Quaife six speed sequential gearbox
Discussion
No one has worked out a linkage for the Quaife box for an Esprit for street use that I know of. There is only 1 Esprit with a 6 speed box that I even know of for the street. It was a box left over at LUSA that was sold to someone on the list.
Calvin
>> Edited by cnh1990 on Tuesday 20th May 15:04
Calvin
>> Edited by cnh1990 on Tuesday 20th May 15:04
Ok, having owned an 83 turbo I am hopeful that my 94 S4 has a smoother operating gearbox. I understand that some people have had no problems with the stock trans, but it seems the marority of people have. I understand the issues with the Quaife gearbox, so what about any other alternatives such as the ZF? Being that this one is used in so many high output setups, it seems it would be a viable choice if it can actually be fitted. Anyone have any info on the ZF in an Esprit? Or any transmissions other than the Quaife?
John
94 S4
John
94 S4
The Quaife and the 6 speed Renault box are for 89 and later cars. From what I understand there was not enought room in Renault box to fit a syncro for the 6th gear. This particular box was from one of the race cars and is now in a street car in the USA. I seem to recall it came from Lotus USA in Atlanta as they cleared out the warehouse. It is the only 6 speed on the street that I know of.
Calvin
Calvin
dictys said: In quaife's latest 2003 catalog they have a picture of the V8 that they say is fitted with their six speed sequential gearbox, so they must have done the linkage.
Quaife have a v8 demonstrator, so yes, there is a linkeage for this box. However, it is only a sequential shift, which is fine for the track but very clunky and unwieldy for street use. The linkage that does not exist is the H pattern shift. Quaife actually have a newer transmission than the one in their demonstrator. It was lauched at the autosport show in the uk earlier this year. Its more compact, stronger and ligher but no more money. Its unfortunately ONLY available with a sequential shift.
I have heard of one other esprit only with a quaife box, that was actually a G car (major work to fit) i have some pics somewhere. That's a guy in ca.
The "ferrarichat" guy is Billy Z. He has a black sport350 with a renault box with six speeds. This was put together by a small company in france. This box was built for the esprit race cars but never used (they used a hewland istead) - he bought it unused off LCUSA. There is no room in an esprit tranny case for any thicker/stronger gears if you leave the syncros in. The company that made this box are still in business and will make you a non-synchro box with stronger gears if you want, but you cant have both. I think billy's box does have synchro on 1, 2 3 and 4 but loses the syncro on 5th and 6th gears. The 1-4 gears are unchanged from factory spec (ie no stronger).
The basis for Billy's box is actually from a Renault 5 "tour de corse" rally car. Not sure how this would compare with a stock UN casing box like we have.. You won't find any spare tour de course boxes - that car has been out of production for probably 20 years now.
Hope that helps.
Rob.
rob.e said:
However, it is only a sequential shift, which is fine for the track but very clunky and unwieldy for street use.
Is this true even if its helical cut (road) rather than straight cut (race) or are your comments based on the fact that most sequential boxes tend to be difficult to use smoothly until you get the hang of them?
Billy bought his box from me. I bought it from Lotus where it was used in one race car before being rebuilt as new. I told Lotus I would sell it and they brokered the deal.
Colin in Seattle has a V8 Esprit with the 6 speed sequential box installed. He loves it. When I spoke with him I understood him to say that Fordall Motorsports did the install but I could be wrong.
Roy
pic www.driverlabs.com/photos.htm
Colin in Seattle has a V8 Esprit with the 6 speed sequential box installed. He loves it. When I spoke with him I understood him to say that Fordall Motorsports did the install but I could be wrong.
Roy
pic www.driverlabs.com/photos.htm
...just my thoughts, but I really do wish there was a simple (relatively) and cheaper (relatively) alternative - just a better replacemnet box for the 4 cylinder models as well (like my GT3) - something stronger, that made changes easier - and more enjoyable! - and didn't cost the earth.
I'm still looking and if I ever find something, I'll those interested know!
Cheers,
Doors.
p.s. would love a 6 speed sequential (for the road, though) - but will never be able to afford one!
I'm still looking and if I ever find something, I'll those interested know!
Cheers,
Doors.
p.s. would love a 6 speed sequential (for the road, though) - but will never be able to afford one!
dictys said:
Is this true even if its helical cut (road) rather than straight cut (race) or are your comments based on the fact that most sequential boxes tend to be difficult to use smoothly until you get the hang of them?
My comments are based on discussions with guys who've driven esprits with this quaife box...
Don't think that because its a sequential its going to be like the F1 box on a ferrari 360.. that has a clutch that is actuated automatically and a bunch of software that matches the revs on up and down shifts. The esprit fitted with a quaife would have none of that. For a road car helical gears are much better than straight cut. The guy i spoke to with the quaife in his G car HAS the helical gears.
Rob
Very interesting reading. But why do you people want 6 gears in the box ?? You wont gain any extra power, al you will do is strengthen your leg muscle pushing the clutch to change gears more often, and because of that, loose that drag race because you drop off power every time you change. The torque provided by the Lotus engines well covers for differences in ratio spacings.
Unless you can convince me otherwise, it only sounds good to say you have 6 speeds. You would be better spending your money on brakes or more power.
Unless you can convince me otherwise, it only sounds good to say you have 6 speeds. You would be better spending your money on brakes or more power.
Very interesting reading. But why do you people want 6 gears in the box ?? You wont gain any extra power, al you will do is strengthen your leg muscle pushing the clutch to change gears more often, and because of that, loose that drag race because you drop off power every time you change. The torque provided by the Lotus engines well covers for differences in ratio spacings.
Unless you can convince me otherwise, it only sounds good to say you have 6 speeds. You would be better spending your money on brakes or more power.
I, for one, would like a sixth gear with a greater overdrive ratio so that my RPMs would be much lower while cruising Interstates on long trips.
The ratio used in the Esprit's 5th gear means that 70-80MPH occurs right around 2700-3200RPM. This is exactly where the turbocharger's boost is cutting in and out. Also, such high RPMs at cruising speed can get kind of droning after a while. A sixth gear that would allow for 1800RPM at those speeds would be more comfortable and even more economical on fuel consumption.
Cheers,
Karl-Franz :-)
www.espritfactfile.com
Doors said: ...just my thoughts, but I really do wish there was a simple (relatively) and cheaper (relatively) alternative - just a better replacemnet box for the 4 cylinder models as well (like my GT3) - something stronger, that made changes easier - and more enjoyable! - and didn't cost the earth.
I'm still looking and if I ever find something, I'll those interested know!
Cheers,
Doors.
p.s. would love a 6 speed sequential (for the road, though) - but will never be able to afford one!
My friend/mechanic Mike is in the process of assemlbing and testing a 6 speed gear kit on his SE that keeps the Renault case and linkage but replaces the gears, shafts and bearings to handle more HP. I'm interested to see the results as I've had to replace synchros amd 2nd gear on my box already. I'm not sure how it will drive as it's dog enganement as opposed to synchros.
Seems like nothing is cheap when it comes to transmission parts. If given the option of a Quaife 6 speed box or a new Mini, hmmm, I think I know what I'd do.
michael.
1995 S4
PS. Some details on Mike's website. www.michaelsmotorsports.com/6speedconversion.htm
Muck Savage said:
My friend/mechanic Mike is in the process of assemlbing and testing a 6 speed gear kit on his SE that keeps the Renault case and linkage but replaces the gears, shafts and bearings to handle more HP. I'm interested to see the results as I've had to replace synchros amd 2nd gear on my box already. I'm not sure how it will drive as it's dog enganement as opposed to synchros.
Seems like nothing is cheap when it comes to transmission parts. If given the option of a Quaife 6 speed box or a new Mini, hmmm, I think I know what I'd do.
michael.
1995 S4
PS. Some details on Mike's website. www.michaelsmotorsports.com/6speedconversion.htm
Again tho, it seems to be more of a race app than anything roadable...you'll still need to double clutch everywhere you drive. Pain in the butt for a road car.
Mike
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