gearbox swap

[facel]

my standard autobox is clunking a lot these days and I am considering two options :

1 rebuild the existing box and refit
2 change to four speed Jag box as recommended by specialists
3 change to manual overdrive (my favoured choice from past cars I have owned)

i am curious if anyone has made the Jag swap and what they think of it ? has it changed the car dramatically, does the car run better, is it as satisfying as a manual o/d ?

I live in a city so could be sensible to stick with the auto I guess, I just miss the drive-ability of the manual.

any tips welcomed, many thanks.

[V Mad]

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Be careful, clunking is often due to drive train problems, not necessarily gearbox. Read the many posts on this subject.

[Moraystag]

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Facel. is it a BW 65 I have a real bad snatch and have checked and renewed most of the components starting from the back end.

I find that when the car is cold ( straight from the garage ) it slips in and out of D & R very smoothly, but once operating temperature is reached and I engage D or R, it snatches pretty badly into gear. But once up and running ( on the move )it go's up and down through the gears, smoothly and the kick down works ok.

I would like to know which way you go as I was planning on taking mine to Glasgow some 250 miles South of where I live to a Auto specialist ( Mackies Automatics Glasgow) within the next 2 weeks.



Mike

[facel]

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yes it is BW65 and has exactly the foibles you describe. The car is a pampered car - always has been - plus is well looked after by Enginuity here who tell me it is not the drivetrain.....well they would wouldn't they with a £2500 gearbox swap in the offing !!

i guess it's a matter of trial and error, but an expensive one to make and still end up with the wretched clunking.

best of luck with yours - must be freezing up there.

[Bob Heritage]

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I had a BW35 box in mine and it has always been 'notchy'. Changed to the ZF box and it has transformed the car, if you do change the box I would recommend spending the extra. Less strain on the engine too with lower revs. I think it is about £1800 fitted now if you go to Clive Tate direct or fit it yourself.

[DJT]

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Bob Heritage wrote:

I had a BW35 box in mine and it has always been 'notchy'. Changed to the ZF box and it has transformed the car, if you do change the box I would recommend spending the extra. Less strain on the engine too with lower revs. I think it is about £1800 fitted now if you go to Clive Tate direct or fit it yourself.

Bob,

Recent info from CT:

I am able to supply and fit a ZF 4HP-22 auto gearbox. This gearbox is removed from a Jaguar XJ40 and reconditioned, a new bell housing and rear cover are cast, machined and fitted. It is fitted with Stag over-drive speedo gears so that your speedo will read correctly. A new propshaft is also supplied.

The cost of the complete gearbox is £1950 with no VAT.
Fitting is £250 + auto fluid + VAT which woks out at just over £300.

Dave.

[m9fdb]

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blimey you can buy a scrap XJ40 for pennies now - if the gear boxes are worth that much i can see a market there. My dad gave his XJ40 Sov away for pretty much nothing last year when he got a X300

[Andy Rundell]

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facel wrote:

well they would wouldn't they with a £2500 gearbox swap in the offing !!

Enginity don't have a reputation for ripping people off, and i suggest that you would have some comeback if the problem wasn't resolved .

.......Andy

[DJT]

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m9fdb wrote:

blimey you can buy a scrap XJ40 for pennies now - if the gear boxes are worth that much i can see a market there. My dad gave his XJ40 Sov away for pretty much nothing last year when he got a X300

Yes, scrap XJ40s are cheap. But then someone has to remove the 'box. Recondition it. Supply a modified bellhousing or make a new one. Sort out all the other bits and bobs, including do the original R&D.

Anyone who has done a gearbox swap on a Stag will wonder how it can be done - professionally - for £250. I've done several MOD 'boxes. If you take all that into consideration then it doesn't seem quite so expensive.

Dave.

[Moraystag]

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At last Facel, someone who has experienced the same problem. Please keep in touch and let me know how you get on. My car is much the same, pampered but not concurs, but I've only had it for a year.

The snatching really spoils the overall pleasure of driving this old lady. But the expense that a gearbox refurb is going to put a strain on my marriage LOL



Mike

[facel]

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i know Enginuity well and appreciate they wouldn't rip me off, all I am saying is that i want to be sure their diagnosis is right and the clunking will be gone AFTER spending £2500 quid on a gearbox. Otherwise will be more teeth sucking as I spend a further £800 on replacing props, UJ's, driveshafts etc........which is obviously the - still expensive but - cheaper option

[Moraystag]

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Yes I am much the same, although I have done much work myself. At least I would think you have decent garages near to you which I have not

[Guest]

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Hi Facel, interested in the origin of your on-line name, is it the result of a frustrated desire to own a Vega ? Martin.

[Denis]

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The4HP22 box really transforms the Stag. 2400 revs at 70mph, better acceleration, better fuel consumption - go for it. Clive Tate does a complete kit at a good price and will fit. Enginuity fitted Clive's kit for me and so know all about it.

Denis

[Thurlo Squire]

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I agree with Denis.

One of the reasons I bought my particular Stag was that the PO had already had the ZF box fitted by Clive Tate and I had read good things about this conversion on the forum beforehand. The added bonus was that inbetween the PO advertising the car and me buying it , the diff fell apart and he had to fit a recon diff. On collection the drive train was a tight as duck's bottom!!!!

Nigel