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Hydraulic clutch conversion?

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:20 pm
by Skyrocketeer
Sat amongst the bits in my garage, somewhere, is a 020 2Y gearbox. It's the first candidate for strapping to the arse of the tuned 9A donk that'll eventually be going into the mistress (rocco#1).

However, I'm thinking of changing things, already.

the 02A is starting to win me over a bit.

It is a stronger, more reliable box. Yay!
It has a hydraulic clutch - ya-hmm, interesting.
It's cable change- boo.
It's about 10Kg heavier - wtf?????

I do like the idea of a hydraulic clutch, especially after the clutch cable debacle that's put rocco#2 out of action. Even if the O2A substitution doesn't happen, I'd still like to go hydraulic, however that means some serious re-thinking around the clutch pedal area.

I can see 3 approaches:
Mod the existing setup with a horizontal master cylinder that pokes through the bulkhead - means cutting a nasty great hole in the firewall, plus cutting and welding of the pedal bracket.
Mod the existing setup with a vertical master cylinder behind the bulkhead - not even sure if this is possible, but would be more compact, though would require more cutting and welding of the pedal bracket.
Fit a pedal box from something else like a mk3 that is already has hydraulics, with all the hassle of getting brakes and accelerator to line up, along with fixing holes and god-know what else.

So, anyone done this? Anyone steer me in a particular direction with some advice?

Re: Hydraulic clutch conversion?

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 11:26 pm
by Funky Diver
I'm contemplating doing the same on my impending rebuild...

http://www.funksoulkitty.org/shockypage ... ctemp.html < done on a Mk1, but I'm sure the principles would be the same.

Re: Hydraulic clutch conversion?

Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 8:13 am
by Brunty
I've just started considering this on my racing car simply because the pedal is too heavy when I'm stuck in traffic.

What I'm thinking about doing is using the standard 020 box and making brackets to fit the slave cylinder to push the standard clutch pivot arm. But this is probably something that will be on the back burner for a while.

Re: Hydraulic clutch conversion?

Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 8:48 am
by Chaps
I have a 02A box that has a cable conversion. I know this doesnt answer your question but jsut saying its possible to run an 02A without converting to a hydraulic pedal box.
Here is a guide on how to fit a hyd pedal box anyway. Might be of some use.
http://www.conrod.co.uk/20v4.html
Chaps

Re: Hydraulic clutch conversion?

Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:15 pm
by Skyrocketeer
Chaps wrote:I have a 02A box that has a cable conversion. I know this doesnt answer your question but jsut saying its possible to run an 02A without converting to a hydraulic pedal box.
Here is a guide on how to fit a hyd pedal box anyway. Might be of some use.
http://www.conrod.co.uk/20v4.html
Chaps
Pity it's for a mk2 golf.

I'm after the hydraulics rather than the 02A box - I know you can convert the 02A to use a cable cluch (using Seat bits) but I kinda want to do things the other way around.

I looked at the yank site, but the redesign of the pedal bracket would probably be different as it's not a left hooker. I know the pedals are still in the same order, but the bulkhead would be a slightly different shape. I'm kinda nervous about thet large horizontal offset from the pivot to the clevis on the master-cylinder - looks prone to flex.

I'm guessing that no-one with a RHD A1 platform has done it this way around then?

Re: Hydraulic clutch conversion?

Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 2:03 pm
by dingorocco
Andy in the UK has done this to his Mk1 1.8T conversion, Still warrants a bit of piddling about to set it all up iIMO, but probably a better result than the cable set up.

About 3/4 the way down the page.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1894286&page=7

I agree with your synopsis of the benefits of the O2A, the cable change in Andy's car felt very precise in selection ( checked it out in person a few trips back ) even though at that stage the car was still to move !

Installing a Torque bias diff at the same time isnt to difficult either.

Bottom page 28 and further.

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforu ... 80&page=28

HTH, good luck :hugegrin:

Re: Hydraulic clutch conversion?

Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 3:07 pm
by Skyrocketeer
dingorocco wrote:Andy in the UK has done this to his Mk1 1.8T conversion, Still warrants a bit of piddling about to set it all up iIMO, but probably a better result than the cable set up.

About 3/4 the way down the page.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1894286&page=7

I agree with your synopsis of the benefits of the O2A, the cable change in Andy's car felt very precise in selection ( checked it out in person a few trips back ) even though at that stage the car was still to move !
Now that's what I'm talking about :-)

Re: Hydraulic clutch conversion?

Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 3:15 pm
by Funky Diver
Innit indeed.

A very nice solution too! (adds to project list... god I love doing research!!)

Re: Hydraulic clutch conversion?

Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 10:33 pm
by Storm

Re: Hydraulic clutch conversion?

Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 10:44 pm
by Funky Diver
any photo's there fella? Set up, etc