JE Engineering High-Po Clutch vs Helix
Discussion
trying pull my project together, final straight, need to make a decision :
Helix Race/Rally clutch, 375ftlbs rated, sprung, extra paddles for longevity - £400 + VAT
or John Eales RV8 High Performance clutch, rated at 520ftlbs, for £299 + VAT
both claim to be mild mannered for road use.
My car might produce 550ftlbs+ but it is, first and foremost, a road car and bunny hopping on the M25/M42 is not a good look and a dead leg is not a pleasing sensation...
experience anyone ?
Helix Race/Rally clutch, 375ftlbs rated, sprung, extra paddles for longevity - £400 + VAT
or John Eales RV8 High Performance clutch, rated at 520ftlbs, for £299 + VAT
both claim to be mild mannered for road use.
My car might produce 550ftlbs+ but it is, first and foremost, a road car and bunny hopping on the M25/M42 is not a good look and a dead leg is not a pleasing sensation...
experience anyone ?
It looks like my JE 500 is in need of replacement.
I was very happy with it. Seemed grabby at first and quite heavy but i soon got used to it.
Never let me down. Over 20k and a couple hundred drag races. Its probably had over 500 lb/ft put through it to sticky rears on the strip and never showed signs of slip.
I was very happy with it. Seemed grabby at first and quite heavy but i soon got used to it.
Never let me down. Over 20k and a couple hundred drag races. Its probably had over 500 lb/ft put through it to sticky rears on the strip and never showed signs of slip.
dbv8 said:
It looks like my JE 500 is in need of replacement.
I was very happy with it. Seemed grabby at first and quite heavy but i soon got used to it.
Never let me down. Over 20k and a couple hundred drag races. Its probably had over 500 lb/ft put through it to sticky rears on the strip and never showed signs of slip.
thanks DerekI was very happy with it. Seemed grabby at first and quite heavy but i soon got used to it.
Never let me down. Over 20k and a couple hundred drag races. Its probably had over 500 lb/ft put through it to sticky rears on the strip and never showed signs of slip.
just concerned that, literally, in traffic jams it might be haaaaard work.
Jammy Dodger said:
thanks Derek
just concerned that, literally, in traffic jams it might be haaaaard work.
I must admit traffic jams arent my favourite place to be in the Chim. I suppose it comes down to priorites and wether your left leg is upto the job.just concerned that, literally, in traffic jams it might be haaaaard work.
I aint no athlete but can cope well enough.
The McLeod isn't cheap but is certainly upto the job, I spoke to them direct in the states and they said it was good for 800 hp although wouldn't give a torque figure I also got a sfi rated flywheel to match, the pedal also feels like a standard one and as its a twin plate it's not on and off like a paddle
Not sure it's much help but I have a Helix in my baby 4.0 litre.
My Helix came from V8D & is the normal diaphragm spring type, not a paddle.
Clearly it's under stressed in my application but I can tell you it's no heavier than the standard clutch that came out.
Like any new clutch the Helix grabbed like Albanian pick pocket for the first 50-100 miles, then settled down nicely.
How it would handle 500ft lbs plus I have no idea, but the action & bite point is now very nice indeed.
Keep the faith, Dave.
My Helix came from V8D & is the normal diaphragm spring type, not a paddle.
Clearly it's under stressed in my application but I can tell you it's no heavier than the standard clutch that came out.
Like any new clutch the Helix grabbed like Albanian pick pocket for the first 50-100 miles, then settled down nicely.
How it would handle 500ft lbs plus I have no idea, but the action & bite point is now very nice indeed.
Keep the faith, Dave.
Edited by ChimpanLucky on Monday 16th April 19:18
no one asked, but "όλα τα ελληνικά σε με" means "it's all greek to me" ! 
Rob's checking on the JE Engineering offer tomorrow... 500ftlbs for 299 + vat sounds too good to be true
ETA - i was mistaken, when i said John Eales previously, i meant JE Engineering....
typing in a dark room after 2 pints of rum and coke is not easy, gotta tell you
Rob's checking on the JE Engineering offer tomorrow... 500ftlbs for 299 + vat sounds too good to be true
ETA - i was mistaken, when i said John Eales previously, i meant JE Engineering....
typing in a dark room after 2 pints of rum and coke is not easy, gotta tell you
Edited by Jammy Dodger on Monday 16th April 20:11
Jammy Dodger said:
no one asked, but "όλα τα ελληνικά σε με" means "it's all greek to me" !
Rob's checking on the JE Engineering offer tomorrow... 500ftlbs for 299 + vat sounds too good to be true
ETA - i was mistaken, when i said John Eales previously, i meant JE Engineering....
typing in a dark room after 2 pints of rum and coke is not easy, gotta tell you
I thought you had it mixed up the other way round. JE Engineering are the landrover people. I will be interested to hear moreRob's checking on the JE Engineering offer tomorrow... 500ftlbs for 299 + vat sounds too good to be true
ETA - i was mistaken, when i said John Eales previously, i meant JE Engineering....
typing in a dark room after 2 pints of rum and coke is not easy, gotta tell you
Edited by Jammy Dodger on Monday 16th April 20:11
dbv8 said:
I thought you had it mixed up the other way round. JE Engineering are the landrover people. I will be interested to hear more
i noticed they offer a So[ercjarged 4.2 good for 480bhp, Zulu model defender. See what i mean about typing in the dark after a drinky-poo ?Will post up my findings on that clutch...
Jammy Dodger said:
no one asked, but "όλα τα ελληνικά σε με" means "it's all greek to me" !
Rob's checking on the JE Engineering offer tomorrow... 500ftlbs for 299 + vat sounds too good to be true
ETA - i was mistaken, when i said John Eales previously, i meant JE Engineering....
typing in a dark room after 2 pints of rum and coke is not easy, gotta tell you
I guessed that was what you meant on both counts and well done 2 pints is good going, I only need to sniff rum and I turn into a gibbering wreckRob's checking on the JE Engineering offer tomorrow... 500ftlbs for 299 + vat sounds too good to be true
ETA - i was mistaken, when i said John Eales previously, i meant JE Engineering....
typing in a dark room after 2 pints of rum and coke is not easy, gotta tell you
Edited by Jammy Dodger on Monday 16th April 20:11
I have a McLeod Magnum Force twin plate race clutch in the tvrolet. Claimed to handle 900ft/lb, and easily copes with the 485ft/lb the humble small-block makes and has done on countless track days. It is very noisy when released though, and with all the plates rattling about it sounds like the thrust bearing is disintegrating. I gather the strap-drive units are quieter (mine's a pin-drive).
BUT, when I bought it I was told it was a race unit I thought yea yea, I've driven fierce clutches before - but this is something else. Absolutely zero modulation, and it still catches me out now and again. It's been in the car for almost 5 years now and I've had it apart a few times when I've had the motor out and there are no real signs of wear or overheating despite loads of track miles. As a track day/race clutch it's a solid piece of kit. As a road clutch, you'd have to be a real masochist to run with it. McLeod also do a bigger diameter single plate unit and I think that would be a better choice if the car is to be driven in traffic.
BUT, when I bought it I was told it was a race unit I thought yea yea, I've driven fierce clutches before - but this is something else. Absolutely zero modulation, and it still catches me out now and again. It's been in the car for almost 5 years now and I've had it apart a few times when I've had the motor out and there are no real signs of wear or overheating despite loads of track miles. As a track day/race clutch it's a solid piece of kit. As a road clutch, you'd have to be a real masochist to run with it. McLeod also do a bigger diameter single plate unit and I think that would be a better choice if the car is to be driven in traffic.
tvrolet said:
I have a McLeod Magnum Force twin plate race clutch in the tvrolet. Claimed to handle 900ft/lb, and easily copes with the 485ft/lb the humble small-block makes and has done on countless track days. It is very noisy when released though, and with all the plates rattling about it sounds like the thrust bearing is disintegrating. I gather the strap-drive units are quieter (mine's a pin-drive).
BUT, when I bought it I was told it was a race unit I thought yea yea, I've driven fierce clutches before - but this is something else. Absolutely zero modulation, and it still catches me out now and again. It's been in the car for almost 5 years now and I've had it apart a few times when I've had the motor out and there are no real signs of wear or overheating despite loads of track miles. As a track day/race clutch it's a solid piece of kit. As a road clutch, you'd have to be a real masochist to run with it. McLeod also do a bigger diameter single plate unit and I think that would be a better choice if the car is to be driven in traffic.
Thanks - I thought this - race bred clutch means unhappy/unpleasant in traffic. Always a trade off. Always !BUT, when I bought it I was told it was a race unit I thought yea yea, I've driven fierce clutches before - but this is something else. Absolutely zero modulation, and it still catches me out now and again. It's been in the car for almost 5 years now and I've had it apart a few times when I've had the motor out and there are no real signs of wear or overheating despite loads of track miles. As a track day/race clutch it's a solid piece of kit. As a road clutch, you'd have to be a real masochist to run with it. McLeod also do a bigger diameter single plate unit and I think that would be a better choice if the car is to be driven in traffic.
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