Clutch release bearing carrier

[VitesseEFI]

Working through an engine rebuild on my Mk 2 PI at present and just getting ready to have the rotating assembly balanced.

As the original flywheel is amazingly heavy and as I have a spare Vitesse one in good condition, I'd quite like to use the much lighter Vitesse one. However, the Vitesse one is thinner and will move the clutch fingers 1/2" closer to the engine so I reckon I'll need a longer release bearing carrier to compensate for this.

Does anyone know whether a suitable release bearing carrier exists from one of the standard combinations? I know others have gone this route but not how they got around this potential issue.

Thanks

Nick

[Mike Stevens]

I'm pretty sure the Stag one is longer, but not if the right length though.

You can still get them. I know as I've just had to do just that as I broke the existing one while trying to put the release bearing on it!

Cheers,
Mike.

[Andy Thompson]

I think the choice boils down to a lot of machining off a sprint one or a bit of machining from a 1850 one - release bearing is same for both - in fact its pretty much the same as a Herald which suprised me - same internal diameter

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-143707 1850/GT6? item
http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-UKC551-U Sprint Item
http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-160156 2000 item

[Andy Thompson]

Not sure you can work out the different from the 1850 and the 2000 here but someone must have an old S/H one lying about

[VitesseEFI]

I spoke to Dave Picton about this today and as he happened to have both a GT6 one and saloon one to hand he very kindly measured them both for me. The GT6 one is 8mm longer and therefore stands a pretty good chance of doing the job. According to Rimmers, GT6/Vitesse & 1850 are all the same - so I should have one....... somewhere! Ideally it would be 11mm longer but that means making one from scratch or shortening a Sprint one (maybe).

Cheers

Nick

[Andy Thompson]

I think the hydraulics and fork will cope with 3mm - thanks for the measurement - I will dig out a 1850 one out at the local Triumph junkyard for my 2000 conversion

[VitesseEFI]

Following on from this.

Presumably one would use the Vitesse/GT6 pilot bush fitted to the crankshaft rather than the flywheel. My concern would be whether the tip of the gearbox input shaft is long enough to engage properly......

Nick

[Andy Thompson]

I used two GT6 bushes and drilled the flywheel (0.750" bit and pillar drill ) from the crank side so that the bush located in both the crank and the flywheel. You need to drill almost to the point of breaking through but leave a lip so that the bush can't escape. The second bush you use as a spacer in the crank to stop the other one moving about - it needs a bit of a trim. Bushes are a few quid from usual suspects

[VitesseEFI]

Ah, ok. Thanks

Nick