Clutch parts needed

[Christopher smith]

My mysterious clutch issues continue but have changed so I would like to put in some new parts. I have a 1500 early Cortina GT based motor hooked up to a Pinto 4 speed. The clutch set-up was apparently discontinued so am trying to source parts in the USA instead of trying to source from the UK. Not sure what the clutch parts were original to however. I have a 190 mm (7.5 inch) diameter clutch disc, the kind with the little coil springs locked in place. It has a 1 inch 23 spline configuration to fit the Pinto input shaft. The pressure plate fits the Cortina flywheel  (223 mm bolt circle and is the flat finger (12 fingers) type. Although my old parts seem to look ok, I certainly am not a clutch expert  and doi not know how to test anyway.I and wonder if I damaged them by overextending with the Saab type concentric slave cylinder/ throw out bearing and maybe had set the pedal stop wrong. I think I am on track with a Tilton slave cylinder with the 0400 series T.O. bearing but would like other new parts since pulling the engine just to test is no fun. Any ideas where to source a pressure plate much appreciated.

[EdWills]

Hi Christopher.  The major source that I know of is Burton Power in the U.K. who are Ford experts, and have tried every known combination of mixing and matching clutch parts.  They have a fairly extensive choice of clutch components, and if you get the right person to advise you, they may be able to sort out the problem. I was also going to recommend Repco in Australia, as they used to sell clutch parts for all of the Ford small engine types, but their web site is not cooperating at the moment (they may have been hacked!).  Have you also tried contacting Tilton, who really are the experts on clutches in North America? W.

[Christopher smith]

Thanks! I have already dealt with Burton on other items. It looks like they have changed their website layout. Used to be easy and spelled out pre-crossflow items. I was hoping to find a USA supplier. Tilton has lots of racing clutches but this application is for the street. I understand the racing clutches grab very abruptly and might stall in mild use. I am probably going to use their 0400 series concentric slave cylinder/T.O. bearing combo when I find the other parts like the clutch cover that might be from one of the Cortina variants.

[IamScotticus]

With a concentric slave you should be using a flat finger with round face bearing.

Can get the clutch cover from Pegasus now.

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productdetails.asp?RecID=3558

 

No curly finger 190s anywhere. Might be easier to go to a 8". Not sure if you can keep the same ring gear and starter.  I've read you can.  You will have to find out.  

Or  switch to a release that is compatible with a flat finger cover, what the Formula Ford guys are using? They use Hewland transmissions, nor sure if the spacing are the same.

Surface and balance the FW. Get the 190 1x27 disc from Burton. If not Burton pm me, I have one.

Edited May 27, 2025 by IamScotticus

[wdb]

Have you tried Dave Bean?

[Christopher smith]

Actually it was Dave Bean where we got most of the original stuff but Ken said he can not get that sort of clutch set-up anymore. So that is why I have been looking around. I think Morgan uses that 190 mm pressure plate but a different clutch disc. I need a 1 inch , 23 spline to go on the Pinto trans input shaft.

[Christopher smith]

2 hours ago, IamScotticus said:

With a concentric slave you should be using a flat finger with round face bearing.

Can get the clutch cover from Pegasus now.

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productdetails.asp?RecID=3558

 

No curly finger 190s anywhere. Might be easier to go to a 8". Not sure if you can keep the same ring gear and starter.  I've read you can.  You will hto find out.  

Or  switch to a release that visits compatible with a flat finger cover, what the Formula Ford guys are using? They use Hewland transmissions, nor sure if the spacing are the same.

Surface and balance the FW. Get the 190 1x27 disc from Burton. If not Burton pm me, I have one.

Thanks for the great info.

 

[IamScotticus]

6 minutes ago, Christopher smith said:

Thanks for the great info.

 

If you find a source for flat finger 190 covers in the states, please let me know. I'm wanting to stay with cable for now.  Racer Walsh are all Pinto now but they used to support 1600.  They know the parts.

Ken at Dave Bean knows a lot too.

Edited May 27, 2025 by IamScotticus

[Christopher smith]

Still looking for a new/good used 190 mm (7 1/2 inch) pressure plate (clutch cover) if anyone has an old one they want to get rid of. Apparently the configuration was used for some 1.6 Cortinas, some Morgan 4/4s and some formula Ford Hewland set-ups (with a 1 inch 23 spline disc in that case). Pegasus offers one but is a bit pricey and I just need it to test to try to get my concentric slave cylinder set up and hope the Tilton 0400 curved face 54 mm will work.

 

[IamScotticus]

@Chris D?

[EdWills]

On 5/28/2025 at 2:52 PM, Christopher smith said:

Still looking for a new/good used 190 mm (7 1/2 inch) pressure plate (clutch cover) if anyone has an old one they want to get rid of. Apparently the configuration was used for some 1.6 Cortinas, some Morgan 4/4s and some formula Ford Hewland set-ups (with a 1 inch 23 spline disc in that case). Pegasus offers one but is a bit pricey and I just need it to test to try to get my concentric slave cylinder set up and hope the Tilton 0400 curved face 54 mm will work.

 

Hi again Christopher.  I have been looking at an older (2020) Burton Power catalogue, and on page 109 it lists some clutches and covers manufactured by a company in the U.K. called Helix.  Part number 70-1605 for road or rally is an alternative cover for a SOHC Pinto with 1" x 23 hub (5 speed box types).  The 70 Series is described as sprung centre organic drive plate type.  Not sure if this is what you are looking for, but the size fits the description and the plate is for a 190 mm clutch cover (which they also sell under the Helix brand). Price for the plate (on the current Burton site) is L163.75 Pounds sterling with the U.K. tax removed (L196.50 U.K. Pounds with tax).  I know that U.S. sourced would be best, but perhaps supplies of these items are now much rarer in the U.S. than when the engines, gearboxes etc., were still used in production vehicles?  As many owners in the U.K.and Europe are still running cars fitted with all of the smaller Ford engine and gearbox options (including Imperial measurement parts), companies are willing to manufacture new parts for these cars.  AP Racing also produces a 1"  - 23 spline plate, but it shows that it is for a 216 mm cover (part no. CP5354-38).  AP have always been very helpful with any questions I have had, and they don't mind individual inquiries direct to them. (Note: 190 mm = 7.48 inches or 7-31/64", and 216 mm = 8.504 inches in old money). W.

Edited May 31, 2025 by EdWills

[IamScotticus]

On 5/28/2025 at 3:52 PM, Christopher smith said:

Still looking for a new/good used 190 mm (7 1/2 inch) pressure plate (clutch cover) if anyone has an old one they want to get rid of. Apparently the configuration was used for some 1.6 Cortinas, some Morgan 4/4s and some formula Ford Hewland set-ups (with a 1 inch 23 spline disc in that case). Pegasus offers one but is a bit pricey and I just need it to test to try to get my concentric slave cylinder set up and hope the Tilton 0400 curved face 54 mm will work.

 

The Pegasus item won't work?

[Christopher smith]

The Pegasus itme will be here Tuesday so hope it works

[Christopher smith]

It turns out the Borg and Beck HE3329 has the curved fingers although the ones in the Pegasus catalog photo looked flat to me. I just sent a note to Borg and Beck to see if they have one that has flat fingers, so await their reply. Hoping to couple it with an 0400 type slave cylinder/release bearing that is curved at 54MM. My 190 mm 1 inch 23 spline disc looks fine on inspection by a clutch specialist firm just outside Philadelphia. it is 8 mm thick which is the normal new thickness if I understand correctly. 

[IamScotticus]

@Christopher smith will you post a pic of the CRB?

[Christopher smith]

The Tilton 0400 type that I think will help has a wider release bearing (54 mm) compared to the other one that I could not get to work properly. It has a 50 mm bearing and a very different shape. I was told by clutch people in the UK that I should have a curved T.O. bearing like the 0400 type to go with the flat fingers on the clutch cover.

With the old 50 mm it hung up in the disengaged position. Tapping very gently on the side of the unit with a 1/2 inch wooden dowel was all it took to get the fingers to push it back to the fully engaged position. So I think the slave cylinder mounting may be off by a couple mm and it is cocking the slave piston and making it hang up in the full release position.

[IamScotticus]

This

Looks like it should with flat fingers.  Definitely not curly.