5 speed or Longer final drive

[AlleyCat]

Hello All,

im not sure wheather to save the pennies and go for a 5 speed box, or just get a longer final drive on my current straight cut one?

my car is supercharged and produces around 140bhp. i dont know much about the 5 speed boxes available, but would obviously want one that could handle the power, get me to 60 nice and quick, but also cruise easily around 70 and maybe a touch more for overtaking

does anyone have experience with this? and can suggest the best box?

thanks for the help.

[anonymous-user]

If I were in your situation I'd stick with the 4 speed. Just seems more 'proper' to me.
Up to you though at the end of the day.

[AlleyCat]

i would normally stick with it, but every now and then when i fancy a long trip. i want to not have to worry about revving the balls off the thing (and might i add get very hot) on trips.

i recently went to watch the Le Mans 24 hour race and took the car down. it got very hot after hours of motorway driving, because its screaming in 4th.

that said its just right for around town and b roads (where its spends most of its time)

[haynes]

Do 5 speed boxes suffer greater power losses?

[TheStoat]

Sounds like a five speed box would address your needs best here? You could keep the fairly short ratios in 1st to 4th for the acceleration but the additional 5th speed would just drop the revs that bit more for the motorway jaunts? I'm not talking about having a massive jump from 4th to 5th but surely the additional gear would be an improvement on your current 4th gear cruising experience? I'm not sure where you are based but it might be worth speaking to the guys at MiniSpeed. They're fairly experienced with Minis and customisations and I have a relative who used to work there so I know they have a good reputation

As it happens I bought my Mini elsewhere already supplied with an MED Engineering engine and gearbox. I'm more than pleased with the car and MED seem well regarded. They state on their website that they are happy to talk about custom requirements so it might be worth giving them a call to chat gearboxes? They should be able to tell you if there's an off the shelf option for you or quote to knock up something that's going to cope with 140 hp...

[AlleyCat]

yeah, i was looking at the Minispares 5 spd box, im going to ring them up and have a chat about it.

thanks for the replies!

[FWDRacer]

AlleyCat said:

yeah, i was looking at the Minispares 5 spd box, im going to ring them up and have a chat about it.

thanks for the replies!

It'll need to be straight cut with the claimed power figures. A Minispares 5-speed helical box won't last very long at all!

[AlleyCat]

yeah i haven't got round to ringing them yet, but on their website they seem to do a straight cut 5 speed version.