Heads Up: Brand new OB clutch components - Helix Autosport UK
03-05-2020, 03:34 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Heads Up: Brand new OB clutch components - Helix Autosport UK
Hey folks, I feel it necessary to start this thread so that it might someday be of assistance to others who own OB's with the 5-speed transmission. I've spent the past three months doing a transmission swap and TT rebuild on my '78 (#338; an early car but not the earliest). I found the clutch components to be in much worse condition than I expected and thus started on an adventure/treasure hunt to try and rectify that. Actually things were so bad that I'm still a bit shocked that the car shifted as well as it did. My car had all original pre-1980 clutch pieces. Unfortunately the flywheel, intermediate plate, and pressure plate were all covered in hot spots and warping. @Cheburator first clued me in on a potential parts source via his post on my thread here: https://rennlist.com/forums/928-forum/1174422-condition-of-clutch-parts-1978-ob-2.html#post16308273
After reaching out to Rob with Helix Autosport, he confirmed Alex's information: they have the ability to build OB clutch components from scratch and supposedly to Porsche's spec. And it seems that they can achieve this and ship to the US for prices that are still cheaper than what Porsche wanted before some of the items went NLA. Of specific importance, Rob stated that they could even replicate the early diameter-centered Intermediate Plate and Flywheel, which is what my car still had. They are also able to rebuild your clutch plates if you so choose. Anecdotally I've read that Helix supposedly manufactures the updated throwout bearing that Porsche now sells. Someone else can fact check me on that....
Now I did not end up using their services because I found a gently used pin-centered Intermediate Plate and Flywheel for less than $300 on eBay. It was just too good of a deal to pass up! Additionally, my clutch plates were the early design with the short hubs on both, so I preferred to update to the post-1980 configuration specified in the WSM (in which one plate now has an elongated hub).
Anyway, I have zero affiliation with Rob or Helix, but I thought that the information and their services could be quite valuable to other 5-speed OB owners as parts supplies begin to dry up. Rob was a class act to deal with in all of his communications and was very responsive. Hope this might help someone out there somewhere, someday.
After reaching out to Rob with Helix Autosport, he confirmed Alex's information: they have the ability to build OB clutch components from scratch and supposedly to Porsche's spec. And it seems that they can achieve this and ship to the US for prices that are still cheaper than what Porsche wanted before some of the items went NLA. Of specific importance, Rob stated that they could even replicate the early diameter-centered Intermediate Plate and Flywheel, which is what my car still had. They are also able to rebuild your clutch plates if you so choose. Anecdotally I've read that Helix supposedly manufactures the updated throwout bearing that Porsche now sells. Someone else can fact check me on that....
Now I did not end up using their services because I found a gently used pin-centered Intermediate Plate and Flywheel for less than $300 on eBay. It was just too good of a deal to pass up! Additionally, my clutch plates were the early design with the short hubs on both, so I preferred to update to the post-1980 configuration specified in the WSM (in which one plate now has an elongated hub).
Anyway, I have zero affiliation with Rob or Helix, but I thought that the information and their services could be quite valuable to other 5-speed OB owners as parts supplies begin to dry up. Rob was a class act to deal with in all of his communications and was very responsive. Hope this might help someone out there somewhere, someday.
The following users liked this post:
por917 (03-05-2020)
