Clutch/bellhousing

[jdb]

can anyone tell me which bellhousing should be on my car--ive a 105e on it at the moment & have found i have a 7/12" clutch on i presume to be a x/flow flywheel--is this ok--and a past owner had welded the clutch fork to the bearing carrier just for good measure!

[types26/36]

jdb,
The Xflow was fitted with two clutches, 190mm (7.5") or a 216mm (8.5") but the Elan had a 200mm (8") and a 8.5" with the five speed gearbox.
The pcd of the pressure plate on the Xflow flywheel is different to the Lotus so I would persume you have a Xflow flywheel and clutch.
There are a couple of bellhousings both have got a 105E part number but with some other numbers as well, one has smaller internal diamension and will not accept the Lotus clutch (8") but will take the 7.5" Xflow clutch, it my be possible to grind it out but I have never tried.
The easiest way to identify the correct bellhousing is to check if it has some ribs cast into it on the outside, the smaller diameter one is smooth.
I can send you a pic if required and I have the number somewhere and will try to find it.
Unless you are doing some competition stuff the 7.5" should be O.K. after all the Escort is a heavier car then an Elan.
Hope can understand my ramblings,
Rgds Brian.

[types26/36]

Having checked my carefully documented records :blink: I find some scribbling which appear to indicate the part number for the bellhousing (near the clutch fork) is 105E 7505B.
Brian.

[jdb]

Brian, thanks for the info--i fully understand you ramblings--i asked about the b/housing because the clutch slave cylinder push-rod seems to be right at the end of its thread--infact the piston has come out and ive lost all the fluid twice--made me thinki may have wrong b/housing or clutch slave--the slave is a loose fit in b/housing--freely spinning---i will check the numbers on wednesday when im up my garage next
thanks john

[gjz30075]

John, the slave is supposed to be a loose fit in the bellhousing. There's a circlip that is supposed to fit to the slave to keep back and forth movement to a minimum. Is it possible that you have the wrong clutch, ie, shallow'er, that might allow the pushrod end of the fork to pivot further away from the pushrod, as a starting point, then go even further to to activate, allowing the rod to drop?

Greg Z
'72 Sprint

[jdb]

hi Greg z, the clutch has always been very heavy/stiff --i thought it was a heavy duty one as the g/box is a straight cut one--but on taking it out it seems to be a cortina one (7/12" 20 spline)--mind you having the fork welded to the b/carrier could not of helped--going back to the slave--thought it might be wrong as it turns and how are you meant to stop it turning when doing/undoing the red see- through clutch pipe
thanks john :unsure:

[types26/36]

John,
As far as I remember (Its a while since I had one off) the slave cylinder is prevented from turning by the lower bellhousing cover plate which has a "flat" on it, this flat rests against a "flat" on the slave cylinder.
As regards your clutch problem, the Xflow pressure plate and release bearing is different to the Lotus arrangment, the Lotus pressure plate has a "plate" supported on the diaphram fingers while the Xflow does not. This could explain your welded/modified release fork/bearing.
Brian.