Metric S3 Duratec R400 and Sadev/Quaife sequential?
Discussion
Hi, my friends across the pond,
I'm contemplating putting a sequential in my R400. The Quaife has a huge installed base and a dealer in Texas but is large, may require chassis and/or drive shaft mods, and needs to have the shift lever modified for a flat shift system. The Sadev is newer, slimmer, lots of people seem to like it, and can have a real position sensor fitted.
I'm wondering if anybody here has installed a Sadev in a metric Duratec car.
Any issues? Slots right in? Does that large "turret" fit through the opening in the console? Any pics??? ;-)
Anything else that needs to change to make it work?
Same also applies to the Quaife. I haven't made up my mind between the two...
The Seven community over here is rather sparse and it's hard to find anybody with experience in this...
Pic of what it'll go into below... ;-)
I'm contemplating putting a sequential in my R400. The Quaife has a huge installed base and a dealer in Texas but is large, may require chassis and/or drive shaft mods, and needs to have the shift lever modified for a flat shift system. The Sadev is newer, slimmer, lots of people seem to like it, and can have a real position sensor fitted.
I'm wondering if anybody here has installed a Sadev in a metric Duratec car.
Any issues? Slots right in? Does that large "turret" fit through the opening in the console? Any pics??? ;-)
Anything else that needs to change to make it work?
Same also applies to the Quaife. I haven't made up my mind between the two...
The Seven community over here is rather sparse and it's hard to find anybody with experience in this...
Pic of what it'll go into below... ;-)
JJ - I believe Karl in New Jersey has a Sadev sequential in his metric chassis Caterham (which, curiously, is also orange and also started out as a R400, though he now has a Cosworth engine with somewhere around 300 hp). You can look him up on USA7s as blubarisax.
edit - see this thread: http://usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5910
edit - see this thread: http://usa7s.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5910
Edited by BBL-Sean on Thursday 2nd May 03:09
Sean, thanks a lot for the link to that thread. First pic I actually saw of a Sadev in a Seven. I does look like it sits rather low, so the "turret" shouldn't be an issue.
Randy Chase is starting to import the boxes. He's working up a quote for me at the moment.... They are currently working on a R500 with a Sadev and paddle shift system.
Randy Chase is starting to import the boxes. He's working up a quote for me at the moment.... They are currently working on a R500 with a Sadev and paddle shift system.
The Sadev is a much better box than the Quaife.
I have been using mine and the road and track for 2 years now without any issues and it copes with the power (300bhp) without complaint.
Mine is fitted in an imperial chassis and all i had to do is grind a couple of mm of the nose of the input shaft and install rubber machine mounting blocks under the tail mount. It even lines up perfectly with Caterham's sequential gearbox tunnel trim too.
The only other thing that was added after getting advice from Sadev was a gearbox temperature gauge, just use an adapter in the cooling take off at the bottom of the box. High temperature is the enemy and it pays to keep an eye on it, mine has always been very stable.
I have been using mine and the road and track for 2 years now without any issues and it copes with the power (300bhp) without complaint.
Mine is fitted in an imperial chassis and all i had to do is grind a couple of mm of the nose of the input shaft and install rubber machine mounting blocks under the tail mount. It even lines up perfectly with Caterham's sequential gearbox tunnel trim too.
The only other thing that was added after getting advice from Sadev was a gearbox temperature gauge, just use an adapter in the cooling take off at the bottom of the box. High temperature is the enemy and it pays to keep an eye on it, mine has always been very stable.
MadHatter, thanks a lot for the reply!
The Sadev does seem to be the way to go. Simon of Meteor Motorsports is being super helpful in putting all the kit together! (and I may get some new dampers at the same time ;-)
Glad to hear you didn't have any real issues. It seems they now have a Caterham specific input shaft, so hopefully I won't have to grind it down...
Curious about the machine mounting blocks. Did you just get some rubber and "hack" it to size? Is that to bridge the gap to the transmission mount that's bolted across the bottom of the tunnel? Whatever the T-9 uses doesn't work? (I haven't had the tranny out, ever...)
Thanks a lot in advance.
Best,
JJ
The Sadev does seem to be the way to go. Simon of Meteor Motorsports is being super helpful in putting all the kit together! (and I may get some new dampers at the same time ;-)
Glad to hear you didn't have any real issues. It seems they now have a Caterham specific input shaft, so hopefully I won't have to grind it down...
Curious about the machine mounting blocks. Did you just get some rubber and "hack" it to size? Is that to bridge the gap to the transmission mount that's bolted across the bottom of the tunnel? Whatever the T-9 uses doesn't work? (I haven't had the tranny out, ever...)
Thanks a lot in advance.
Best,
JJ
philmorton said:
Question for MadHatter7 I guess. What's the noise level like on the road? There are loads of stories about how the sequential boxes are just too loud for road use.
It is not quiet, but i am informed it is much quieter than some of the other dog boxes out there. But then it's hard to tell as my diff bracing is hard mounted and adds to the sound level too.You would need some form of ear protection for anything over 20 miles. But then if you are aero screened the wind roar is the main damaging factor.
5th has an intoxicating whirr when gently easing through the mid range.
It just makes up for it when getting a shift on round the back doubles or on track, it just makes every blat an experience that just makes you grin like a fool.
It is not for the tourists that want to take the wife on a gentle tour of the Alps.
This box is for the committed petrol head who wants to get the most from their 7
And every now and then i have to give myself a talking to
and remind myself i am on a public road and not trying to set the fastest lap at Le Mans 
If you want the Ultimate 7 and have the engine to match the Sadev has to be top of the list
My choice was made after a chat with Russell Savoury at R S Performance, he won't use a gearbox from any other manufacturer now, and if the Sadev can cope with the supercharged V8's in the Levante 7's with no issues it must be good.
TeflonTurd said:
Carl, What experience do you have of the Quaife and are you referring to the 60G or 26Z type?
Hi Arnie, in a word no.I am sure you were more than happy with your Quaife in K2 RUM
But, i was informed that the 26Z was not man enough for the job with my engine.
The customer service at the local Quaife service agent was non existent
. They also messed me around for ages.The Sadev also came with the closed loop system and gear display, the internals are built like a brick outhouse too.
At the time there had been a few issues with the 60G and some of the factory cars which did not inspire confidence.
The fact that Caterham have started using the Sadev indicates i probably made the right choice at the end of the day.
All i need now is a MK2 Escort to swap the engine and gearbox into for the winter months
Hmm, My Quaife had closed loop flat shift, (it all comes from Geartronics) and I put plenty of load on the box. 15k hard driven miles with flat upshifts and clutchless downshifts between rebuilds....
I'm not saying the Sadev is not a good box, I'm just saying the Quaife is not bad either.
Caterham's decision, like everything they do, was about volume price I'm sure.
I'm not saying the Sadev is not a good box, I'm just saying the Quaife is not bad either.
Caterham's decision, like everything they do, was about volume price I'm sure.
MadHatter7 said:
Hi Arnie, in a word no.
I am sure you were more than happy with your Quaife in K2 RUM
But, i was informed that the 26Z was not man enough for the job with my engine.
The customer service at the local Quaife service agent was non existent. They also messed me around for ages.
The Sadev also came with the closed loop system and gear display, the internals are built like a brick outhouse too.
At the time there had been a few issues with the 60G and some of the factory cars which did not inspire confidence.
The fact that Caterham have started using the Sadev indicates i probably made the right choice at the end of the day.
All i need now is a MK2 Escort to swap the engine and gearbox into for the winter months
You want a Tractive for the mk2. Oh, adn a Millington. I am sure you were more than happy with your Quaife in K2 RUM
But, i was informed that the 26Z was not man enough for the job with my engine.
The customer service at the local Quaife service agent was non existent
. They also messed me around for ages.The Sadev also came with the closed loop system and gear display, the internals are built like a brick outhouse too.
At the time there had been a few issues with the 60G and some of the factory cars which did not inspire confidence.
The fact that Caterham have started using the Sadev indicates i probably made the right choice at the end of the day.
All i need now is a MK2 Escort to swap the engine and gearbox into for the winter months
Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff