Making a clutch alignment tool[edit]

I wanted to add this as it's an integral part of the manual conversion and it's invaluable for anyone doing a clutch change as well. I've heard that you can buy either a plastic or metal one but where's the fun in that? Why not make one for free!

The Gregory's give you lengths but doesn't give you diameters of the ID's (Internal Diameters) of the clutch driven plate and the spigot bearing.

It can be made from either metal or wood, I prefer metal as it's more durable and I work for an engineering company (lotsa round bar around!) and it only takes a few minutes to turn up on a lathe.

    |-----------------|____
    |                  ____|   (sorry for the crappy drawing)
    |-----------------|

    |-----180mm-------|20mm|

The larger diameter needs to be turned to 23.00 and the smaller to 15.90. Any competent person with access to a lathe and a 0-25mm outside micrometer should be able to create one within minutes. I originally turned the smaller diameter to 15.95 and forgot that the spigot bearing crushes slightly so it was a bit too snug of a fit for my liking, and needed a tiny bit more clearance.

And there you have it!

- djslaviero

File:Clutch alignment tool.gif

Other Comments[edit]

Quite a few people I know with them have cut the input shaft off broken rb30e boxes (always in good supply) and used that. - Immo

Further to the old input shaft idea. The older Datsun L series 6 cylinder boxes are a donor as well. I used a Z car input shaft for my RB20 clutch.

But yes, if you have access to a lathe turning one up yourself as a good option. You do want just a little clearance in the spigot so you can bump the clutch around a little to make sure it is lined up right in the middle, 0.05 to 0.1mm is probably enough, just as long as the shaft will wobble slightly in the spigot without the clutch in there. - blue