Wide-ratio 4 speed box: best solution or impossible dream?
Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 6:41 pm
With so much discussion of the merits and drawbacks of the 4 speed gearbox, 5 speed Lotus box and various alternate 5 speeds, I have noticed something missing: wide-ratio gear options for the 4 speed.
It seems to me that a lovely - perhaps the perfect - compromise between the wonderful shifting and durability of the four speed and the extended ratios and high speed cruising ability of the 5 speed variations would be to simply find alternate gears to make the original 4 speed "wider", including an overdrive 4th.
Obviously this would diminish the acceleration, but it would perhaps be the preferred compromise for those of us who no longer drive like "boy racers" and who need to use the car on highways. Another benefit would be no fitment issues.
Biggest question is: are there alternate gear sets out there, or would someone have to make them, or source them from other boxes, etc.?
Has this been discussed and rejected already? I haven't found any threads with this possibility covered. I remember seeing a discussion of someone wanting to manufacture a 5 speed set for the three rail 4 speed box (Australia?); persumably this did not get off the ground. And of course seems much more difficult that different ratios for the 4 speed.
Thoughts??
Randy
1970 Plus 2 that needs some longer legs
It seems to me that a lovely - perhaps the perfect - compromise between the wonderful shifting and durability of the four speed and the extended ratios and high speed cruising ability of the 5 speed variations would be to simply find alternate gears to make the original 4 speed "wider", including an overdrive 4th.
Obviously this would diminish the acceleration, but it would perhaps be the preferred compromise for those of us who no longer drive like "boy racers" and who need to use the car on highways. Another benefit would be no fitment issues.
Biggest question is: are there alternate gear sets out there, or would someone have to make them, or source them from other boxes, etc.?
Has this been discussed and rejected already? I haven't found any threads with this possibility covered. I remember seeing a discussion of someone wanting to manufacture a 5 speed set for the three rail 4 speed box (Australia?); persumably this did not get off the ground. And of course seems much more difficult that different ratios for the 4 speed.
Thoughts??
Randy
1970 Plus 2 that needs some longer legs