Looking out for a gearbox for Rover V8

[KarlosJackel]

Hello there!
I'm looking out for a gearbox to mate up with a Rover '89 V8.
I've heard a SD1 manual box would be ideal, but these are as getting pretty thin now. Ebay is no use... A normal cossie box would apprently also be good, but it's arsing about with a v8 bellhousing.. any ideas anybody?

Karlos

[KarlosJackel]

Ah, forgot to mention, I'm building a kit car! hence a 2wd manual is required!

Karlos Jackel

[jamieheasman]

All the late '94 and onwards TVR Chimaeras and Griffiths used the T5/Tremec gearbox with a suitable bellhousing. Should be pretty easy to track one down and they are a lot nicer to use and a lot more robust than the Rover LT77.

[KarlosJackel]

Thanks for the return reply... I had no idea that those beautys had the T5 in them! Apart from the 'bay, do you know where another good place to look?

Thanks!

Karlos

[Chassis 33]

I believe the Cosworth T5 and TVR T5 are different ratio'd boxes so you may want to do some sums re gearing. For TVR bits there are two main breakers, Bell Hill and Douglas Valley, but don't expect them to be cheap. There's a guy on eBay under the ID of room05 who breaks SD1's, he should be able to help out with an LT77 box and bellhousing. The LT77 boxes aren't as strong as the T5's however they are tougher units than the usual pub talk would suggest.

Regards
Iain

[KarlosJackel]

Thanks,
I know what you mean about the "LT77 'box? Cor... wouldn't have one of those..."
I hear that the main support bearings become badly worn, and apart from shimming the bearing, that's it. But if they were so dodge, howcome any kit car manufacture immediately suggests the sd1 box?
Thanks for the info, I'm going to have a look now!

Karlos

[jamieheasman]

If you're going to put a fairly bog-standard 3.5V8 in front of it the LT-77 will be fine (as long as it's in good nick). With a 4.0litre it'll be marginal and anything above that will be very iffy. TVR used them with a 5.0litre but they weren't up to the task. I had a Griff' 4.3 with one and it failed after 23k miles - I also remember down-shifts needing some concentration as the spring-ing was terrible (could have been TVR's installation though). It was also a used car so I can't vouch for how the other driver used it but that's still not a lot of mileage.

I'm not knocking the LT77 - it was just never designed to work with the sort of torque a 5.0litre engine put out. The other thing is they are getting more difficult to find and rebuild whereas the T5/Tremec are ten-a-penny both in the UK and the USA (used on V8 mustangs). There are also plenty of upgrades and ratios to choose from. If you are starting from scratch I reckon it's a no-brainer.

[KarlosJackel]

Thank Jamie for your reply...

The RV8 I will be using is a 1989 EFi 3.5Ltr with a slightly uprated cam. So by the sounds of it, a T5 would be ideal. I have (since the start of this year) been looking on Ebay, but have been outbid on quite a few boxes, and living in the south west, a lot of these boxes are in the North, or the Northest of North Ayreshire, Scotland etc. And the money spent on a forth or fifth hand gearbox, or one with unknown history is madness!

The next point is how to mate the box to the engine. Will the shaft fit into the spigot bearing in the crank... And what clutch to use? I guess there are adapters out there for mating the box to the block? Ideas anybody?

Thanks

Karlos

[GreenV8S]

KarlosJackel said:

The RV8 I will be using is a 1989 EFi 3.5Ltr with a slightly uprated cam.

In that case it's unlikely to exceed the torque capabilities of any of the common RV8 gearboxes so go for whatever you find most convenient/cheapest.

[KarlosJackel]

Hello again...

I've now got a Tremec T45... and lovely shiney thing it is too, thanks to a guy called Brian on PistonHeads.com!
Now then... what's next? I guess an adapter plate, but where can I get one without having to make one meself...?
And you mentioned spiggot bearing.. where are these places you mention? are they on t'internet??
Thanks again

KarlosJackel