Paul,
I used to maintain a drysumped VX for a mate. I replaced the seals three times in one year. IMO the seal fails due to the seal sticking/bonding to the bore after getting very hot ( engine oil temps) and the car being left to stand for weeks between use, the next time the clutch is depressed a tiny bit of seal is removed. I then tried the system filled with Dot 4 SILICON brake fluid, the rational being that this would act as a lubricant/release agent and may prevent the seal sticking to the bore. Well its seemed to work as the car ran a full year without failure and now has a new owner so I do not know if its still Ok.
I concur with you on the bore scratches, these need to be sorted to stand any chance of the seals lasting. Sleeving the bore would be a good move.
Chellspeed the K drysump clutch fork is not a Ford item its a bespoke Fork made from guage plate and is a different shape and is not interchangable with the standard fork which is use along with the wet sump system ( this may be a Ford pattern).
Rob
Edited by - Rob Walker on 26 Mar 2005 08:29:10