Gearbox is mush

[ChilliS]

Hi chaps. Still very much new to the S (I'm the VX guy (Lotus wanna be) ...................

Lots of noise from the front and intermittent levels of drive has been diagnosed by my local garage as gearbox bearings. Given I'm a one Haynes spanner mechanic kinda guy, that means souring someone to do the work.Would welcome your thoughts, recommendations, prayers.

Option 1 - Garage said they can source replacement recon box, plus new clutch circa £1k ish fitted (approx as they don't know how long it'll take)
Option 2 - Garage will repair old one - they're not transmissions specialists but have done a 'few gearboxes over the years'. Old school mechanic v old school gearbox, they seem confident they can do it (circa £1k again)
Option 3 - Find a specialist for the refurb (but not all, if any, do the drop/refit).

I'm not in a rush for the car to be fixed (so long as I have it for S Tour Scotland trip). Has anyone had this issue before and what are the pitfalls. As I see it;
Option 1 - I've read that a T9 box was slightly modified in some way on the S, so sourcing a T9 doesn't mean it'll defo be a straight swap
Option 2 - The garage are old school and trusted but don't know TVR's at all.
Option 3 - Ideally I want someone who'll take the box out, refurb and refit.

All suggestions gratefully received. Live in Peterborough, Cambs but happy to travel to the right 'gearbox angel' if the car will make it ....Simon :-)

[phillpot]

ChilliS said:

Lots of noise from the front and intermittent levels of drive has been diagnosed by my local garage as gearbox bearings.

"intermittent levels of drive" sounds ominous, bearings unless absolutely totally shot should just be noisy?


Not wishing to doubt their diagnosis (they have the advantage of having seen the car) but could it just be a clutch issue?

In the seven or eight years I've been on this S Forum I can't recall another "Knackered Gearbox post", they are generally tough old things


There are several variants of the Type 9, yours reconditioned, if it is the issue, would be a good option. Not used these guys myself but heard good things......... GearTech

Finally, getting the gearbox out of an S (and back in) is a bit of a black art !

[Buzzlt]

Hi Simon

Surprised you can hear anything over that exhaust (it's the best one I've heard)!

Can't really help I'm afraid except to add that it's also probably a perfect opportunity to get the prop shaft serviced/ overhauled.

Good luck and see you in Scotland

Cheers Greg

[ChilliS]

Hi Phillpott thanks for the heads up. After 12,000 + posts I'll take heed... the intermittent drive is more a 10-20% loss for a few seconds then back, then off again..... I hear the noise regardless of whether I press the clutch in or out.. They did rule out clutch ... Si.

[TVRees]

It's a good idea to get the gearbox repaired and refurbished. The box is a standard Ford T9 model which was fitted to many cars. The TVR mod was on the outside to bring the position of the gear knob forward.

[HvdWeerden]

I have a spare gearbox in my red S3, it's in Holland but could be an option. has done +/- 40.000 miles

[GreenV8S]

ChilliS said:

the intermittent drive is more a 10-20% loss for a few seconds then back, then off again.....

If the gearbox is causing noise or vibration it will need fixing, but I don't see how it would absorb 10-20% power (on top of the normal friction losses) for even a fraction of a second without an immediate catastrophic failure. A slipping clutch or engine management problem seems like a more likely cause for a temporary power reduction.

[yknot]

I would get a second opinion before committing to a gearbox rebuild/replacement as the symptoms and diagnosis seem a bit odd to me?

Maybe one of the knowledgeable members on here may not be too far away and willing to have a look/listen??

[GreenV8S]

If you do go for a rebuild, I'd suggest getting your current unit rebuilt by a transmission specialist rather than fitting an exchange unit. This way you can be certain you get back exactly the gearbox variant that you need. This isn't like a mass produced car where you can just give a make and model and expect everyone to know exactly what you need.

[yknot]

''Lots of noise from the front and intermittent levels of drive ..............................''

Can you hear this noise 'from the front' when the car is stationary and gearbox in neutral? Any difference when you depress the clutch? With the bonnet up and engine running does it still sound 'from the front' (ie. near the front of the engine) or does it sound noisy at the back of the engine?

Does the loss of power 'feel' like the brakes are being applied or does it appear as if the engine has died? When you lose drive does the engine rev??

It's just possible you have 2 unrelated issues, of course!?

[ChilliS]

Thanks yknot, I'll take the car out tomorrow afternoon and post a more useful summary of symptoms... thanks to everyone who's replied so far - if it is the gearbox then as you said Greenv8s I'm certainly leaning towards a repair rather than replace... I'll add more to this post tomorrow mid afternoon. Thanks guys...

[Scoobimax]

Hi Simon,

I had my gearbox stripped and refurbed last year about 6 weeks before I sold it - it was making a funny noise in first beforehand. Had the work done up near Huddersfield they collected and returned for about £360ish as far as I recall. Came back great and replaced the clutch and prop shaft UJ's at the same time. Drove great afterwards, just wished I had it long enough afterwards and done last year's EuroTour in it.

Give me a buzz if you want contact details to see if they'd pick yours up.

Max

Edited by Scoobimax on Friday 14th April 20:28

[Alan 1209]

There's some interesting stuff here,
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Do you know if the clutch was re-newed before you got the car? I think the 2.8 flywheel was pretty standard on the S so that the gearbox fits ok. The 2.9 used an MT75 gearbox, but TVR stuck with the ford type 9.
As for getting the gearbox out, If ( and its a big if) you can get the propshaft out, then you can get the gearbox out without moving the engine, otherwise its exhaust manifolds off, rad pipes out and move the whole cologne lump up and forward.

[phillpot]

Alan 1209 said:

As for getting the gearbox out, If ( and its a big if) you can get the propshaft out, then you can get the gearbox out without moving the engine, otherwise its exhaust manifolds off, rad pipes out and move the whole cologne lump up and forward.

Prop comes out easy enough if you drop the front of the diff.

Left hand rocker cover off and dizzy cap off (dizzy right out even better) and engine will lean back far enough to drop the box.


Going back in is a fiddle, helps if you cut a bit off of the webs on the tailhousing........... bit of searching will find old posts?pictures

[ChilliS]

Hi guys, I've taken it for a short run up the motorway playing around with speed and revs... the intermittent drive is a red herring (think I eased off the accelerator before with the noise).....
Soooo...
1. At up to 3.5k revs and motorway speed no issue, IT cruises ok and I can't hear any noise (but saying that the engine, exhaust etc may drown the gearbox) - but as soon as I drop a gear and exceed 4K revs there is a hell of a lot of rattles and vibration in the car and a loud rattle noise from the centre of the car/bulkhead area.
2. At standstill there is a very different continual groan noise with the clutch pedal is out and disappears when in...
3. On start up no other noises, but as you pull away there is a rattle from around the transmission tunnel but only once the engine is warm and regardless of whether in gear, out of gear or stationary/moving... the rattle reminds me of a loose heat shield I had in another car - that thin metal rattle.

I've been through the wad of receipts and castle Tvr fitted a recon gearbox @ 9912 miles in 2004 and I've only got 39k on the clock now.

Hope this helps... assuming it is gearbox as the garage said then recommendations welcome. Obviously the clutch will be replaced at the same time and I'll look at the prop too.

Thanks guys. Simon.

[Kitchski]

The inspection covers on the top of the type 9 boxes used to leak a bit, worth checking it hasn't run low on oil. Box will still be screwed, but it'd answer the question.

There are a couple of type 9 variants, but the relevant bit is that it's a V6 version, as the input shift was longer on those. I'd agree with everyone else and get your current one overhauled though. Lawfield Engineering is where I send all our bits for refurb.

Renew the gearbox mount while you're at it.

[Alan Whitaker]

Have you looked at the prop and gearbox mountings yet, might be worth a look first

[yknot]

From your new description of the problem, I would bet it is more likely that the clutch release fork and/or bearing is the issue.

Someone will be along shortly who has more knowledge having taken a 'box out to repair/replace these but in the meantime, have a look at this page that gives a detailed step-by-step guide, with pictures!!

http://www.gbsportscar.com/gearbox%20removal.htm

[mk1fan]

IF, I repeat, IF the gearbox needs rebuilding can I recommend getting it modded to bring the gear lever linkage forward.

Philpot has done a thread on it. You can buy them already done.

Removes the TVR linkage which is why there is such long throw.

[Top Gear TVR]

Sounds odd. It if you need a box refurbed (once removed) I can recommend these guys. They did mine and it came back like a Swiss watch http://www.jrd-norwich.co.uk/