6-Speed Gearbox
Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2023 8:29 pm
Not wanting to hijack staggmatt’s thread on the 5-speed conversion I thought I’d start a new thread.
In a previous life I was a transmission designer for Hewland and I’ve been looking at possible donor ‘boxes for conversion for use in an Elan, or any TC based car. The Ainsin AX6 transmission, used in the MX5, is available new or used and would seem to be a good candidate. It’s more or less size appropriate and offers six-speeds. The ratios can be made to work I believe.
I think it would take a new Bellhousing and Tail casting, but these don’t seem to be too difficult, so just the center section would be used.
These days low volume castings are a possibility and only a few internal parts would need to be made or modified.
I’d be interested to hear the feelings of this group if such a ‘box were available as a no-mod replacement kit. I’m sure there is a price point at which this would be acceptable, but at this time I have no idea of the cost of a new unit, the machined castings, internal parts etc, but I’m willing to initiate a feasibility study to see if it’s viable or not. I realize that there are other potential applications so on the basis of ‘if you build it, they will come’, it might be worth the exercise.
Please let me know your thoughts.
Ian
In a previous life I was a transmission designer for Hewland and I’ve been looking at possible donor ‘boxes for conversion for use in an Elan, or any TC based car. The Ainsin AX6 transmission, used in the MX5, is available new or used and would seem to be a good candidate. It’s more or less size appropriate and offers six-speeds. The ratios can be made to work I believe.
I think it would take a new Bellhousing and Tail casting, but these don’t seem to be too difficult, so just the center section would be used.
These days low volume castings are a possibility and only a few internal parts would need to be made or modified.
I’d be interested to hear the feelings of this group if such a ‘box were available as a no-mod replacement kit. I’m sure there is a price point at which this would be acceptable, but at this time I have no idea of the cost of a new unit, the machined castings, internal parts etc, but I’m willing to initiate a feasibility study to see if it’s viable or not. I realize that there are other potential applications so on the basis of ‘if you build it, they will come’, it might be worth the exercise.
Please let me know your thoughts.
Ian