Marina/ital engine - ford sierra gearbox.... Clutch options?

[iambiggles]

Once the work on the 1380 conversion is finished I'll be swapping the 1275 I currently run out of the car. I plan to change the cluch assembly at the same time (as I plan to use it and the 1275 in another project).

What are my options for a performance clutch based on the A+ Marina/Ital engine and Ford 5 speed box?

Cam? Jonathan? anybody?, anybody? (for all you Ferris Bueller fans... lol)

Cheers chaps and chapesses

[salty_monk]

should be careful here. Cam had some probs with his clutch on this combo. He's certainly the best person to advise I would think... Dan

[Cam]

Well, the diaphragm clutch is the way forward as it's got the power to clamp the clutch on and stop it slipping under power. Unfortunately this involves the use of a roller thrust bearing. I have had LOTS of problems with this as they need to be lined up pretty perfectly and the Birmingham Minor Centre parts (when I bought mine) were WAY out, so it lined up off centre and juddered and wore out badly.

Do you already have the Ford box? if so, does it have the 'nose' on it which partially covers the input shaft? Mine came without this, so I had to get one.

The Minor centre's idea was to have the throw arm pivoting (like the standard Minor's one) but this meant that you needed to cut the 'nose' off the input shaft (otherwise it would jam when trying to pivot). This also meant that it met the diaphragm with an arc and not 'head on' which caused the juddering and rapid wear.

I solved this problem by re-introducing the 'nose' section and having the thrust bearing travel along it so it hit the diaphgram square on. This meant though that I had to cut a slot where the pivot 'hole' was in the pivot bracket to allow movement and prevent the 'jam'.

I have spent a lot of time, effort and money trying to solve these problems, so if you have any questions at all please feel free to ask!

[iambiggles]

Well, the diaphragm clutch is the way forward as it's got the power to clamp the clutch on and stop it slipping under power. Unfortunately this involves the use of a roller thrust bearing. I have had LOTS of problems with this as they need to be lined up pretty perfectly and the Birmingham Minor Centre parts (when I bought mine) were WAY out, so it lined up off centre and juddered and wore out badly.

Do you already have the Ford box? if so, does it have the 'nose' on it which partially covers the input shaft? Mine came without this, so I had to get one.

The Minor centre's idea was to have the throw arm pivoting (like the standard Minor's one) but this meant that you needed to cut the 'nose' off the input shaft (otherwise it would jam when trying to pivot). This also meant that it met the diaphragm with an arc and not 'head on' which caused the juddering and rapid wear.

I solved this problem by re-introducing the 'nose' section and having the thrust bearing travel along it so it hit the diaphgram square on. This meant though that I had to cut a slot where the pivot 'hole' was in the pivot bracket to allow movement and prevent the 'jam'.

I have spent a lot of time, effort and money trying to solve these problems, so if you have any questions at all please feel free to ask!

Cheers - its more that I need to know which clutch assembly I'll be using as I want to fit it and the flywheel before sending the block to MED as I want the whole thing balanced properly.

[Cam]

Yes, you'll need the modified Minor flywheel (6 hole) which is available from the Brum Minor centre amongst others.