V8 Gearboxes.....common snags?
Discussion
The gearbox on the V8 is absolutely awful, I believe it's a generic thing with the v8 box, but strangely the gearbox on the wedge was fine - maybe it's a different type?
On the S, it's very stiff, but gets better when it warms up, rather like my old M5 used to be, this I quite like as it's pretty direct when you get used to where it has to go, however, 4th gear virtually never stays in. It can be coaxed in, but if accelerating quickly when changing every time, it will pop out, leaving the engine revving it's nuts off and going no-where. Then, with another depressed clutch and shove it crunches in.
I've driven a lot of cars of all sorts of flavour and this is without doubt the nastiest box ever.
Don't get me wrong, I like the car for it's agriculturalness, but I'm leaving 4th out of the equation as it doesnt stay in, and when it does it pops out. There's agricultural, and there is downright awful, this is awful
HP took the box out prior to me owning it, and found nothing wrong, so is there a replacement box that can be used, is the wedge gearbox a different thing entirely? Both my wedges had lovely gearchanges.
And no, before you lot tell me to start writing the for sale sign up, it's going nowhere, but then again, nor am I if I don't sort this damn box out.
On the S, it's very stiff, but gets better when it warms up, rather like my old M5 used to be, this I quite like as it's pretty direct when you get used to where it has to go, however, 4th gear virtually never stays in. It can be coaxed in, but if accelerating quickly when changing every time, it will pop out, leaving the engine revving it's nuts off and going no-where. Then, with another depressed clutch and shove it crunches in.
I've driven a lot of cars of all sorts of flavour and this is without doubt the nastiest box ever.
Don't get me wrong, I like the car for it's agriculturalness, but I'm leaving 4th out of the equation as it doesnt stay in, and when it does it pops out. There's agricultural, and there is downright awful, this is awful
HP took the box out prior to me owning it, and found nothing wrong, so is there a replacement box that can be used, is the wedge gearbox a different thing entirely? Both my wedges had lovely gearchanges.
And no, before you lot tell me to start writing the for sale sign up, it's going nowhere, but then again, nor am I if I don't sort this damn box out.
It's the same LT77 box, and they're fine when they're working properly. Which yours isn't from the sound of it. I would guess that either the selector's faulty and not letting it into 4th properly, or the synchro detent for 4th has failed. Best to talk to Bernie, Ken or whoever your favorite transmission specialist is, and see what they make of it.
HarryW said:
Never had a problem with mine Mike.
I think your poll might be a bit limited, always found it sweet and snickerty............only smometimes when rushing could you get it to bulk on going into 3rd, otherwise perfect, get yours checked out me thinks
I think your poll might be a bit limited, always found it sweet and snickerty............only smometimes when rushing could you get it to bulk on going into 3rd, otherwise perfect, get yours checked out me thinks
I agree with Harry, and in my view baulking when rushing into 3rd is due to not moving through the gate cleanly rather than the synchro baulking. Nine times out of ten I can even select reverse without baulking. Maybe you didn't buy the 'white' V8S after all
ah the gearbox plague .......
when i had the car i overhauled the remote linkage so it's new and pretty tight
the lt77 is the same in the wedges but with the sd1 remote whereas the v8 has the jag remote ( ali not cast like the sherpa van version)
i tried different fluids in the gearbox and settled with tafx no great improvement
i must admit the shift from 3rd to 4th is awful but if you pull it back into fourth and make sure it goes the last little bit it stays in and you do get used to it
i was going to take the box out again over the winter and either fit a r380 (which is a straight swap ) or strip this one down and have another look -
you could fit a borg warner t5 or toyota conversion but i think i'd just take it out in the rainy season and rebuild it / get a specialist to rebuild it - or even buy one of ebay and get it done so you could do a straight swap
get your mate dave the mechanic a few beers and nag him to help you out - you'll need two of you to swap it over in 1 day - i'll come and make helpful suggestions like "you don't want to do it like that" if you like
how are you getting on with the car mike ?
when i had the car i overhauled the remote linkage so it's new and pretty tight
the lt77 is the same in the wedges but with the sd1 remote whereas the v8 has the jag remote ( ali not cast like the sherpa van version)
i tried different fluids in the gearbox and settled with tafx no great improvement
i must admit the shift from 3rd to 4th is awful but if you pull it back into fourth and make sure it goes the last little bit it stays in and you do get used to it
i was going to take the box out again over the winter and either fit a r380 (which is a straight swap ) or strip this one down and have another look -
you could fit a borg warner t5 or toyota conversion but i think i'd just take it out in the rainy season and rebuild it / get a specialist to rebuild it - or even buy one of ebay and get it done so you could do a straight swap
get your mate dave the mechanic a few beers and nag him to help you out - you'll need two of you to swap it over in 1 day - i'll come and make helpful suggestions like "you don't want to do it like that" if you like
how are you getting on with the car mike ?
honourablepickle said:
ah the gearbox plague .......
when i had the car i overhauled the remote linkage so it's new and pretty tight
the lt77 is the same in the wedges but with the sd1 remote whereas the v8 has the jag remote ( ali not cast like the sherpa van version)
i tried different fluids in the gearbox and settled with tafx no great improvement
i must admit the shift from 3rd to 4th is awful but if you pull it back into fourth and make sure it goes the last little bit it stays in and you do get used to it
i was going to take the box out again over the winter and either fit a r380 (which is a straight swap ) or strip this one down and have another look -
you could fit a borg warner t5 or toyota conversion but i think i'd just take it out in the rainy season and rebuild it / get a specialist to rebuild it - or even buy one of ebay and get it done so you could do a straight swap
when i had the car i overhauled the remote linkage so it's new and pretty tight
the lt77 is the same in the wedges but with the sd1 remote whereas the v8 has the jag remote ( ali not cast like the sherpa van version)
i tried different fluids in the gearbox and settled with tafx no great improvement
i must admit the shift from 3rd to 4th is awful but if you pull it back into fourth and make sure it goes the last little bit it stays in and you do get used to it
i was going to take the box out again over the winter and either fit a r380 (which is a straight swap ) or strip this one down and have another look -
you could fit a borg warner t5 or toyota conversion but i think i'd just take it out in the rainy season and rebuild it / get a specialist to rebuild it - or even buy one of ebay and get it done so you could do a straight swap
Think I'll have to sort something sooner rather than later, it's not staying in when pushing it in the last little bit, and it crunches like a bag of quavers when it finally goes in I'll look into replacing it I think. I'm rushed off my feet with all sorts of stuff at the moment so will have to get it done rather than do it myself (or ask Dave) I think.
...R380 what's that then? honourablepickle said:
get your mate dave the mechanic a few beers and nag him to help you out - you'll need two of you to swap it over in 1 day
beer, trouble is, we would end up drinking the beer and looking at the car....Hic, nice car Mike 
honourablepickle said:
- i'll come and make helpful suggestions like "you don't want to do it like that" if you like
I'll let you know, you can join the party...
honourablepickle said:
how are you getting on with the car mike ?
Love the car Richard, well, apart from the gearbox that is, the new suspension is still squeaking like a mad mouse, but its just a case of bedding the new suspension in I think, I've twiddled and squirted it, but I think it needs to settle down a bit. I haven't had the suspension set up properly yet, working mad shifts and two mini me's are taking up all of my time but I'll get round to it. Positive comments about it all round though.
I'll keep you posted mate.
Re the squeaking suspension, was the final tightening done once the wheels had weight on them and bounced a round a bit 
, afaik if its all tigtened up whilst still in the air it will always squeak. Might be worth loosing off a turn bouncing and retightening.
, afaik if its all tigtened up whilst still in the air it will always squeak. Might be worth loosing off a turn bouncing and retightening. Edited by HarryW on Tuesday 22 August 12:41
Absolutely right there Harry, it needs to be tightened after being bed in for a bit whilst on its wheels...I've got to get the fine tuning done ie cambers etc so I'll do it then.
HP set it up virtually spot on, so just tweakery is required with a 4 wheel alignment jobby. Whilst that's being sorted I'll ask them to give the suspension a tweak. Apparently there is a chap not too far away that's very good.
HP set it up virtually spot on, so just tweakery is required with a 4 wheel alignment jobby. Whilst that's being sorted I'll ask them to give the suspension a tweak. Apparently there is a chap not too far away that's very good.
ok now i feel real bad i've sold mike a car where the suspension squeaks and the gearbox starts dying the moment it leaves my garage - ungrateful thing after i poured labour and cash into it - any help you need mike just ask - i know it's no consolation but it took me 6hrs to fix the wedge steering and now the exhaust blows and the headlamp motor has packed up - the joys of old cars
Dont be daft, it's a smasher. I'm more than happy with it and wouldn't swap it for the world.
Squeaks = new suspension.
I like new squeaky things..
Gearbox = what's the worst it could need, pulling off and fettling, hardly a major problem.
Far too many positives with this thing to even dream of there being a negative. The rest of it is marvellous.
Phew 6 hours for the wedge, sounds like you had the bum deal.
Anyway, get yourself over to sunny brizzle for a beer, you can tell me what I have to tighten.
Squeaks = new suspension.
I like new squeaky things.. Gearbox = what's the worst it could need, pulling off and fettling, hardly a major problem.
Far too many positives with this thing to even dream of there being a negative.
The rest of it is marvellous. Phew 6 hours for the wedge, sounds like you had the bum deal.
Anyway, get yourself over to sunny brizzle for a beer, you can tell me what I have to tighten.
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