mgb straight cut gear set
Discussion
Hi,
just seen this on carandclassic http://carandclassic.co.uk/car/C77104 I am perhaps interested for the gear set only at around 500£ , do you know this product, reliable etc??? Other gear set for sale on moss or brown and gamon, but the price !!
alternatively do you know a good close ratio gearbox for sale?
Thanks
Chris
just seen this on carandclassic http://carandclassic.co.uk/car/C77104 I am perhaps interested for the gear set only at around 500£ , do you know this product, reliable etc??? Other gear set for sale on moss or brown and gamon, but the price !!
alternatively do you know a good close ratio gearbox for sale?
Thanks
Chris
These sets are being made because historic racing rules changed recently so that later gearbox conversions cannot be used. The straight cut gears advertised really are for racing only, unless you wish to be deafened by the noise they make. The original pattern close ratio gear set for racing were not straight cut, nor dog selected. An original 3-synchro box fitted with a close-ratio set is worth a small fortune now.
The original pattern close ratio gear set is, however, well worth fitting to the MGA or MGB - it raises first, and second ratios a fair amount and third a little, which gives an ideal spacing between the 4 gears to keep the emgine singing in the power band, without having that awful long gap when accelerating (and the pause before the power comes back) between second and third with the original road ratios. Only penalty is a relatively long first gear and if running the 3-synchro box, the need to learn to double declutch from second to first (or just engage first only when stationary).
I know this because I converted my MGA to run with an early MGB 3-synchro overdrive gearbox fitted with a close ratio gear set mated up to the original MGA engine; I did that because I track the car and use it for long journeys and wanted the close ratio set and the overdrive to give me both of those things - and I wanted to do it with something in keeping with the car rather than a modern 5-speed conversion. It is a real delight to drive and beats the original box hands down. I was, however, fortunate in finding a fully rebuilt box already fitted with the close ratio gears in perfect condition on ebay for £300 a couple of years ago!
I suspect that the price being quoted is for the mainshaft and gears only, so add more to that for the box itself etc. Bottom line is that, unless you are lucky as I was, if you don't need the tag to go historic racing, and are looking at a conversion for road use, then consider a 5-speed conversion.
MG Mark
The original pattern close ratio gear set is, however, well worth fitting to the MGA or MGB - it raises first, and second ratios a fair amount and third a little, which gives an ideal spacing between the 4 gears to keep the emgine singing in the power band, without having that awful long gap when accelerating (and the pause before the power comes back) between second and third with the original road ratios. Only penalty is a relatively long first gear and if running the 3-synchro box, the need to learn to double declutch from second to first (or just engage first only when stationary).
I know this because I converted my MGA to run with an early MGB 3-synchro overdrive gearbox fitted with a close ratio gear set mated up to the original MGA engine; I did that because I track the car and use it for long journeys and wanted the close ratio set and the overdrive to give me both of those things - and I wanted to do it with something in keeping with the car rather than a modern 5-speed conversion. It is a real delight to drive and beats the original box hands down. I was, however, fortunate in finding a fully rebuilt box already fitted with the close ratio gears in perfect condition on ebay for £300 a couple of years ago!
I suspect that the price being quoted is for the mainshaft and gears only, so add more to that for the box itself etc. Bottom line is that, unless you are lucky as I was, if you don't need the tag to go historic racing, and are looking at a conversion for road use, then consider a 5-speed conversion.
MG Mark
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