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mick88
29th April 2013, 10:07 AM
Can anyone throw some light on the following!
Why was the Johnson Clutch Modification necessary when a Holden motor was fitted to a Series One or Two vehicle, if all Land Rover clutch components were still used?
Was there a modification for Series Three vehicles fitted with Holden motors?


Cheers, Mick.

marc
5th May 2013, 12:00 PM
g'day mick from my little knowledge its only when the Holden clutch is used that this helps, because of the heavy pressure plate action, been trying to get more info on other pressure plates (tea20 $200)to help with this problem. markus

mick88
6th May 2013, 03:38 PM
Howdy marcus,
reading the Booklet put out by Johson's for their Holden Conversions it souns as though they still had the Holden Clutch, but i cannot be sure.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=7&id=53


Cheers, Mick.

bobslandies
6th May 2013, 06:16 PM
In 1971 I fitted a 186 to my 2A Station Wagon in Alice Springs. Got the Johnson kit from their Agent in Darwin. Had a Holden Clutch at that time.

The clutch was so heavy if the pedal was not modified that it regularly sheared the clutch cross-shaft pins.

You cannot fit a Land Rover pressure plate to the Holden flywheel as the pitch circle of the mounting holes breaks through the edge of the flywheel. Back in Sydney a Vauxhall Cresta pressure plate (slightly smaller in diameter than the Land Rover pressure plate) was sourced that fitted the Holden flywheel bolt holes and then I could use a standard Land Rover friction plate.

The Holden flywheel was later replaced with a larger diameter one (made by the late Roy Sim) so a standard Land Rover pressure plate could also be used. By this time the Vauxhall and a couple of others that could be adapted to fit were getting hard to find.

I am not sure whether Johnsons later made a larger diameter flywheel but others did in steel and they glazed very quickly - so called engineers.

Bob

marc
11th May 2013, 12:16 PM
Howdy marcus,
reading the Booklet put out by Johson's for their Holden Conversions it souns as though they still had the Holden Clutch, but i cannot be sure.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/local_links.php?action=jump&catid=7&id=53


Cheers, Mick.

g'day mick yes it does look like that in the photo's, not to shore until i can get a look at holden pressure plate, to compare with others that maybe available. as bob says they are heavy so im looking elseware, cheer's markus

marc
19th May 2013, 11:05 AM
[QUOTE=marc;1909972]g'day mick yes it does look like that in the photo's, not to shore until i can get a look at holden pressure plate, to compare with others that maybe available. as bob says they are heavy so im looking elseware, cheer's markus. I wonder if the larger flywheel was used would the starter motor mounting point need to be redrilled or maybe different adapter plate? cheers markus.

bobslandies
23rd May 2013, 08:31 PM
[QUOTE=marc;1909972]g'day mick yes it does look like that in the photo's, not to shore until i can get a look at holden pressure plate, to compare with others that maybe available. as bob says they are heavy so im looking elseware, cheer's markus. I wonder if the larger flywheel was used would the starter motor mounting point need to be redrilled or maybe different adapter plate? cheers markus.

Hi Mark,

The only diameter that changes is the area where the Land Rover Pressure Plate mounts. It is just a little bit bigger. BTW Roy Sim lived at Hornsby Heights. I will PM you with another suggestion.

Bob

mick88
31st May 2013, 10:16 AM
[QUOTE=marc;1909972]g'day mick yes it does look like that in the photo's, not to shore until i can get a look at holden pressure plate, to compare with others that maybe available. as bob says they are heavy so im looking elseware, cheer's markus. I wonder if the larger flywheel was used would the starter motor mounting point need to be redrilled or maybe different adapter plate? cheers markus.

The flywheel for the Marks Nissan 5 Speed to Holden Adaptor kit is a larger heavier one but is stepped so that it retains a Holden ring gear.


Cheers, Mick.

Lionelgee
17th July 2013, 05:21 PM
G'day All,

My Holden 202 powered Long Wheel Base Series 3 ute - Rebus was converted a long time before I bought him.

Were Holden or Land Rover clutches and pressure plates most commonly used for the conversion?

Would the starter motor be Holden or Land Rover?

Being a vehicle with a number of previous owners I am not sure what has been done to make Rebus the damn fine beast that he is.

Kind Regards
Lionel

bobslandies
17th July 2013, 06:28 PM
G'day All,

My Holden 202 powered Long Wheel Base Series 3 ute - Rebus was converted a long time before I bought him.

Were Holden or Land Rover clutches and pressure plates most commonly used for the conversion?

Would the starter motor be Holden or Land Rover?

Being a vehicle with a number of previous owners I am not sure what has been done to make Rebus the damn fine beast that he is.

Kind Regards
Lionel

Hi Lionel,

At first Holden clutches were the most likely used - particularly with the Johnson kit from Geelong. Their kits were very well made and marketed throughout Australia. They are cast and machined steel.

The fabricated and welded steel adaptors made by Roy Sim in Sydney and others used the Vauxhall and a couple of other pressure plates and Land Rover clutch plates. later Roy designed a Holden flywheel that was slightly larger in diameter and would take a standard Land Rover clutch complete.

Cast and machined aluminium adaptors were/are made but were often not made to the tolerances required, similarly machined steel flywheels to use Land Rover clutches glazed up badly and were a failure.

I think all these kits used the Holden Starter Motor.

There were also some early adaptions using a re-drilled original alloy Land Rover 4 cyl engine to flywheel adaptor that did use the Land Rover Starter Motor. I have seen grey Holden, Vanguard and Falcon motors fitted up this way. Don't know how well they were put together and if they lasted.

Glad you are happy with your vehicle that has obviously stood the test of time. Best thing we could do to a Land Rover in the 'seventies. A 186 done properly with either an increased sump capacity or an engine oil cooler, seal up the three holes in the bottom of the distributor, slight adjustments to the carburettor, change the differential ratios to 4.3:1 (from Rover 90s) and get over 17mpg from a 109" !!!:D

Bob

mick88
17th July 2013, 07:23 PM
Hi Lionel,

At first Holden clutches were the most likely used - particularly with the Johnson kit from Geelong. Their kits were very well made and marketed throughout Australia. They are cast and machined steel.

The fabricated and welded steel adaptors made by Roy Sim in Sydney and others used the Vauxhall and a couple of other pressure plates and Land Rover clutch plates. later Roy designed a Holden flywheel that was slightly larger in diameter and would take a standard Land Rover clutch complete.

Cast and machined aluminium adaptors were/are made but were often not made to the tolerances required, similarly machined steel flywheels to use Land Rover clutches glazed up badly and were a failure.

I think all these kits used the Holden Starter Motor.



There were also some early adaptions using a re-drilled original alloy Land Rover 4 cyl engine to flywheel adaptor that did use the Land Rover Starter Motor. I have seen grey Holden, Vanguard and Falcon motors fitted up this way. Don't know how well they were put together and if they lasted.

Glad you are happy with your vehicle that has obviously stood the test of time. Best thing we could do to a Land Rover in the 'seventies. A 186 done properly with either an increased sump capacity or an engine oil cooler, seal up the three holes in the bottom of the distributor, slight adjustments to the carburettor, change the differential ratios to 4.3:1 (from Rover 90s) and get over 17mpg from a 109" !!!:D

Bob

Howdy Bob,
Interesting article!
I have an 88 with a crude conversion (Holden 173ci) that has a redrilled Landy flywheel and utilised the Land Rover starter motor. It looks extremely rough but works well and offers good pulling power off the mark with the heavier flywheel (approx 4kg) Can you tell me more about the distributor modification and other adjustments to perfect a Holden transplant?

Cheers Mick.

clubagreenie
17th July 2013, 07:36 PM
All the conversions I've seen have used a custom flywheel to use the rover clutch & pressure plate. There were types for both the earlier (borg & beck) and later (diaphragm) types and used the holden starter. Later, as they became available used gear reduction starters.

bobslandies
17th July 2013, 09:54 PM
Howdy Bob,
Interesting article!
I have an 88 with a crude conversion (Holden 173ci) that has a redrilled Landy flywheel and utilised the Land Rover starter motor. It looks extremely rough but works well and offers good pulling power off the mark with the heavier flywheel (approx 4kg) Can you tell me more about the distributor modification and other adjustments to perfect a Holden transplant?

Cheers Mick.

Hi Mick,

There are three holes about 1/4" in the bottom of the "bowl" of the distributor. We would put three pull through type sealed grommets into these holes to stop water splash from below the engine getting into the distributor. To do this you do have to disassemble the distributor or you can just plug the holes with silastic or similar. Some people closed off two holes and fitted a tube from the third up to the air cleaner to purge the distributor of condensate also. Others made shields to stop the splash too.

There were also two types of carburettor base - manual and auto versions. The difference was in the distributor vacuum advance tube take-off point for manual or auto - above or below the throttle body butterfly. By the HR models most Holdens were fitted with Automatic Transmissions so it was likely if using a second-hand or reconditioned motor that you ended up with an "Automatic" version. When fitted in a Land Rover you needed a "Manual" version carburettor or the engine would hesitate or snatch when you started off. Even on a 202 the carby rebuilders used to recommend a 186 carburettor as they worked better. They would set the float level a bit lower than Holden specifications to compensate for the angle that the engine sat in the Land Rover, otherwise they could flood on steep climbs.

Different capacity motors 149 through 202 have a range of increasing bore sizes from IIRC 1 3/32" to 1 7/32" so you need to be sure you have the correct match for the engine capacity as well as a "Manual" version.

The water temperature regulated inlet manifolds should be set up properly with water flow as this keeps the carburettor at the best operating temperature.

We got rid of the oil bath air cleaners and replaced them with the Holden "taxi" or "outback" heavy duty air cleaners incorporating both a paper element and a oil wettened foam surround. This freed up the area where the oil bath cleaner had been behind the battery for a second battery.

Because different Holden sumps had the bulge for oil pickup in different places relative to the Holden front suspension, chassis, etc the best sump for oil pickup had the bulge in the centre - the HK was the one I had in mine - you had to use the matching pickup tube. This would alleviate oil starvation either up or down hill.

As I said earlier the Holden engine oil capacity was a bit small for a heavier vehicle expected to run at higher revs than in a car. Either increasing the capacity of the sump or better still adding a wafer adaptor between the oil pump and the oil filter with hoses to a decent sized oil cooler mounted in front of the radiator was the solution there. In cooler parts of Australia a thermostatically controlled bypass in the line allowed the oil to heat up and then kept the oil at the correct operating temperature.

Different camshafts were evaluated and the 186A (HR) and 186P (HK) engines had the best torque characteristics with max torque at 1600 rpm.
All the larger capacity red motors were 9.2:1 compression and the only real differences were the other versions had their maximum torque at higher (up to 2200) rpm. If you wanted more power on the road a dual barrel Stromberg WW carburettor from the 186S vehicles was the way there. 173s have their maximum torque at 2000 rpm.

If I think of anything else I will add it in another post.

Bob

Lionelgee
18th July 2013, 07:43 AM
Hi Mick,

There are three holes about 1/4" in the bottom of the "bowl" of the distributor. We would put three pull through type sealed grommets into these holes to stop water splash from below the engine getting into the distributor. To do this you do have to disassemble the distributor or you can just plug the holes with silastic or similar. Some people closed off two holes and fitted a tube from the third up to the air cleaner to purge the distributor of condensate also. Others made shields to stop the splash too.

There were also two types of carburettor base - manual and auto versions. The difference was in the distributor vacuum advance tube take-off point for manual or auto - above or below the throttle body butterfly. By the HR models most Holdens were fitted with Automatic Transmissions so it was likely if using a second-hand or reconditioned motor that you ended up with an "Automatic" version. When fitted in a Land Rover you needed a "Manual" version carburettor or the engine would hesitate or snatch when you started off. Even on a 202 the carby rebuilders used to recommend a 186 carburettor as they worked better. They would set the float level a bit lower than Holden specifications to compensate for the angle that the engine sat in the Land Rover, otherwise they could flood on steep climbs.

Different capacity motors 149 through 202 have a range of increasing bore sizes from IIRC 1 3/32" to 1 7/32" so you need to be sure you have the correct match for the engine capacity as well as a "Manual" version.

The water temperature regulated inlet manifolds should be set up properly with water flow as this keeps the carburettor at the best operating temperature.

We got rid of the oil bath air cleaners and replaced them with the Holden "taxi" or "outback" heavy duty air cleaners incorporating both a paper element and a oil wettened foam surround. This freed up the area where the oil bath cleaner had been behind the battery for a second battery.

Because different Holden sumps had the bulge for oil pickup in different places relative to the Holden front suspension, chassis, etc the best sump for oil pickup had the bulge in the centre - the HK was the one I had in mine - you had to use the matching pickup tube. This would alleviate oil starvation either up or down hill.

As I said earlier the Holden engine oil capacity was a bit small for a heavier vehicle expected to run at higher revs than in a car. Either increasing the capacity of the sump or better still adding a wafer adaptor between the oil pump and the oil filter with hoses to a decent sized oil cooler mounted in front of the radiator was the solution there. In cooler parts of Australia a thermostatically controlled bypass in the line allowed the oil to heat up and then kept the oil at the correct operating temperature.

Different camshafts were evaluated and the 186A (HR) and 186P (HK) engines had the best torque characteristics with max torque at 1600 rpm.
All the larger capacity red motors were 9.2:1 compression and the only real differences were the other versions had their maximum torque at higher (up to 2200) rpm. If you wanted more power on the road a dual barrel Stromberg WW carburettor from the 186S vehicles was the way there. 173s have their maximum torque at 2000 rpm.

If I think of anything else I will add it in another post.

Bob


G'day Bob & Mick,

Firstly thank you Bob for posting up such comprehensive information. Mick a quick apology for side tracking your thread. I thought since there was a current clutch thread going why start another one and clutter the system up.

Bob you mentioned about putting an oil cooler in, would this just be for the engine or would it also be advisable to get a transmission cooler as well? Was it just the engine oil temperature which the major concern and the original transmission remained happy just how it was? I intend doing some towing and my first big trip will most likely be during the hotter part of the year.

What would you consider dimension wise - a "decent sized" oil cooler?

Do they still make the taxi - or outback version of the air cleaner? It has been a long time since there were straight six Holden taxis.

Thank you again Bob, and Mick it looks like I have diverted your thread again - sorry mate.

Kind Regards
Lionel

Chris72
19th July 2013, 10:36 PM
I might be able to help out with some pic's here is the conversion that was on my series 1 when I bought it, it uses the holden fly wheel thats been redrilled to suit, I think it's the landy pressure plate and clutch, will get other pic of holden pressure plate tomorrow.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g303/RCK-914/DSCF3356.jpg (http://s59.photobucket.com/user/RCK-914/media/DSCF3356.jpg.html)

mick88
20th July 2013, 02:01 PM
Thanks Chris,
a very helpfull pic.
It looks to have the bolts holding the pressure plate on tapped into the ring gear? Is that how it is? If so it's a wonder the ring gear hasn't slipped under load or are they overlapping into the flywheel as well?

Cheers, Mick.

mick88
20th July 2013, 02:06 PM
There were also two types of carburettor base - manual and auto versions. The difference was in the distributor vacuum advance tube take-off point for manual or auto - above or below the throttle body butterfly. By the HR models most Holdens were fitted with Automatic Transmissions so it was likely if using a second-hand or reconditioned motor that you ended up with an "Automatic" version. When fitted in a Land Rover you needed a "Manual" version carburettor or the engine would hesitate or snatch when you started off. Even on a 202 the carby rebuilders used to recommend a 186 carburettor as they worked better. They would set the float level a bit lower than Holden specifications to compensate for the angle that the engine sat in the Land Rover, otherwise they could flood on steep climbs.

Bob,
Firstly thankyou for your very helpfull post.
I have a "T" piece on the manifold at the back of the motor where the vacuum line for the brake booster is located and that is where I also pick up vacuum for the distributor advance. It seems to work well enough, but do you think I should relocate it? I am running the later model Bosch HEI distributor.

Cheers, Mick.

Chris72
20th July 2013, 05:45 PM
Thanks Chris,
a very helpfull pic.
It looks to have the bolts holding the pressure plate on tapped into the ring gear? Is that how it is? If so it's a wonder the ring gear hasn't slipped under load or are they overlapping into the flywheel as well?

Cheers, Mick.

I Haven't taken the other pic's yet been a hectic day, the fly wheel and pressure plate in the photo is now off the motor so I can take pic's of the individual parts along with part numbers if this will help.

Chris72
21st July 2013, 07:08 PM
Alrighty here are pic's of the both Landie and Holden clutch and pressure plate.
Landie first.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g303/RCK-914/DSCF3469_zpsc81a3970.jpg (http://s59.photobucket.com/user/RCK-914/media/DSCF3469_zpsc81a3970.jpg.html) http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g303/RCK-914/DSCF3479_zpsedb7b50f.jpg (http://s59.photobucket.com/user/RCK-914/media/DSCF3479_zpsedb7b50f.jpg.html)
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g303/RCK-914/DSCF3483_zpsa0395700.jpg (http://s59.photobucket.com/user/RCK-914/media/DSCF3483_zpsa0395700.jpg.html) http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g303/RCK-914/DSCF3482_zps9e0dbf43.jpg (http://s59.photobucket.com/user/RCK-914/media/DSCF3482_zps9e0dbf43.jpg.html)

Holden fly wheel re-drilled to suit Landie pressure plate, notice how close to the edge the holes have been drilled.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g303/RCK-914/DSCF3474_zpsfd435496.jpg (http://s59.photobucket.com/user/RCK-914/media/DSCF3474_zpsfd435496.jpg.html)
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g303/RCK-914/DSCF3471_zps88d0aeaf.jpg (http://s59.photobucket.com/user/RCK-914/media/DSCF3471_zps88d0aeaf.jpg.html) http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g303/RCK-914/DSCF3472_zps4694fbdc.jpg (http://s59.photobucket.com/user/RCK-914/media/DSCF3472_zps4694fbdc.jpg.html)
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g303/RCK-914/DSCF3470_zpsb83ef0c2.jpg (http://s59.photobucket.com/user/RCK-914/media/DSCF3470_zpsb83ef0c2.jpg.html)

mick88
23rd July 2013, 06:15 AM
Thanks Chris,
very interesting pics, the new holes are drilled very close to the outer edge. Were they drilled right through so that the bolts butted up against the ring gear?

Cheers, Mick.

Chris72
23rd July 2013, 04:20 PM
Thanks Chris,
very interesting pics, the new holes are drilled very close to the outer edge. Were they drilled right through so that the bolts butted up against the ring gear?

Cheers, Mick.

Here's the pic of the other side of the flywheel, the holes are drilled all the way through, as you can see in the pic they have been drilled right next to the ring gear, any closer and they would have caught the inside edge.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g303/RCK-914/DSCF3486_zps8f8401d3.jpg (http://s59.photobucket.com/user/RCK-914/media/DSCF3486_zps8f8401d3.jpg.html)