998 drop gears

[minigreen94]

Just back from a spree at minisport for gearbox bearings and i was told its not possible to put straight cut drops on a 998 engine because of the crank end float is there any way of fitting them without buying a 1275 block? Does anyone make them for a 998? Dont really want to get a 1275 because insurance will be too much

[guru_1071]

s/c drops will fit fine on a 998cc car - all the mini sevens use them!!!

its very hard to find a 998 s/c primary gear though, you either have to hunt around, or buy a 1275 one and bush it down - the old trick used to be to press a 998 bush inside the 1275 one, but the buses are very hard to find nowadays, so its easier to remover the 1275 one and remake a thicker bush yourself

[minigreen94]

Thanks alot, is there not anyone that produces a bush for it, surely it would be a popular market?

[Cooperman]

No, it wouldn't be a popular market because straight cut drops make a horrible and unpleasant noise and are really only meant for very high-powered competition cars. 998 racing cars use them because you can easily vary the overall final drive ratio without taking the diff out for different circuits.
To drive any distance on the road with SC drops requires the wearing of ear plugs and not many people want to do that. It's OK in competition where a helmet is worn. With my rally car I use ear plugs when on road sections or for general driving around.
Believe me, you do not want SC gears in a road car.

[FWDRacer]

Cooperman said:

998 racing cars use them because you can easily vary the overall final drive ratio without taking the diff out for different circuits

Spot On Pete.

Fancy this noise every day of the week?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUmu7lEt9PY

[Cooperman]

FWDRacer said:

Spot On Pete.

Fancy this noise every day of the week?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUmu7lEt9PY

I did 28 rallies in my 115 bhp '64 'S' on tarmac and gravel with no drop gear issues, but on the 29th event the drop gears failed and I changed to straight cut ones at 1:1 ratio. Now I don't know why I did so as the noise really gets on my nerves and having to wear ear plugs even on short road journeys is not ideal.

[minigreen94]

Personally i love the sound! i know you guys know what your talking about but ever since i first wanted a mini, i had this picture in my head of having a whiney gearbox and a lumpy 286 cam

[allgearnoidea]

Everyone associates the whine with performance minis and going faster, which is perhaps why some people like to make the upgrade, bragging rights i suppose. i personally do around 1500 miles a year and enjoy the noise, it may get a little tiresome on an everyday mini, but think id put up with it! Each to their own. Also i find some noiser than others depending on type and setup.

EDIT; repeat word.

Edited by allgearnoidea on Sunday 12th June 18:40

[TheStoat]

I think there are definitely different noise levels from straight cut drop gears. When I test drove my Mini I was pleasantly surprised at how little noise there was from the gearbox. According to the advert my Mini has:

'MED' 4 speed SCCR gearbox with straight cut drop gears

I wouldn't say conversations would be as easy as in a Phaeton perhaps but my brother-in-law's Mini seemed to be much louder. Is it possible someone else on here has the combo of engine and box you're contemplating and can advise on the noise level?

Andy

[Cooperman]

Maybe I'm biased because I suffer badly from Tinnitus (loud ringing/hissing in the ears) and I believe this was caused by years of exposure to loud noises such as angle grinding, SC drop gears in rally Minis, general workshop noise, etc.
All I can say is - you don't want it! It is debilitating and depressing. You never have a 'quiet moment', even in the middle of the night. I wish I had taken better care of my ears when I was younger.
So, if you do have SC drops, do please wear ear plugs on journeys over about 5 miles.