5 Speed Question

[Grady]

What is the difference between a 5 speed Type N and a Type 9. The more I Google this, the more confused I am, plus a number of links and/or their pictures are dead. Thanks Grady

[RCK974X]

Actually , I think they are the same box, it was commonly called type 'N' when its proper name was Type 9.

[Tasmin200]

Plenty info here:

http://www.type9gearbox.co.uk/index.html

and here:

http://www.burtonpower.com/tuning-guides/tuning-gu...

If you are going from 4 to 5 speed, Littlewooly has just done a conversion

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Hope this helps a bit.

[Grady]

It doesn't seem like a Type 9 and 2.8 combo happened over here but a Type 9 to 2.9 did in various Mekurs. I can't think of why a 2.9 gearbox would be different than a 2.8 (and thus bolt on the 2.8 bell house) but does anyone know differently? Thanks Grady

[RCK974X]

As far as I know.....

The 2.8, 2.9 and 4.0 V6 engines are all 'Cologne' blocks, and have the same bolt pattern, so gearboxes should interchange between engines.
There might be some minor differences with the spigot bush in the crankshaft ? Not sure.

In Europe, the 5 speeder stayed basically the same throughout its life, but got some improvements with the 2.9 engines, because the Type 9 was very hard on its layshaft, especially with the 2.8 engines.
I don't think there were any obvious external differences.

The 4 speed (type E ?) is actually stronger than the Type 9, even though Type E is older box.

[phillpot]

Grady said:

It doesn't seem like a Type 9 and 2.8 combo happened over here

All V6 S Series cars (2.8 and 2.9) use the Type 9

[Grady]

RCK974X said:

As far as I know.....

The 2.8, 2.9 and 4.0 V6 engines are all 'Cologne' blocks, and have the same bolt pattern, so gearboxes There might be some minor differences with the spigot bush in the crankshaft ? Not sure.

I think the 2.9 is not a Cologne block but an Essex block which is just different enough that the bell house wouldn't bolt to the engine block. I'm just trying to confirm that the gearbox to bell house are the same (regardless of block) which I think they are. Thanks all. Grady

Ps. I replaced the failed intake air today and she started up and ran perfectly (w/o a clutch we didn't go anywhere).

[RCK974X]

Grady, I know there is a lot of confusion over names - I do think that the 4.0 is a Cologne, and that at least a few 2.9 Cologne engines went to the states, but I think there was also a Canadian built "Essex" which is totally different to the English one, and so it's hard to know for sure !! I guess the only way is to get pictures...

[bobs280i]

I have the 2.8 v6 series 2 ' it has the 4 speed gear box . But I'm not sure of the model type? Its build year was 1985 so I'm thinking it was one off the first series 2 in the States! Although its registered as an 86 here.

[Grady]

What I've found is Type 9s from the UK at high prices (but rebuilt) Or 2.9 Type 9s here from Mekur breakers. Since I have to drop the mess to re do the "lifetime" clutch, I'm really tempted to swap out the 4 speed at the same time. Thanks to Little Wooly, I'm motivated - as I think it would really help the car on the highway. IT MAY HAPPEN! Hence all the questions. Grady

Ps/ Wanda the Warlock ('78 360 pick-up truck) cleared her inspection (mini-MOT) so the TVR is next in line. Installed new intake rubber and she started/ran great today, need to look at the fans though.

[wooly350i]

Hi Grady, my son ( little wooly) now has the car running with a straight quick shift gear stick as the original with the set was hitting the chassis rail, the only other odd thing he had was the the bush or block that the the stick sits on to had to be turned around its opposite way to be able to get reverse for some reason, how ever it all works and he's happy.

[RCK974X]

Gearboxes.

From the European end, which should cover TVRs as well....as far as I know (so could be wrong)

The 4 speed Tasmin has the gearbox from the English built Essex V6 3 litre, which was put into cars such as the Capri and the Granada. It's a strong box with a nice gearchange. This gearbox was only fitted behind the 3.0 Essex and the 2.8 Cologne as standard. I'm pretty sure this box is called the 'Type E'

The 5 speed Tasmin has the Type 9 (or Type N) which is a gearbox developed from an earlier 4 speed box (I beleive called the Type B), and was fitted to 2.3, 2.8, 2.9 Cologne engines, and also to 4 cylinder 'Pinto' engines (as known in Europe - the OHC engine is 1.6, 2.0, and 2.2 ? - not the USA car).

Not sure what the type B was, but it did appear behind the 2.3 Cortina IV, so would fit the Tasmin too.

The 5 speed box is NOT as strong as the 4 speed, and is hard on its layshaft, later 5 speeders had a modified layshaft bearing arrangement to improve things.

I don't know how this maps to USA vehicles, I think there were Sierra bodyshells (known as Merkurs) but they had a different turbo engine - 2.3 4 cyl ? which I think was Mexican, don't know which gearbox. There were apparently some European Granadas, but they will have been called something else probably.