alternative manual gearbox for a TV8

[Rubce]

Hi All

There is often talk on here of alternative auto gearboxes suitable for marrying up to a TV8 engine. Plus there seems to be several options open to people with RV8 engines fitted.

However, has anybody had any success at finding an alternative for a manual TV8? Something with 5 or even 6 gears to give the car more legs and better fuel economy.

Regards

Bruce

[mjheathcote]

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The Rover 5-speed LT77 has been done before, even covered in the club magazine many years ago, plus the Toyota 5-speed is an option.

Bob Heritage is your man regarding the Toyota option, he has one of Richard Lane's Toyota conversions (he used to do Stag tuning stuff years ago, no longer unfortunately) sitting around unused...

[Mpower738]

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Tremec?? Very popular with Cobras etc.

http://stagownersclub.mywowbb.com/forum1/9296.html

[V Mad]

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The stag box with overdrive is good enough for the stag, why change it and make a lot of extra work for yourself?

If you must, the BW T5 is good, so is the Ford type 9, but ratios might not be suitable.

[Rubce]

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I am simply interested in what options are available. I have no current plans to change the box, but never say never.

Bruce

[mjheathcote]

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V Mad wrote:

The stag box with overdrive is good enough for the stag, why change it and make a lot of extra work for yourself?

Good enough 40 years ago maybe, but you hear plenty of clutch problems, syncro problems,and OD problems. Okay these can be sorted, but the last time I drove a manual OD Stag, from what I can remember it was also quite agricutural with a long throw and heavy clutch...compared to modern offerings of course.

When I jump from my modern day car into the stag, I have no problem with the Stag 's performance, brakes, or suspension compared to the modern day car, but I do with the gearbox, in my case the BW auto.

We now have the ZF 4-speed auto as a more modern alternative for the BW, we now need a more modern alternative manual gearbox too!

[Rubce]

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mjheathcote wrote:

We now have the ZF 4-speed auto as a more modern alternative for the BW, we now need a more modern alternative manual gearbox too!

My thoughts exactly

Bruce

[V Mad]

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mjheathcote wrote:

V Mad wrote:

The stag box with overdrive is good enough for the stag, why change it and make a lot of extra work for yourself?

Good enough 40 years ago maybe, but you hear plenty of clutch problems, syncro problems,and OD problems. Okay these can be sorted, but the last time I drove a manual OD Stag, from what I can remember it was also quite agricutural with a long throw and heavy clutch...compared to modern offerings of course.

When I jump from my modern day car into the stag, I have no problem with the Stag 's performance, brakes, or suspension compared to the modern day car, but I do with the gearbox, in my case the BW auto.

We now have the ZF 4-speed auto as a more modern alternative for the BW, we now need a more modern alternative manual gearbox too!

Heavy clutch? Try driving a Sunbeam Tiger (real mans car lol ) !!

The long throw gear lever can be easilychanged: just cut down the lever; quite a few have done that.

BW auto is a different kettle of cogs. Lack of overdrive is the main disdvantage for modern(motorway) driving; I agree the ZF is surely a big improvement.

[JesusofCool]

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Isn't the gearstick / box part of the charm of the car? After my everyday car I love the leisurely long throw and the feel of a well oiled mechanism through the stick. I can quite see the issue of the auto though. If you are delegating control of the transmission, you might as well employ the best available tool.

[Mpower738]

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I'd like to drum up a bit of interest in this thread again, to try and gauge whether anybody would be interested in a T5 conversion.

If anybody has been following my winter project thread they'll know I'm in the process of installing a T5 in my car to use as a test bed, and if the results are good I'm hoping to join forces with a well known firm to develop a commercially available conversion kit.

I suppose the clue is in the title of the thread really, how much would you expect to pay for a complete conversion kit to a brand new 5 speed box with rifle-bolt shift, and 0.68 overdriven top gear???

[mjheathcote]

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Sounds good

As a starting point, other 5 speed gearbox conversions for say Spitfires/GT6's etc are around £1,500+VAT plus fitting...

[Mpower738]

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6 Cyl E-type £1890

V12 E-type £1980

Austin Healey £2340

HP22 auto, around 2k plus fitting ???

Spitfire/GT6 conversions, are they brand new or recon boxes??

I reckon it's going to be difficult to produce the kit for less than 2k with areasonable profit margin included, based on how much it's cost me to do the development so far.

[mjheathcote]

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....as an ending point, a new T5 gearbox kit for a MarkII Jag appears to be around £3,500:shock:

I think it needs to be around the same price as a ZF 4 speed auto kit, £2,000 ish? but I have no idea the cost of a new T5 gearbox, why new though...or optional maybe.

[mjheathcote]

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Posted at the same time:P

[stagmuffin]

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the T5 box is a good strong unit capable of delivering lots more horses than the stag could ever hope to produce,and has been used in a variety of performance autos.ihave got and will be running this box mated to a 383cid v8 with a base 440 hp .all the research i have donesuggests it will take a hell of a lot of abuse before it throws the towel in. i may be interested in the kit minus the box, price being the decider.recent fully custom biult g/box set me back £744.38 including vat but now have found a much cheaper supplier.

steve.............