Lancia Beta Forum

Thinking ahead to a time when I can uprate my Beta Spider 2000 engine, and looking at clutch options that will be available for a mildly tuned 2 litre engine, it occurs to me that it would make life much simpler if I could fit a VX flywheel to my Spider. The options for uprated clutches in 215mm size are fairly limited, whereas one can buy OE clutches in 228mm size that will comfortably cope with any power output my n/a Spider will produce.

Even with twin 45DCOEs, Kent fast road cams, 10:1 pistons and a ported head I wouldn't expect any more than 160bhp, and that would be comfortably handled by an OE Thema Turbo clutch.

So how difficult is it to fit a VX flywheel to a n/a Beta? Are there any gotchas, or is it just a case of sourcing a crack-free VX flywheel and fitting it?

Graham

It is a bolt on job provided you get the balance point in the correct place. You would ideally want a lightened and balanced 228 item for better response to the throttle. I use 228 flywheels and a Helix clutch on the Volumetrico supercharged engine. For that one I have a new Steel flywheel. For the VX I use a lightened original with an 8V Integrale clutch.

I hope this helps.

Eric
Look at places like Vicks Autosport Bayless and Millers Mule and of course GC.

Thanks, Eric. Just what I wanted to know. Any 228mm flywheel I acquired would be lightened and balanced as a matter of course, probably by GC. Is it just the M8 tappings for the clutch outer bolts that are different to the 215mm f/w, or is the whole thing different? And if the overall f/w diameter is different, how does does that affect starter motor mounting?

Anyway, time to put an ad in the 'Parts wanted' section, I think... :)

As I've had no response to my request for a VX flywheel in the Parts Wanted section (not really surprising, I guess), I was wondering whether a flywheel from a Thema Turbo could be made to fit? Both VX and Thema Turbo clutches are 228mm items, so it's not entirely outside the realms of possibility that the flywheels are similar, or even interchangeable... isn't it? (He said, hopefully)

I've a standard clutch in mine with 150bhp - no problems to report.

If / when I fit the Viscodrive coupling ( I have the small matter of a floorpan and 3/4 panel to replace 1st) I might have problems but I'll suck it and see!

Cheers Stuart. I may be over-thinking this, of course...

Don't we all? Gives us something to do in the winter!

Graham

I am not sure about a Thema Flywheel for fit. I do know that a standard clutch will not take more than 30% more torque because one of my standard Valeo clutches blew itself to pieces in the first 400 yards of a test drive! There were pieces of friction plate wedged all over the bell housing and I had to be towed back. That was on twin 45 side drafts and 165 BHP.

If you can find one a Delta Turbo 1.6 clutch will fit a 215 flywheel and handle the torque.

Eric 

For what it's worth, I just gave Guy my std flywheel and he lightened it to the minimum he recommends. He matched it to the crank while he was at it and supplied me with a Helix clutch. I'm still saving up for the head/carb mods but I'm very happy with the result so far.
Chris

Thanks for the comments. I remember Eric saying that his standard clutch exploded with a similar power to what I'm aiming for, so I wanted to give myself a decent safety margin without breaking the bank. Having searched for 215mm Delta HF Turbo clutches and found them rare and pricey, I noted how much cheaper and more readily available Thema Turbo clutches were, but of course they need a bigger 228mm flywheel. I guess it would be worth posting a query on GC's website to see if the Thema flywheel is an option.

It's not of pressing concern right now, as the car is in France with a broken engine, but I do like to have a plan in advance for these things.

Hi, can help with VX flywheel if still needed.

Yes please! You have pm...

Hi I just picked up on this thread. I used a SPEC (US made) clutch in my Beta race car with 170BHP engine, and it never missed a beat. It had a very hard life too as I would do multiple standing start tyre warming burn outs at hill climb events...The only problem I had was the release bearing that came with it was wrong..There is more info in my uprated 2L engine build thread...

SPEC SL161 Stage 1 Clutch Kit fit Lancia Beta 79-82 2.0L Gamma 78-85 2.0L http://r.ebay.com/hkS2u7 (http://r.ebay.com/hkS2u7)

I now have a 190BHP Guy Croft engine installed and it uses the stage 3 version of this clutch and again no issues,

Ian

Thanks for that, Ian. It's certainly an option, but I think I'll take the slightly larger VX flywheel off Millieman and use a cheaper clutch. Any clutch that can handle the 180bhp from a Turbo Thema 16V will have an easy life in a normally aspirated 160bhp Beta.

No worries, more of an option if couldn't find a VX flywheel.

I would be interested in knowing if you find a cheap clutch to suit the VX flywheel though, I am after a standard type clutch for a VX.....they are hard to find in Australia so I am looking elsewhere at the moment...

Cheers Ian

Ian

The 8V Integrale Clutch will fit the 228mm VX Flywheel, but you will still need the Beta Release bearing.

Eric