Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hello all,

My car (Anglia with sprint big valve engine),

as previously discussed here: lotus-twincam-f39/engine-t27621.html

currently has a crossflow flywheel (lightened and balanced), so I could continue using the clutch I had with my previous (crossflow) engine. I've still got the Lotus flywheel sat in my garage and I was wondering, when the clutch needs changing, if it would be worth changing the flywheel and fitting the larger Lotus clutch?

I've already got the larger bore (7/8") clutch slave cylinder, from the Mark 1 Lotus Cortina & Mark 1 Escort Mexico, to help lighten the clutch and making driving a more pleasurable experience. But I don't want to fit the larger diameter clutch only to make it heavier again.

So to my question, will it make my clutch pedal heavier or lighter by having a larger clutch? I'm guessing heavier...

The new AP pressure plates for the 7.5" "Cortina" clutch are very lightweight but seem to have a higher clamping force than the old ones and that might serve you well. If you plan on using the Lotus flywheel/clutch package the pedal pressure will go up slightly but you'll also need a Twin Cam/Elan/Lotus Cortina bellhousing and the associated MK1 Cortina style clutch actuation linkage.

Oh blimey, I don't want to go down the route of changing more bits for the sake of changing them.

I've got the standard Anglia bellhousing which seems to be a pretty standard fitment as it mates up to most engines and gearboxes.

I would not swap bits on the crank unless I was forced to by something breaking.

I assume you had all the rotating parts fine balanced when you built the engine?

If it works stay with what you have.

Jon the Chief