Discussion
ChimpOnGas said:
I never drove Mac's car but I did sit in the driver's seat and worked the clutch (car stationery, engine off) and it did indeed feel lovely, just a couple of presses and I could instantly tell it was the best clutch I'd felt in any TVR.
I've actually had three clutches so far... don't ask
1. The TVR original - Lasted 35k and just 5k in my ownership, TBH it never felt right from the day I bought the car at 30k
2. A Helix from V8 Developments - Heavy and never felt right either
3. Lloyd Specialist Developments - Felt like the TVR original and only lasted 12k, no I didn't abuse it!
4. AP 5.0 litre spec - Lovely, best of the lot by a country mile
The AP clutch was fitted by Mat Smith who found a clearance issue which was almost certainly a mistake made by TVR in 1996 when they built the car, the problem had followed the car throughout it's life. Mat confirmed he's found the same issue many times on Chimaeras, he solves the issue by machining down the bearing carrier to achieve the correct clearance which he did on my car and it's been an absolute delight ever since.
All the clutches in 4.0 litre Chimaers have felt the same to me, they all have a slightly odd overcentre feeling where the cluctch return force seems to get heavier right on the bite point which is exactly what you don't want for smooth clutch modulation. The original TVR clutch in my mate's low mileage 5.0 litre always felt so much better than the first three I had, so knowing it was an AP that's what I went with and now its as light and smooth as his.
Mac's McLeod still remains the benchmark for me though, it was even lighter than my AP and and had absolutely perfect linear take up, your other option is the fancy new twin plate Dom from Powers was promoting on Facebook a few weeks ago which did look tasty. But before you pull the trigger on a Powers or McLeod the people to speak to are TTV Racing, they're known for flywheels but they make some serious clutches too, the one I saw a couple of years ago on their stand at the NEC was a thing of beauty, perhaps TTV Racing are behind the new Powers clutch
As Mac says, whatever option you go for you're going to need to put you're hand in your pocket Daz which I know will hurt you
, unfortunately when it comes to clutches cheap and good are never used in the same sentence, just be thankful you didn't go through all the trouble I did before I found a quality solution from AP and Mat Smith.
Read your piece on your clutch woes with interest. Is your gearbox an LT77 or T5?I've actually had three clutches so far... don't ask
1. The TVR original - Lasted 35k and just 5k in my ownership, TBH it never felt right from the day I bought the car at 30k
2. A Helix from V8 Developments - Heavy and never felt right either
3. Lloyd Specialist Developments - Felt like the TVR original and only lasted 12k, no I didn't abuse it!
4. AP 5.0 litre spec - Lovely, best of the lot by a country mile
The AP clutch was fitted by Mat Smith who found a clearance issue which was almost certainly a mistake made by TVR in 1996 when they built the car, the problem had followed the car throughout it's life. Mat confirmed he's found the same issue many times on Chimaeras, he solves the issue by machining down the bearing carrier to achieve the correct clearance which he did on my car and it's been an absolute delight ever since.
All the clutches in 4.0 litre Chimaers have felt the same to me, they all have a slightly odd overcentre feeling where the cluctch return force seems to get heavier right on the bite point which is exactly what you don't want for smooth clutch modulation. The original TVR clutch in my mate's low mileage 5.0 litre always felt so much better than the first three I had, so knowing it was an AP that's what I went with and now its as light and smooth as his.
Mac's McLeod still remains the benchmark for me though, it was even lighter than my AP and and had absolutely perfect linear take up, your other option is the fancy new twin plate Dom from Powers was promoting on Facebook a few weeks ago which did look tasty. But before you pull the trigger on a Powers or McLeod the people to speak to are TTV Racing, they're known for flywheels but they make some serious clutches too, the one I saw a couple of years ago on their stand at the NEC was a thing of beauty, perhaps TTV Racing are behind the new Powers clutch
As Mac says, whatever option you go for you're going to need to put you're hand in your pocket Daz which I know will hurt you
, unfortunately when it comes to clutches cheap and good are never used in the same sentence, just be thankful you didn't go through all the trouble I did before I found a quality solution from AP and Mat Smith.AndrewSC said:
ChimpOnGas said:
I never drove Mac's car but I did sit in the driver's seat and worked the clutch (car stationery, engine off) and it did indeed feel lovely, just a couple of presses and I could instantly tell it was the best clutch I'd felt in any TVR.
I've actually had three clutches so far... don't ask
1. The TVR original - Lasted 35k and just 5k in my ownership, TBH it never felt right from the day I bought the car at 30k
2. A Helix from V8 Developments - Heavy and never felt right either
3. Lloyd Specialist Developments - Felt like the TVR original and only lasted 12k, no I didn't abuse it!
4. AP 5.0 litre spec - Lovely, best of the lot by a country mile
The AP clutch was fitted by Mat Smith who found a clearance issue which was almost certainly a mistake made by TVR in 1996 when they built the car, the problem had followed the car throughout it's life. Mat confirmed he's found the same issue many times on Chimaeras, he solves the issue by machining down the bearing carrier to achieve the correct clearance which he did on my car and it's been an absolute delight ever since.
All the clutches in 4.0 litre Chimaers have felt the same to me, they all have a slightly odd overcentre feeling where the cluctch return force seems to get heavier right on the bite point which is exactly what you don't want for smooth clutch modulation. The original TVR clutch in my mate's low mileage 5.0 litre always felt so much better than the first three I had, so knowing it was an AP that's what I went with and now its as light and smooth as his.
Mac's McLeod still remains the benchmark for me though, it was even lighter than my AP and and had absolutely perfect linear take up, your other option is the fancy new twin plate Dom from Powers was promoting on Facebook a few weeks ago which did look tasty. But before you pull the trigger on a Powers or McLeod the people to speak to are TTV Racing, they're known for flywheels but they make some serious clutches too, the one I saw a couple of years ago on their stand at the NEC was a thing of beauty, perhaps TTV Racing are behind the new Powers clutch
As Mac says, whatever option you go for you're going to need to put you're hand in your pocket Daz which I know will hurt you, unfortunately when it comes to clutches cheap and good are never used in the same sentence, just be thankful you didn't go through all the trouble I did before I found a quality solution from AP and Mat Smith.
Read your piece on your clutch woes with interest. Is your gearbox an LT77 or T5?I've actually had three clutches so far... don't ask
1. The TVR original - Lasted 35k and just 5k in my ownership, TBH it never felt right from the day I bought the car at 30k
2. A Helix from V8 Developments - Heavy and never felt right either
3. Lloyd Specialist Developments - Felt like the TVR original and only lasted 12k, no I didn't abuse it!
4. AP 5.0 litre spec - Lovely, best of the lot by a country mile
The AP clutch was fitted by Mat Smith who found a clearance issue which was almost certainly a mistake made by TVR in 1996 when they built the car, the problem had followed the car throughout it's life. Mat confirmed he's found the same issue many times on Chimaeras, he solves the issue by machining down the bearing carrier to achieve the correct clearance which he did on my car and it's been an absolute delight ever since.
All the clutches in 4.0 litre Chimaers have felt the same to me, they all have a slightly odd overcentre feeling where the cluctch return force seems to get heavier right on the bite point which is exactly what you don't want for smooth clutch modulation. The original TVR clutch in my mate's low mileage 5.0 litre always felt so much better than the first three I had, so knowing it was an AP that's what I went with and now its as light and smooth as his.
Mac's McLeod still remains the benchmark for me though, it was even lighter than my AP and and had absolutely perfect linear take up, your other option is the fancy new twin plate Dom from Powers was promoting on Facebook a few weeks ago which did look tasty. But before you pull the trigger on a Powers or McLeod the people to speak to are TTV Racing, they're known for flywheels but they make some serious clutches too, the one I saw a couple of years ago on their stand at the NEC was a thing of beauty, perhaps TTV Racing are behind the new Powers clutch
As Mac says, whatever option you go for you're going to need to put you're hand in your pocket Daz which I know will hurt you
, unfortunately when it comes to clutches cheap and good are never used in the same sentence, just be thankful you didn't go through all the trouble I did before I found a quality solution from AP and Mat Smith.I expanded on this idea by Bill Hughes and made a linkage to decrease clutch heaviness:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I have a single plate McLeod. Hopefully fitting next weekend. Will advise on how it goes but no reason to think it won't work.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I have a single plate McLeod. Hopefully fitting next weekend. Will advise on how it goes but no reason to think it won't work.
SILICONEKID 357HP said:
Does it make much difference changing the slave ?
Daz, having been down this road I can tell you there are no free lunches. It's basic physics.Edited by SILICONEKID 357HP on Sunday 9th February 22:11
Yes you can get a larger slave - will be lighter but it won't move as far meaning you can't get it in gear.
Same result with a smaller master cylinder...
Leave it all as-is and try Bill's lever - it's an easy mod
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