Re: 5 speeds some more
Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:59 pm
cabc26b wrote:Could it be that the instalation in a seven clone amplifies the noise ? I have run hewlands ( in midengine config only) and have a quaife dog box in one of my cars now. I will tell you , in my car ( with a hardtop) the gear noise is not in the forefront. And in a mid egdine I did not notice the noise above that of the engine.
Yes, I've driven single seaters with the same box as the Westfield (Hewland LD200) and not been particularly aware of the noise, but then it's hung out back in the open air. I've also driven steel saloons with straight cut gears where gear noise hasn't been so intrusive (though still noticeable). In both cases, I was wearing a crash helmet, though, so of course there's an inch of polystyrene foam clamped firmly over each ear!
I am sure that part of the issue on the Westfield is that the carbon monocoque provides a very good sound path and that the box is sitting right under your left elbow, but lets be honest, Elan bodies are are not known for their sound reducing qualities either. In a coupe, or a DHC with the hood up, I really wouldn't want to share a cockpit with a set of Hewland gears, separated only by oil-drum thick sheet steel and a fibreglass sounding board for a floor...
In any event, the Hewland's other characteristics alone mean that it is pretty much unsuitable as a road box - even the big 'clunk' every time you select first from standstill quickly becomes wearing when you are in town traffic and the gearing is no improvement over the Elan box for high speed cruising.