Discussion
There's a long thread here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Otherwise, look up the Ultima Stickies on the front page of the forum
Enjoy the reading
Otherwise, look up the Ultima Stickies on the front page of the forum
Enjoy the reading
Edited by UltimaCH on Thursday 5th August 20:31
my feelings for what its worth...
G50 is a little stronger but agricultural, it usually runs on rods but can run on cables no problem. The G50 is easier to improve with final drives and ratios. Loads of different specs to choose from ie 6 speed, 5 speed long nose, short nose. Cheaper to run with a LS because of clutches and adaptors.
Trag is a nice changing box, i think it feels more modern, the ratios do not suit a big torquey V8 and it is not as strong it struggles with torque. Runs on cables. A little lighter than the 50. Better versions of the Trag are available but expensive
The trag will be cheaper to buy but if you plan to use a high powered LS i would stick to the 50, try and find a G50 20 or a 50/52
G50 is a little stronger but agricultural, it usually runs on rods but can run on cables no problem. The G50 is easier to improve with final drives and ratios. Loads of different specs to choose from ie 6 speed, 5 speed long nose, short nose. Cheaper to run with a LS because of clutches and adaptors.
Trag is a nice changing box, i think it feels more modern, the ratios do not suit a big torquey V8 and it is not as strong it struggles with torque. Runs on cables. A little lighter than the 50. Better versions of the Trag are available but expensive
The trag will be cheaper to buy but if you plan to use a high powered LS i would stick to the 50, try and find a G50 20 or a 50/52
I have read the original thread and asked many genuinely knowledgeable people all of whom have given me different answers, recommending different set ups.
My standard LS2 will generate about 400BHP which will be enough to start with for an easy to drive point and squirt car. The car will be built as a road car with tart's handbag interior and be as productionised as I can make it on a sensible budget. Soooooo ..... what I am after is a centre change (hopefully mounted a little higher like a GT2 and the smoothest, most tractable "road" drive possible.
I have been told G50s are very strong but clunky and can be rebuilt and Getrag 6 speeds are prone to failure, very difficult to rebuild and have too low ratios ..... AM VERY CONFUSED
I would like 80MPH to be just over 2000 rpm like a production car and the ratios reasonably spaced albeit a drop between 5 and 6 would be ok as it would be effectively a cruising overdrive.
Stig, you said you have had both and would recommend Getrag ..... very valuable advice but why ? What were the real world, real driving differences please ?
Does anyone have an LS2 car with Getrag or G50 that if I bought lunch they could take me for a spin in to let me get a feel for the difference in operation of the boxes please ??????
Cheers
Andy
My standard LS2 will generate about 400BHP which will be enough to start with for an easy to drive point and squirt car. The car will be built as a road car with tart's handbag interior and be as productionised as I can make it on a sensible budget. Soooooo ..... what I am after is a centre change (hopefully mounted a little higher like a GT2 and the smoothest, most tractable "road" drive possible.
I have been told G50s are very strong but clunky and can be rebuilt and Getrag 6 speeds are prone to failure, very difficult to rebuild and have too low ratios ..... AM VERY CONFUSED

I would like 80MPH to be just over 2000 rpm like a production car and the ratios reasonably spaced albeit a drop between 5 and 6 would be ok as it would be effectively a cruising overdrive.
Stig, you said you have had both and would recommend Getrag ..... very valuable advice but why ? What were the real world, real driving differences please ?
Does anyone have an LS2 car with Getrag or G50 that if I bought lunch they could take me for a spin in to let me get a feel for the difference in operation of the boxes please ??????
Cheers
Andy
the getrags have a much nicer geachange as they are cable shift rather than rod, the std 996 getrag is what more refer to and this is hard to have rebuilt but it is possible, its very very expensive to get different ratios tho and they are a little short as std.
Not sure what car you drive for it to do 80mph at 2000rpm certainly no porsche does, so must be a corvette or dodge viper? anyhow to get this type of gearing you need the G50 or the GT getrags (basically getrags with G50 internals so you get the cable change with the better ratios)... I'm using this type of Getrag for exactly these reasons.
Ive driven Grahams can and he has a 'normal' 996 Getrag & stock LS3 and it was awsome, gearchange was sweet, clutch smooth and fairly light and the engine was fantastic, I loved it and its by far the best Ultima I have driven because of the engine/box combo.
Not sure what car you drive for it to do 80mph at 2000rpm certainly no porsche does, so must be a corvette or dodge viper? anyhow to get this type of gearing you need the G50 or the GT getrags (basically getrags with G50 internals so you get the cable change with the better ratios)... I'm using this type of Getrag for exactly these reasons.
Ive driven Grahams can and he has a 'normal' 996 Getrag & stock LS3 and it was awsome, gearchange was sweet, clutch smooth and fairly light and the engine was fantastic, I loved it and its by far the best Ultima I have driven because of the engine/box combo.
Edited by andygtt on Monday 9th August 16:59
That's really helpful thank you - so to reiterate to be clear (yes I am a little slow and very confused) .... The car you said drives really well has an LS3 which is broadly similar to my LS2, and is running a "standard" Getrag ? So mine would drive in a very similar fashion ? You say the ratios are short, in "real world" driving was this a problem ?
This supports what Stig, Kyle and Steve Austin have said so I guess that's good enough for me
Would be great to actually go out in a car with this setup - I already have the engine so will not be changing, it is definitely LS2 and it seems Getrag is the way to go ?
The 2000 rpm at 80 was an arbitrary number designed to really say "long legged" for motorways. The two recent cars I had were a DMS mapped 535d M-Sport and a Porsche Cayenne Turbo, both of which were very lazy and low revving in top at motorway speeds, I like that kind of drive.
This supports what Stig, Kyle and Steve Austin have said so I guess that's good enough for me

Would be great to actually go out in a car with this setup - I already have the engine so will not be changing, it is definitely LS2 and it seems Getrag is the way to go ?
The 2000 rpm at 80 was an arbitrary number designed to really say "long legged" for motorways. The two recent cars I had were a DMS mapped 535d M-Sport and a Porsche Cayenne Turbo, both of which were very lazy and low revving in top at motorway speeds, I like that kind of drive.
Edited by BigBlue on Monday 9th August 19:55
Hi, I've got the LS3 with the Getrag '996' box which Andy has driven. I had the box rebuilt by GBox in the States a couple of years ago as they were the only company to take on the rebuild, this was due to 2nd gear failing. I did ask about another C&P to lower the final drive, was quoted around $2900 for parts only.
I have found that 1st gear is only good for getting rolling, any serious take offs then 2nd gear is a must. At 70mph I'm at about 3000 revs!! (got used to it now)
Maybe higher profile tyres to lower the overall gearing might be an idea, not too sure if there'd fit in though.......
I have found that 1st gear is only good for getting rolling, any serious take offs then 2nd gear is a must. At 70mph I'm at about 3000 revs!! (got used to it now)
Maybe higher profile tyres to lower the overall gearing might be an idea, not too sure if there'd fit in though.......
Yep its Grahams car im refering to... its not the fastest ultima ive driven by a long shot but its by far the best and if your only looking for a road going car with around 400-450bhp then id say you wont beat it. Oh and id say the ratios were perfectly ok for his stock LS3...
so to recap, LS3 and std getrag is perfect combination in an Ultima IMHO
so to recap, LS3 and std getrag is perfect combination in an Ultima IMHO

WOW ..... 3000 rpm is pretty high at 70 and if first gear is not so useful .....
Are all 996 Getrags created equally or do some have different crown wheel and pinion to change the final drive ? I understand the G50 comes in different variants and with different C&P size ....... what about the Getrags ?
Are all 996 Getrags created equally or do some have different crown wheel and pinion to change the final drive ? I understand the G50 comes in different variants and with different C&P size ....... what about the Getrags ?
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