Page 1 of 2

hewland 5 speed gearbox

PostPosted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 6:49 am
by redcarandco
Just for the pleasure to know, can somebody gives me what he knows about a 5 speed gearbox for elan made by hewland ? The owner told me it was done in a very small amount (40 pieces) and fitted in the original anglia casing.....and if possible which ratios?
Best regards to all
Roger

Re: hewland 5 speed gearbox

PostPosted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 3:02 pm
by Elan45
Roger,

That gearbox is very rare, very! It has dog engagement, same as most all Hewland boxes, but the gears are unique to that gearbox. I know of no source for spare ratios. They would be smaller that the MK 8-9 gears

I'm doing a bit of mind reading here; I'll bet you'd like an overdrive 5th, right? The above gearbox, I'd love to have one still, was a racing box for 1000cc Anglias w/ very little torque. It also was only built as a straight through 5th gear. No OD!

I do have a photo or two of the gearbox if you'd like a copy, send me a PM and I'll try yo find it.

Roger

Re: hewland 5 speed gearbox

PostPosted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 3:52 pm
by redcarandco
Dear Roger
many thanks for answer but since I have sent the post, I have had a phone chat with a FIA scrutineer whose face changes from red to blue coming back to violet when I explained what I was planning to buy to fit in 26R14 In fact it is not allowed for FIA sanctioned races because never been homologated or I must accept to play with protos (chevron,lola and so on...) and as owner finally gives me the ratios and as they do not seem to be interesting since 5th gear is 1 and 1st too short so no use even for a road car and I will rebuild the JKD (Jack Knight/leeson)I have found in the car when dismantling....
Best regards
Roger

Re: hewland 5 speed gearbox

PostPosted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 4:27 pm
by Elan45
I think you would just break it anyway. Smaller gears than used for Formula Ford.I wish I had your option to return to a Leeson box. I'm going to have to use a close ratio 2.5-1st Elan box in my car. Is the Leeson box still made?

Roger

Re: hewland 5 speed gearbox

PostPosted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 5:16 pm
by redcarandco
Leeson gear seems to have disappeared with Jack Knight Dev... Some years ago (+/- 10 years) we met(my friends andI) a gentle lady (introducing herself as JKD official "speaker)" it was at stoneleigh historic show and we had a long chat she promised many things but nothings came out of this encounter so we supposed that everything had disappeared (and it has)I can say it was a pity because I think the leeson JKD 2000E was (is) the best we ever used (for racing purpose of course) and I am not ready to sell mine....
Roger

Re: hewland 5 speed gearbox

PostPosted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 6:12 pm
by Elan45
And the JKD-Leeson uses Hewland Mk series gears and dog rings?

Roger

Re: hewland 5 speed gearbox

PostPosted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 6:38 pm
by Mazzini

Re: hewland 5 speed gearbox

PostPosted: Sun Jan 22, 2017 7:34 pm
by redcarandco
doc253.jpg and
The leeson gear system was (is) more like a dog sytem The name was in period leeson gear dog box...I join two fotos where system can be seen not perfect image but not so bad ... I can add that box made me think gear lever was as smooth as it is working in an empty case....W O N D E R F U L .do not worry of mainshaft length this was custom made for an other application
Roger...

Re: hewland 5 speed gearbox

PostPosted: Wed May 03, 2017 3:31 pm
by jabingb
Believe I've got one of these, have had it for 35+ years, was told at the time it was a Hewland/derivation, 5th is definitely an o/d, ~ 0.80. Dog engagement, different shifter rail. Dave Bean had one of these and provided additional insight, a very low 1st, gear, just over 3.0. Can try to get a better shot of the guts if desired? Not sure what the extra case protrusions are about/for?

5speed1.jpg and

5speed2.jpg and

5speed3.jpg and

5speed4.jpg and

5speed5.jpg and

Re: hewland 5 speed gearbox

PostPosted: Wed May 10, 2017 2:45 pm
by cabc26b
Those gearboxes were first fitted to the Marcos GT's ( fastbacks and gullying's ). There are reproductions that are being produced but in talking to a friend that is using one it has not made an appreciable difference in his lap times. He is likely to go back to his quaife while he looks for an other option.

George

Re: hewland 5 speed gearbox

PostPosted: Wed May 10, 2017 2:53 pm
by jabingb
I believe the company currently making the 5 speed guts for a 2000E style box is MKF Engineering, Hailsham, East Sussex, UK. But, the original design was done by Hewland for Anglias and such, not sure how Wooler interacted in the day, sellers or collaborators?

Re: hewland 5 speed gearbox

PostPosted: Fri May 12, 2017 10:52 am
by promotor
jabingb wrote:Believe I've got one of these, have had it for 35+ years, was told at the time it was a Hewland/derivation, 5th is definitely an o/d, ~ 0.80. Dog engagement, different shifter rail. Dave Bean had one of these and provided additional insight, a very low 1st, gear, just over 3.0. Can try to get a better shot of the guts if desired? Not sure what the extra case protrusions are about/for?

5speed1.jpg

5speed2.jpg

5speed3.jpg

5speed4.jpg

5speed5.jpg


That's interesting - are those pictures you posted of your actual 'box? The reason I ask is that I have been supplied those very photos by someone else recently.

Re: hewland 5 speed gearbox

PostPosted: Fri May 12, 2017 12:03 pm
by jabingb
promotor wrote:
That's interesting - are those pictures you posted of your actual 'box? The reason I ask is that I have been supplied those very photos by someone else recently.

Yes, those are pixs I took about a week ago. Now I'm curious where you saw them other than on this forum thread?

Re: hewland 5 speed gearbox

PostPosted: Fri May 12, 2017 12:06 pm
by promotor
jabingb wrote:
promotor wrote:
That's interesting - are those pictures you posted of your actual 'box? The reason I ask is that I have been supplied those very photos by someone else recently.

Yes, those are pixs I took about a week ago. Now I'm curious where you saw them other than on this forum thread?


Someone I know has been looking for one of these box's for his car (he put out a "wanted ad" a couple of years ago) and received an answer just last week. I have the email from the respondee and looking at your user name it could be you.

If you want more details maybe PM me?

Regarding the extra casting protrusions : they are used on cars with optional column change gearboxes such as the mk2 cortina and consul classic/capri. I have one of the column change 'box's in my possession which I took from a column change mk2 cortina and it has those same protrusions on.

Re: hewland 5 speed gearbox

PostPosted: Sat May 13, 2017 1:51 am
by jabingb
[/quote]

Someone I know has been looking for one of these box's for his car (he put out a "wanted ad" a couple of years ago) and received an answer just last week. I have the email from the respondee and looking at your user name it could be you.

If you want more details maybe PM me?

Regarding the extra casting protrusions : they are used on cars with optional column change gearboxes such as the mk2 cortina and consul classic/capri. I have one of the column change 'box's in my possession which I took from a column change mk2 cortina and it has those same protrusions on.[/quote]

Yes, I suspect I'm the one that communicated regarding the 5 speed inquiry, mystery solved. And thanks for the enlightenment for the bosses. I never had the story where the box was used, just that it was a very unusual 5 speed in a "standard" Ford case, indeed!