How to make the clutch lighter?
Discussion
Yes, yes, I know, Man Up etc.
But knee surgery means short journeys are ok, but I intend to drive to Spain next year & don't fancy having to get the car towed because my knee gives out.
I will be doing a body off before then, so there will be the opportunity to do "things"
So what are those things I can do to make the clutch lighter?
Cheers
Mark
But knee surgery means short journeys are ok, but I intend to drive to Spain next year & don't fancy having to get the car towed because my knee gives out.
I will be doing a body off before then, so there will be the opportunity to do "things"
So what are those things I can do to make the clutch lighter?
Cheers
Mark
fit a sequential box with flappy paddles 
http://www.gearboxman.co.uk/psgearboxes.html#t5
http://www.gearboxman.co.uk/psgearboxes.html#t5
Edited by magpies on Saturday 27th February 19:22
You could fit a different master cylinder or slave cylinder with a different bore size which would change the ratio but is a bit of experimentation as if you go too far the clutch release may not travel far enough.
Remote servo would be the safer option.
Burton Power do this one
http://www.burtonpower.com/lockheed-remote-servo-k...
But this looks to be the same kit but much cheaper.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-brake-servo-remote-...
If you are taking the body off I would mount it beside the carbon filter in front of the rad. They can then both use the same vacuum feed from the plenum. The hydraulic pipes can then run through the wing which will mean nothing of your mod will be visible from the engine bay.
Steve
Remote servo would be the safer option.
Burton Power do this one
http://www.burtonpower.com/lockheed-remote-servo-k...
But this looks to be the same kit but much cheaper.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-brake-servo-remote-...
If you are taking the body off I would mount it beside the carbon filter in front of the rad. They can then both use the same vacuum feed from the plenum. The hydraulic pipes can then run through the wing which will mean nothing of your mod will be visible from the engine bay.
Steve
Someone called?
I have a dodgy left foot, so had the clutch lightened by 50%. Mine was the first one, done by John Halstead (Engineer1949 on here). He inserted an MGB brake servo in the offside front corner, having removed the carbon canister, and vented the pipe that used to go to the canister under the car. The servo is then plumbed into the clutch system using thin copper pipes so that it gives servo assistance to the clutch. Mine cost £900, any future ones should cost about £500 fitted. Your TVR garage should be able to do it once they realise how it fits.
The only time it doesn't assist the clutch is if you start the car with your foot on the clutch (ie in gear) - it needs a couple of quick pumps to build up vacuum. Otherwise it works all the time and makes the difference between being able to drive in town traffic and not being able to.
I am at Newark on Trent (Midlands, right on the A1) if you want to try it. Also on the East Coast main line if you ever find yourself en route to London - I can easily meet you at the station, quick test drive, hop back on the next train.
I have a dodgy left foot, so had the clutch lightened by 50%. Mine was the first one, done by John Halstead (Engineer1949 on here). He inserted an MGB brake servo in the offside front corner, having removed the carbon canister, and vented the pipe that used to go to the canister under the car. The servo is then plumbed into the clutch system using thin copper pipes so that it gives servo assistance to the clutch. Mine cost £900, any future ones should cost about £500 fitted. Your TVR garage should be able to do it once they realise how it fits.
The only time it doesn't assist the clutch is if you start the car with your foot on the clutch (ie in gear) - it needs a couple of quick pumps to build up vacuum. Otherwise it works all the time and makes the difference between being able to drive in town traffic and not being able to.
I am at Newark on Trent (Midlands, right on the A1) if you want to try it. Also on the East Coast main line if you ever find yourself en route to London - I can easily meet you at the station, quick test drive, hop back on the next train.
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Perfect the art of clutchless driving. You then only need the clutch for first & reverse. (and it's a great party trick 
)
The sweetest box to do this with is the 70's 4 sp single rail Ford 4 cylinder units )
these gearbox's shifted like a hot knife through butter anyway 
carsy said:
I believe Chimpongas has had a lighter clutch fitted by loyds. Maybe worth speaking to him for his thoughts on it.
I'm not sure of what Lloyd Specialist Developments gave me and I've only had it for a short while but I absolutely love it. The Lloyd team said they tested lots of pressure plates and driven plate combinations before they settled on what I now have. Fortunately all this testing was done over an extended period on other people's TVRs not mine.Apparently they went through some pain in the process but they now have the perfect recipe that is both light and durable, they also noted their clutch is being enjoyed by an owner of a supercharged Chimaera which probably makes close to 400ft/lbs of torque. Apparently the owner has done some considerable mileage on this clutch without any issues whatsoever.
Obviously its more the torque that will wreck a driven plate rather than the horsepower figure, although this will clearly have an impact on clutch longevity too. The obvious way to solve drive plate slip is to increase the clamping forces which in turn is what makes the clutch heavy.
It seems the team at Lloyd Specialist Developments have found the perfect compromise between pedal weight and durability because my clutch is now a dream to use, It's more or less like the clutch on any regular car and if the same setup is coping with nearly 400ft/lbs that's good enough proof to me it'll deliver a long service life, especially in 'Ol Gasbag' that only makes 260ft/lbs at best.
I can highly recommend this clutch, its a massive improvement over my heavy Helix and a bit lighter than the AP clutch in my mate's 5.0 litre that I drive from time to time. This combined with my gear linkage delete mod and closed loop idle strategy have literally transformed 'Ol Gasbag's' drivability.
All that's left for me to do is fekk it all up again by fitting a supercharger and turning all the oil seals inside out
Bloody TVRs, modifying the damn things is a disease for which there seems to be no cure!
Dave.
Sardonicus said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Perfect the art of clutchless driving. You then only need the clutch for first & reverse. (and it's a great party trick )
The sweetest box to do this with is the 70's 4 sp single rail Ford 4 cylinder units ) these gearbox's shifted like a hot knife through butter anyway Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff