5 Speed Box or 3:55 diff

[TBG]

"Just sitting on my sofa and thinking …. “What a tosser”"

You shouldn't run yourself down like that........................

[Mazzini]

Deleted

[Mazzini]

Mazzers - I had the 3:1 CWP with my previous engine, a big valve running QED 420 cams and it was no problem at all in all driving conditions. I even had to demonstrate reversing and starting up very steep slopes to convince some un believers!! No problem with gear selection either............and think of the money one saves.........D

Spot smile.01.jpg

I have a Nick Stagg Q420 engine in my S3 with a close ratio (2.5/1) gearbox, though I've not tried 3.1 CW&P, I don't think first gear would have been usable.

[h20hamelan]

I suppose one could also argue the merits of rear diff removal, vs transmission.
With enough practice, they both have their issues.

My choice is a Tremec 5 speed with the most available gearset, for the +2. I am also planning this for my next +2. Simply because of availability here in N America. Likely if I was anywhere else, the T5 would be the choice for me because of available gears for touring.

For the DHC S4, I will keep the close box, and hopefully this winter have time to fit the 3.1. But I dont and wont ever be driving in a “city”, town only at worst.

I probably dont like the idea of anything but the original box, the feel is so great.

!

[TBG]

Just to be serious for a moment - I know I bang on about 3:1 CWPs - but I am very happy to let any passing Elan fan have a go in mine. We are only half a mile off the A303 in Somerset (near Sparkford) and 30 minutes from the M5. If any of you are passing going south west on holiday or business just PM me and I will arrange something.

Off to the rolling road tomorrow for a final - I hope - tune up. D

[Mazzini]

Just to be serious for a moment - I know I bang on about 3:1 CWPs - but I am very happy to let any passing Elan fan have a go in mine. We are only half a mile off the A303 in Somerset (near Sparkford) and 30 minutes from the M5. If any of you are passing going south west on holiday or business just PM me and I will arrange something.

Off to the rolling road tomorrow for a final - I hope - tune up. D

Kind offer

[fastcat7]

Just to be serious for a moment - I know I bang on about 3:1 CWPs - but I am very happy to let any passing Elan fan have a go in mine. We are only half a mile off the A303 in Somerset (near Sparkford) and 30 minutes from the M5. If any of you are passing going south west on holiday or business just PM me and I will arrange something.

Off to the rolling road tomorrow for a final - I hope - tune up. D

Imagine how fast that would be with a Wilcox 2 0L Cosworth BDG in it revving to 8500 RPM.

[TBG]

I would imagine it would take off! If I could pull 8000rpm with my present set up - but I can't - the top speed would be 175.4mph!!

No, 120mph is plenty for me at about 5700rpm. D

[JJ66]

Yes, the groove in the gears …

Cheers
Mark

Thanks Mark!!

Hi Mark,

I've just measured the angle on the rubbing face of the synchro ring and it is just over 5 degrees, Measuring by hand with old school kit I get 5.5 degrees. However, I will also check it on a CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine) when I can get access to it next week. Just thought I would make reference to that in case any of us discover what the actual figure is supposed to be.

Regards, Jonathan

[mark030358]

Well just dropped the oil on the gearbox after 200 miles as I wasn’t too happy with the noise.

After dropping the oil I can 101% conclude that there are ZERO 5 speed gearbox experts in the UK, at least not any that worked on this box anyway….

Pictures say 1000 words

[JJ66]

That doesn’t look good. The bronze colour looks like bearing material, is that what you suspect? What kind of noises was it making?

Regards, Jonathan

[pharriso]

Pictures say 1000 words

OMG unfortunately they do... that's not so much oil as a brass emulsion... sorry to see

[mark030358]

I have another 5 speed box from an Elite, which I paid to be ‘overhauled” but which will get looked at again as I just won’t trust it.

I’ve just sImply had enough of $hit work in general. I understand things go wrong, but it’s all the knock on work it causes.

As for the colour it’s redline MTL, but its the shiney metallic speckles in the oil that give the game away I have a video, but can’t post on here. As for the noise, deep but low frequency in all (1 to 5) gears. At one point Inthought it was the diff.

Cheers

[mbell]

I think my 5 speed was rebuilt in UK before shipped out to the US and then sitting in a barn for many years.

So far, they left a spacer out of the nose housing that allowed the bearing to move when trying to select 4th, so no forth gear. Box out to fix that. On driving it after fixing that, it had killed 4th synchro. Drained the oil recently lots of grey sludge. Then had to turn around on a road trip due to significant oil leak (out put seal I think).

So box coming out again. Hoping to pick up a elite box to stick in while fix the original box.

[miked]

Well Mark, nobody can say that you have not tried your best. Very frustrating.
So, are you going to carry on or go for the taller diff and revert to a 4 speed box. Cheers M