Clutch Options?

[MikeE]

I’m about to embark on an engine, clutch and gearbox refresh and have found a thread from 2018/2019 stating the OEM AP 500 clutch is no longer available?

What's the latest thoughts on the best clutch available (at a reasonable price) for a 300bhp RV8?

I can see TVR-Parts list the Helix 500 clutch kit at £330 but is this still too heavy versus the (still unavailable?) AP clutch?

[Classic Chim]

MikeE said:

I’m about to embark on an engine, clutch and gearbox refresh and have found a thread from 2018/2019 stating the OEM AP 500 clutch is no longer available?

What's the latest thoughts on the best clutch available (at a reasonable price) for a 300bhp RV8?

I can see TVR-Parts list the Helix 500 clutch kit at £330 but is this still too heavy versus the (still unavailable?) AP clutch?

I was just about to ask if you boot it very often or not but checked your profile pic first
So you like exciting motors.
I was going to say won’t a standard Rover spec one be up-to the job if your not drag racing it sort of thing?
It’s possible 80% of owners would never really need a 500 spec clutch based in the more relaxed driving habits as the cars get older in line with the owners reactions

The reason I say this is I destroyed the 500 clutch doing to many drag starts with foot on clutch biting point brakes and throttle on. I got my reaction time down to 0,2 at one time
I digress,
So we,, meaning Phazed and Qbee got a clutch sent from TVR PARTS. It’s the lightest clutch to use in existence ?
It came in a tatty previously opened AP box but I have my doubts as to what pressure plate it is!
My cars got about 300 bhp and a lot more torque at 345 but so far this clutch has been holding and works beautifully. I’ve not done any more race starts and won’t be in a hurry so not sure just how strong it is.
I’m making an assumption here but I think it could be a standard road car clutch!
I really ain’t bothered at the moment, it’s been in there a good while before I started a body off and worked great. No slip or drag and so light!
Not helping but I do wonder if most of us actually require such heavy clutch springs.

Edited by Classic Chim on Wednesday 6th January 14:56

[MikeE]

Classic Chim said:

MikeE said:

I’m about to embark on an engine, clutch and gearbox refresh and have found a thread from 2018/2019 stating the OEM AP 500 clutch is no longer available?

What's the latest thoughts on the best clutch available (at a reasonable price) for a 300bhp RV8?

I can see TVR-Parts list the Helix 500 clutch kit at £330 but is this still too heavy versus the (still unavailable?) AP clutch?

I was just about to ask if you boot it very often or not but checked your profile pic first
So you like exciting motors.
I was going to say won’t a standard Rover spec one be up-to the job if your not drag racing it sort of thing?
It’s possible 80% of owners would never really need a 500 spec clutch based in the more relaxed driving habits as the cars get older in line with the owners reactions

The reason I say this is I destroyed the 500 clutch doing to many drag starts with foot on clutch biting point brakes and throttle on. I got my reaction time down to 0,2 at one time
I digress,
So we,, meaning Phazed and Qbee got a clutch sent from TVR PARTS. It’s the lightest clutch to use in existence ?
It came in a tatty previously opened AP box but I have my doubts as to what pressure plate it is!
My cars got about 300 bhp and a lot more torque at 345 but so far this clutch has been holding and works beautifully. I’ve not done any more race starts and won’t be in a hurry so not sure just how strong it is.
I’m making an assumption here but I think it could be a standard road car clutch!
I really ain’t bothered at the moment, it’s been in there a good while before I started a body off and worked great. No slip or drag and so light!
Not helping but I do wonder if most of us actually require such heavy clutch springs.

Edited by Classic Chim on Wednesday 6th January 14:56

Thanks for the feedback, I suspect you are right about not needing a heavy duty clutch. I lost the urge to drive like I stole it on the road once I bought a track spec Caterham, it was in a different league to my then Tuscan S so I agree with you, as a pure road car a lesser clutch is probably fine.

Which clutch did you get from TVR-Parts and when? Do you know if the saem make is still available from them (as they seem to have switched from AP to Helix?)

[900T-R]

If you have an AP '500' clutch already, chances are the pressure plate is still fine and having the clutch disc re-lined would be a good option

[lancepar]

900T-R said:

If you have an AP '500' clutch already, chances are the pressure plate is still fine and having the clutch disc re-lined would be a good option

Not local to OP but I've used this company for old motorbike brake shoe re-lining and they say they do clutches as well.

https://www.midlandbrakes.com/

[Classic Chim]

Just to clarify
My 500 clutch had or I seized the thrust bearing up from heat. It then cut the pressure fingers away thus wrecking it.

[900T-R]

Classic Chim said:

Just to clarify
My 500 clutch had or I seized the thrust bearing up from heat. It then cut the pressure fingers away thus wrecking it.

Well that comprehensively nixes that option, then. :/

[Classic Chim]

900T-R said:

Well that comprehensively nixes that option, then. :/

On my clutch yes. I think I’ve kept it somewhere as a momento

[MikeE]

Classic Chim said:

On my clutch yes. I think I’ve kept it somewhere as a momento

Which replacement clutch did you get from TVR-Parts and when? I ask as I'm wondering if TVR-Parts still have any of these, rather than being offered the Helix 400 or 500 clutch kit which people don't seem to like!

[QBee]

I think this is the one he got - I was an interested bystander at the install, which was a couple of years ago now. Phazed and Phazed junior (Mike the Mechanic) did the work

Clutch kit
Part NumberTVR Q KIT500

Product Description
Uprated TVR clutch kit to fit all Chimaera 450/500 and Griffith 450/500. This clutch can also be used as a heavy duty option for Chimaera 400 and Griffith 400. This clutch kit consists of uprated drive plate, uprated Helix cover and release bearing. Please note that the free clutch aligning tool offer is currently unavailable
Price£275.00 plus VAT

Price£330.00 inc. VAT @ 20.00%

Fits the following TVRs:
Chimaera, Griffith

[MikeE]

QBee said:

I think this is the one he got - I was an interested bystander at the install, which was a couple of years ago now. Phazed and Phazed junior (Mike the Mechanic) did the work

Clutch kit
Part NumberTVR Q KIT500

Product Description
Uprated TVR clutch kit to fit all Chimaera 450/500 and Griffith 450/500. This clutch can also be used as a heavy duty option for Chimaera 400 and Griffith 400. This clutch kit consists of uprated drive plate, uprated Helix cover and release bearing. Please note that the free clutch aligning tool offer is currently unavailable
Price£275.00 plus VAT

Price£330.00 inc. VAT @ 20.00%

Fits the following TVRs:
Chimaera, Griffith

Thats the one I originally looked at but got some negative comments on how heavy the Helix kits are

[TVR Stef]

MikeE said:

QBee said:

I think this is the one he got - I was an interested bystander at the install, which was a couple of years ago now. Phazed and Phazed junior (Mike the Mechanic) did the work

Clutch kit
Part NumberTVR Q KIT500

Product Description
Uprated TVR clutch kit to fit all Chimaera 450/500 and Griffith 450/500. This clutch can also be used as a heavy duty option for Chimaera 400 and Griffith 400. This clutch kit consists of uprated drive plate, uprated Helix cover and release bearing. Please note that the free clutch aligning tool offer is currently unavailable
Price£275.00 plus VAT

Price£330.00 inc. VAT @ 20.00%

Fits the following TVRs:
Chimaera, Griffith

Thats the one I originally looked at but got some negative comments on how heavy the Helix kits are

For what it's worth I fitted a Helix plate and cover and drove it about 50 miles before I pulled it, way too heavy. I kept the Helix clutch plate and just fitted a cover for a SD1 from Rimmer Bros. The feel is perfect but I'm only running a Chimaera 400 so cannot say how it would hold up to anything bigger/tuned.

But all I can say is that the Helix clutch cover was heavy and I'm no old guy!

[QBee]

All I can tell you is that Alun was thrilled with how light it was. It may have something to do with the installation, I am musing.
I am not suggesting that you guys don't know how to install a clutch, but Mike The Mechanic does it for a living and certainly does know what he is doing, and there was a fair amount of checking clearances on the day.

[Classic Chim]

QBee said:

All I can tell you is that Alun was thrilled with how light it was. It may have something to do with the installation, I am musing.
I am not suggesting that you guys don't know how to install a clutch, but Mike The Mechanic does it for a living and certainly does know what he is doing, and there was a fair amount of checking clearances on the day.

I still am
Yes Mike fitted a new fork arm and all it’s gubbins at the same time but it’s so much lighter than my old clutch I do wonder if the spring forks are for a lesser powered car but in truth its handled loads of hard accelerations since install and yes Mike and Peter did a lovely job of it.

It was not a Helix clutch and it was some two or more years ago now.

I’ve felt a a good few TVR clutches now,
If you blindfolded someone and put them in my car they would swear the clutch is off a Fiesta. It’s nothing like any I’ve felt before because it’s so light and smooth,,,, uncanny

Edited by Classic Chim on Thursday 7th January 20:21

Edited by Classic Chim on Thursday 7th January 20:22

[EddyP]

I went through all this recently and found it's not possible to find an AP clutch for a 500. As a result I sent my original 500 clutch to CG motorsport who refurbished it, new linings on the driven plate, new fingers and new pressure plate inside the original 500 pressing. Haven't got it refitted yet to be able to tell you how it feels but they said it would be the same as the original.

[MikeE]

EddyP said:

I went through all this recently and found it's not possible to find an AP clutch for a 500. As a result I sent my original 500 clutch to CG motorsport who refurbished it, new linings on the driven plate, new fingers and new pressure plate inside the original 500 pressing. Haven't got it refitted yet to be able to tell you how it feels but they said it would be the same as the original.

Do you mind saying the cost to do this please?

[MikeE]

Classic Chim said:

QBee said:

All I can tell you is that Alun was thrilled with how light it was. It may have something to do with the installation, I am musing.
I am not suggesting that you guys don't know how to install a clutch, but Mike The Mechanic does it for a living and certainly does know what he is doing, and there was a fair amount of checking clearances on the day.

I still am
Yes Mike fitted a new fork arm and all it’s gubbins at the same time but it’s so much lighter than my old clutch I do wonder if the spring forks are for a lesser powered car but in truth its handled loads of hard accelerations since install and yes Mike and Peter did a lovely job of it.

It was not a Helix clutch and it was some two or more years ago now.

I’ve felt a a good few TVR clutches now,
If you blindfolded someone and put them in my car they would swear the clutch is off a Fiesta. It’s nothing like any I’ve felt before because it’s so light and smooth,,,, uncanny

Edited by Classic Chim on Thursday 7th January 20:21

Edited by Classic Chim on Thursday 7th January 20:22

Thanks for the clarification. My concern is that I'm being advised that the TVR-Parts 500 clutch is the way to go but actually the currently available 500 clutch is a Helix (which I've seen bad reviews for) whereas the good reviews refer to the previous (OEM?) AP 500 clutch, which as you say is great but sadly no longer available.

Maybe I should try and get my hands on an OEM AP 500 clutch and get it rebuilt? (I'm told my clutch is 400, well apparently someone stated that on Facebook from this picture).

[MikeE]

[Zener]

My brother fitted and runs a Helix clutch it's heavy but not awful (poorly advised and not by me years back) still not as light as my 500 AP clutch which I don't consider heavy but it is compared to the modern stuff I'm in and out of daily but that's obvious