon LV and he’ll have a clear window to view through that test rig.

Helix AutoSport has far exceeded my expectations thus far and I look forward to learning more and sharing all the processes step by step.

 

[Bluezone]

This is extremely cool Andrew.

 

[802SHO]

Rob checked in the other day
The corrected date for the parts being returned from heat treatment the second time is 5/31/23. These will just need the frictional material added and they’re ready to ship.