2 days on with the ZF

[Stagsongas]

Was it worth it?

Absolutely!

The car is transformed, no violent engagement of Drive or Reverse from rest, better gearchanges, more flexibility etc. To cap it all, when TC lockup occurs it feels and sounds just like the OD kicking in on my 2.5 Pi (Stag Substitute) all those years ago. Amazingly, TC lock up comes into play at a very similar speed it did in the XJ40, that was 52 mph and mine now comes in at an indicated 49 mph in the Stag. To see the lower RPM at or above 50 mph makes it so worth all that hard work!

One or two questions I could not find a definitive answers for, to help others researching;

Yes, you can remove and then fit an auto 'box to the TV8 by simply removing the front exhaust pipes and tilting the engine back. The crankshaft centre bolt actually moves away from the radiator, not closer to it. You don't even need to jack it. The only things you have to keep an eye on are the lower blades of the plastic fan.

Yes, you can contrive a mechanical speedo drive by fitting a gear inside the rear housing, but you also need a 90 degree elbow drive and a different cable end to suit it. I haven't checked accuracy with the Sat Nav yet, but it'll happen.

I'll carry on tweaking the kickdown and gear selector adjustment until I'm happy, and then what next?

Perhaps the Brake Servo. I thought Stag servos were just badly chosen at only 3x pedal effort, but I drove another Stag the other day (I've only ever driven mine) and it turns out mine feels bad 'cos it just doesn't work! How was I to know?

Regards

Steve

[Rubce]

Hi Steve

Sounds a great success. We done. If I hadn't converted ours to a MOD then a ZF is definitely something I would have gone for.

Enjoy your efforts

Regards

Bruce

[Seaking]

Well done Steve.

Yes they are rather good and so much smoother

Cheers Glenn

[mjheathcote]

Did you do it all DIY or did you buy a kit?

[V Mad]

Steve, can you tell me anything much about the special speedo drive? Does it work well?, cost?
I need to do the same for a different 'box conversion on my Tiger.

[Stagsongas]

Hi Steve

Sounds a great success. We done. If I hadn't converted ours to a MOD then a ZF is definitely something I would have gone for.

Enjoy your efforts

Regards

Bruce

Thanks Bruce,

Depending what engine you used you might be able to couple the ZF up to that? Not a weeknd job though, I was saving bits up and making stuff for months of my spare time (as if I get any of that!)

Regards

Steve

[Stagsongas]

As above - took me ages but I have the advantage of CNC millers etc. being to hand. Had to borrow a larger lathe to turn down the TC spigot though ( to 0.750" dia). Much headscratching took place ( I have a groove in my head now!) and having an engine on the deck to work trial fitting, TC spacing etc. makes things easier.

It would have taken much, much longer if I had not been able to search and research on this forum, so a big thank you to everyone who took the trouble.

Next stop, 5 spd X300 'box, but I'll need a while to recover!

Regards

Steve

[Stagsongas]

Steve, can you tell me anything much about the special speedo drive? Does it work well?, cost?
I need to do the same for a different 'box conversion on my Tiger.

Chris,

I purloined a straight drive from a 'box I could not identify (scrapyard) and then selected a gear to match from that thick gear catalogue, MSG or something.

I was already prepared to cut a suitable gear so I drew it up first and then looked for something that I could modify and get me along the way little. I got lucky and found one that almost suited, I only had to bore the centre out. With more time in the Scrapyard I'd probably have done better by stripping 'boxes and getting a pair of matching gears to suit as as close as possible. A good tip (Wish I'd though of it then!) would be to go to an auto gearbox specialist who would probably have mountains of gold for you to choose from.

The 90 degree angle drive came from a ser. 2 XJ6 and is necessary as the cable would have pointed at the gearbox tunnel. All of it is doo-able, it just takes acres of time and hats off to Clive Tate as it muist have been much harder to stick with it when you don't know someone else got it all to work.

Having said all this, I haven't checked the speedo accuracy yet.


Regards

Steve

[DJT]

Steve, can you tell me anything much about the special speedo drive? Does it work well?, cost?
I need to do the same for a different 'box conversion on my Tiger.

Chris,

I can give you details on how to do it using electronics, but without altering the speedo head if you wish......

[Stagsongas]

Dave,

I read about you solution and thought it brilliant. If it had been available to me I'd have used it, and maybe I'll need to yet!

Regards

Steve

[les M]

Steve
The speedo drive to give you the correct reading should be a 3;1 ratio ie drive gear 7 teeth and driven gear 21 teeth, I have used the the driven and drive gears from a manual nonOD gearbox ( these fit very well ) also have used ones from a BW 35 box but these are a pain to fit due to the angle of mesh ( also you need a reversing angle drive with the BW 35 gears)

Les

[simontink]

Did you do it all DIY or did you buy a kit?

Is there a "kit" that you can buy?

[jbuckl]

Yes there is a kit, it contains everything you need bar the oil.

http://www.ejward.co.uk/new-parts/engine-gear-box-and-servicing/transmission/4-speed-automatic-gearbox-kit-tate-and-lewis.html

It is good value especially considering how complete the kit is.

The same level of conversion for other models is over twice the price.

Bear in mind the box supplied is not new, its rebuilt.

The swap can probably be done in 3 hrs if you are swift under a lift.

To make the conversion yourself would take months.

[simontink]

Pity there isn't a kit available that doesn't include the box as the HP-22 is almost always available for £100 - £200 on eBay. I'm sure there would be lots of takers if there was, probably run out of gearboxes! I just wonder how much of that £2460 is for the gearbox and how much is for the other bits.

[V Mad]

Chris,

I can give you details on how to do it using electronics, but without altering the speedo head if you wish......

Yes please Dave.