MT75 and Zetec's..couple of Q's

[ss1turbo.com]

Evening all...

I've been steered here by a couple of mates who seem to get no-nonsense replies, so hope someone can help with a couple of problems:

I'm mating a Ford Zetec engine to a RWD gearbox (starting with a type 9/N Sierra 2.0 box, then moving to a MT75 later one when it goes pop), but want to use a Pinto clutch on the Zetec flywheel for a few reasons; number one - it saves me trying to get hold of the wierd clutch release bearing and allows access to the uprated Pinto clutches available (more selection and much cheaper than uprated Zetec clutches). It also makes life easier when swapping to the MT75 later on. Anyone know a good place, preferably in the Midlands, who can redrill my flywheel to the Pinto clutch centres?

Secondly, the MT75 gearbox has this chuffing great rubber doughnut which apparently needs to be kept to stop transmission snatch and keep the gearbox bearings in one piece. Are there any words of wisdom as to retaining it, and anyone in the Midlands who can make up a one piece prop to replace the Sierra 2-piece one?

Car is a Reliant Scimitar SS1; engine is a home-fiddled 2.0 Zetec with a turbo for good measure with an expected 200-250bhp (hence the need for a tougher gearbox)


Cheers,
Phil

[grahambell]

Hi Phil,

Could put you in touch with a good engineer near Leamington who might be able to help with the flywheel if that's any help.

And you can certainly get a propshaft made up in the midlands. When I was helping someone develop a prototype off road buggy we had some special driveshafts made up by a midlands firm. Trouble is it's going back a bit now and I can't remember their name or location (Nuneaton area I think). Do know I found them on the Internet though so try a Google search.

[heightswitch]

try

www.raceline.co.uk

and maybe just buy the nice parts you need.

neil.

[350matt]

The bloke you want for the prop is Dave Mac in coventry

024-7668-3239

whereabouts in the midlands are you? As nearly any rengien re-con place should be able to handle redrilling the flywheel

Matt

[eddy_hyde]

350matt said:

The bloke you want for the prop is Dave Mac in coventry

024-7668-3239

whereabouts in the midlands are you? As nearly any rengien re-con place should be able to handle redrilling the flywheel

Matt

agree, dave mac are ace

that rubber donut i assume is athe rubber coupling, one half bolted to the gearbox flange,. the other to the propshaft, correct? If so it also takes up misalignment and any angle change in the enging and diff as the pitch up and down, so yes you need them. you can get mix and match bits off the shelf to sort all this out, dave mac do it day in/day out for us, as do these guys who supply dave mack with bits www.baileymorris.co.uk/

[ss1turbo.com]

Thanks all for the input. When the time comes I shall definately give Dave Mac a call!

The car has a fixed Sierra 7" diff (although I might get the grinder out a try and squeeze a 7.5" diff in there), so the angle variation won't be as bad as, say, a MK2 Escort. No doubt Dave will know what is best.

As for the flywheel...i'm North Midlands (South Staffs). The ideas I have tend to evolve and I like to try things out the most budget-concious way possible. If they work (or seem to), then I've got no problems with crossing Raceline/etc's palms with plenty-o-cash. I'd just feel a bit daft forking out a couple hundred quid and finding out that something daft aborts the whole project!

For the engine - at the moment, i'm using a decompression plate and standard pistons. I know this combo won't last forever, but if it all works, then I'll go the forged pistons route for longevity (as they should be). Currently working with a 2 litre bottom end, but also have a 1.8 bottom end and some 82mm forged pistons which should just about fit in there - with a quick mod to the gudgeon pin (23mm in the pitsons vs the Ford 20.6mm - anyone got any ideas on how to make up the difference? Will a phosphor bronze bush take the pressure?) or custom rods from somewhere.