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Author: Subject: Clutch required for "High" BHP Silvertop Zetec
martylemoo

posted on 25/3/14 at 07:51 AM Reply With Quote
Clutch required for "High" BHP Silvertop Zetec

Hi all

My winter upgrades are almost complete, just a few things to purchase....one of those being a clutch.

I've gone from a standard silvertop zetec (2.0l ph2) with a standard type 9 to a

Dunnell option 6 kit http://www.dunnellengines.com/zetec_inj_optionkits_6.php

with a new box from spcomponents running the rocket rations http://www.spcomponents.co.uk/gpage3.html

Dunnell lightened my standard 2.0 flywheel.

Car weighs ~575kg.

So the question is what clutch do I buy and where from? I'm assuming a standard Mondeo clutch will be no good.

Help me out

Thanks

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Charlie_Zetec

posted on 25/3/14 at 08:27 AM Reply With Quote
You're best off speaking to some of the performance clutch manufacturers to see what their clutches are rated up to. Are you pushing into the realms of paddle clutches? I have been told they are very harsh and "on/off", and whilst good for track, aren't really great for road driving. I have personally chosen a Black Diamond carbon kevlar clutch for my silvertop/Quaife T9/plate LSD setup, upon recommendation for the spec and potential power from my car. It wasn't the cheapest at about £250 ish, but cheaper than the £400 paddle alternative.

As with all things, you pays your money and takes your choice!





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CRAIGR
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posted on 25/3/14 at 08:31 AM Reply With Quote
What do Dunnell recomend as they should know.
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Paul Turner

posted on 25/3/14 at 08:56 AM Reply With Quote
Don't use a lightened flywheel on an engine of that power, in truth never use a lightened flywheel. They can (and do) occasionally explode and as well as destroying the bellhousing its likely they will irreparably damage the engine and gearbox. Worse thing is think where your feet and legs are, people have been seriously injured.

Get a proper steel one, Raceline sell one as do Burton and other sellers, only a few pounds more than a standard lightened one.

Best thing about the steel ones is they come drilled to fit a Pinto clutch too. Loads of high performance Pinto clutches on the market at reasonable prices including AP who make them to take more power than your engine. You will probably find a Dunnell clutch to match your flywheel is very expensive.

As an example my steel flywheel is fitted with a Sierra DOHC clutch. Designed to cope with a heavy car towing a caravan it can easily cope with more power in a light car like a seven. Cost £70 12 years ago and still perfect, has coped with 208 bhp with no issues.

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zetec

posted on 25/3/14 at 11:34 AM Reply With Quote
I'd ask Dunnel, I bought their lightened flywheel and clutch and the price was not too bad. I suspeect, as said, that given the weight of the car that nothing much more than a standard clutch is required.





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MikeRJ

posted on 25/3/14 at 03:37 PM Reply With Quote
A standard clutch will more than likely be up to the job. Unlike a turbocharged engine, tuning a naturally aspirated engine doesn't tend to give a significant increase in peak torque, it simply moves the peak torque further up the RPM range.

The standard 2.0L flywheel is deliberately weighted with a large ring of material on the outside - removing this does not weaken the flywheel, but I agree that significantly lightening cast iron flywheels is an invitation to remove your legs.

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Scuzzle

posted on 25/3/14 at 04:03 PM Reply With Quote
Instead of lightening your 2.0 flywheel would you not be better with an 1800 flywheel since they are smaller and lighter to begin with and either get a lightweight one of these or lighten one, you could then fit a 220mm uprated Escort RS Turbo clutch to it, they can be got for reasonable money. The NA cars are not subject to the strains the turbo'd car is so the RST clutch should handle things OK.

I have a 2.0 silvertop but I have to fit an 1800 flywheel as the 2.0 one is physically too big to fit in my FWD BC gearbox.

[Edited on 25/3/14 by Scuzzle]

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Paul Turner

posted on 25/3/14 at 04:41 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by MikeRJ[/i
The standard 2.0L flywheel is deliberately weighted with a large ring of material on the outside - removing this does not weaken the flywheel,


But Dunnell do not remove all the outer material when they lighten a 2 litre flywheel

http://www.dunnellengines.com/zetec_components.php?partno=RMP1303

At 7.53 kg it not exactly a lightweight. (mine is approx. 6 kg ic ring gear)

At £98 + vat its not cheap when you think that a steel one is less than £200 with brand new ring gear fitted.

Locost is good, I do as much as I can myself, other than MOT's no one has ever worked on my sevens in 25 years, but saving on safety critical items is not my idea of money well saved.

I have a link to a Caterham Vauxhall that had its flywheel explode but unfortunately the link does not work now. Destroyed the bellhousing totally and the shrapnel destroyed the chassis tubes and tub on what we would call the drivers side of the car, it was pretty much a write off. Fortunately the car was LHD and the driver escaped without injury, RHD or a passenger and it would have been a different story. From memory this was on a Swindon engine car, not exactly Locost.

[Edited on 25/3/14 by Paul Turner]

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MikeRJ

posted on 25/3/14 at 07:28 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Paul Turner
quote:
Originally posted by MikeRJ[/i
The standard 2.0L flywheel is deliberately weighted with a large ring of material on the outside - removing this does not weaken the flywheel,


But Dunnell do not remove all the outer material when they lighten a 2 litre flywheel

http://www.dunnellengines.com/zetec_components.php?partno=RMP1303

At 7.53 kg it not exactly a lightweight. (mine is approx. 6 kg ic ring gear)

At £98 + vat its not cheap when you think that a steel one is less than £200 with brand new ring gear fitted.

Locost is good, I do as much as I can myself, other than MOT's no one has ever worked on my sevens in 25 years, but saving on safety critical items is not my idea of money well saved.

I have a link to a Caterham Vauxhall that had its flywheel explode but unfortunately the link does not work now. Destroyed the bellhousing totally and the shrapnel destroyed the chassis tubes and tub on what we would call the drivers side of the car, it was pretty much a write off. Fortunately the car was LHD and the driver escaped without injury, RHD or a passenger and it would have been a different story. From memory this was on a Swindon engine car, not exactly Locost.

[Edited on 25/3/14 by Paul Turner]


I've seen the results before, which is why I said the bit you didn't bother to quote.

[Edited on 25/3/14 by MikeRJ]

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martylemoo

posted on 27/3/14 at 07:28 PM Reply With Quote
Thanks for the advice guys.

Flywheel - I'm sure it will be fine, Dunnell have been lightening them for a very long time and i'm sure if there was an issue with them it would have presented its self by now.

Clutch - For < £100 i've gone for a "good" standard one. Logic being if it's good enough for a Mondeo with 1T + caravan towing up a steep hill i'm sure it's going to be fine for my little car poodling around an autotest or a track.

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