6 Speed box

[debaron]

Hi all

What's the current consensus on 6 speed on the Rover V8? I've broken the T5 with the all the grunt from the roller cam and doing a lot of cruising on the continent, an extra gear and stronger box would make a big difference so looking to get a 6 speed in.

Had a look around but can't see an easy conversion kit or previous instructions that's been posted about.


Not looking for new diff ratio (Diff has just been refurbed and refitted so wanna leave it well alone) or taller 5th gear - I like 5th just the way it is.

Any news if Engineer1949 developing a conversion for the TR6060?

[macdeb]

I did a TKO600 conversion some years ago for a road going Chimeara, did a thread on 'Major mods' (with the help of some Tuscan racers ) I did mine for strength. It can be done but the thing to consider is the size of the things, the TKO600 being half the size again of a T5 and the TKO660 being bigger still. The difference is in fitting that the exhaust route and ground clearance are compromised with the 660 with little difference for the 600. Gearchange position has to be modified slightly (easy enough job) and propshaft modified. The big plus for the 660 however is a rifle bolt gearchange and obviously the 6th gear 'if' you have the torque for it. Seems a few others are now going that same (reliable) route with the onset of big power from FI RV8's as opposed to LS conversions.

Edited by macdeb on Monday 2nd October 16:08

[debaron]

Thanks Mac

Can't find a lot of info on the TKO660 though...

[N7GTX]

Think he means TR 6060? (Its an age thing....)

http://www.tremec.com/anexos/File/TREMEC_TR-6060.p...

Edited by N7GTX on Monday 2nd October 16:45

[macdeb]

N7GTX said:

Think he means TR 6060? (Its an age thing....)

http://www.tremec.com/anexos/File/TREMEC_TR-6060.p...

Edited by N7GTX on Monday 2nd October 16:45

bugger, yes it's age.

[rev-erend]

One of the Griff owners (Anthony - precat) has converted his to a BMW Getrag 6 speeder from an E46 M3.

I seem to remember he said its a bit noisy.

Sure he will be along soon with details.

[debaron]

rev-erend said:

One of the Griff owners (Anthony - precat) has converted his to a BMW Getrag 6 speeder from an E46 M3.

I seem to remember he said its a bit noisy.

Sure he will be along soon with details.

Excellent news.

Aside, I contacted Roadcraft. Their email as follows -

www.roadcraftuk.co.uk


Hi Ryan

We have a new bellhousing we have just made to put the new T5's onto Rover or the Tremec TKO onto Rover. The Tremec TKO600 (5 speed) will handle 600ft lb of torque. There are also ways to increase the rating of these. The first casting has been made and we are just about to produce the first batch. The bellhousing looks really nice - all cad designed and cnc cut patternwork. It will be available with either cable operated, fork and external slave or concentric slave cylinder.

We did briefly look at the T56 Magnum for this as well but didn't think there would be many customers that would need the capacity or could fit the larger transmission.

Edited by debaron on Tuesday 3rd October 12:08

[rev-erend]

Wrong link.. its this one

https://www.roadcraftuk.co.uk/

John Eales does some bellhousings - T5 Getrag & Tremec TKO600

Supplied with concentric clutch release
Prices from £550..

http://www.johnealesroverv8.co.uk/6.html

[debaron]

rev-erend said:

Wrong link.. its this one

https://www.roadcraftuk.co.uk/

Thanks - Edited to correct link!

[Boosted LS1]

A T56 weighs in at something like 9 stone. A TKO 500/600 would be a good option if you get the ratio's you want. You can also move the shifter position.

[phazed]

rev-erend said:

One of the Griff owners (Anthony - precat) has converted his to a BMW Getrag 6 speeder from an E46 M3.

I seem to remember he said its a bit noisy.

Sure he will be along soon with details.

He's going back to T5.

[Engineer1949]

typical do all the work to fabricate a bellhousing and someone comes along and makes them, still i like my rovko version.

john

[macdeb]

It's an easy job to convert an existing bellhousing without the need the fabricate a new back plate as I found out and did quite some time back
So, not as expensive nor difficult.

[debaron]

phazed said:

He's going back to T5.

Any ideas why?

[debaron]

Engineer1949 said:

typical do all the work to fabricate a bellhousing and someone comes along and makes them, still i like my rovko version.

john

Hi John - what's the state of your conversion kit? Couldn't see anything on your website. Is it just for TKO600?

Thanks

[Engineer1949]

i made a bellhousing for nicks car which is a 600 but i didnt make a specific jig as never thought i would be asked to do another but having said all that if all else fails and you are stuck i am sure we could work something ou.t


john

[ChimpOnGas]

I for one would love to squeeze a TREMEC T56 Magnum/TR6060 double overdrive 6 speed transmission in 'Ol Gasbag'.



It's not like I need anywhere near it's 700 lb/ft torque capacity, but the extra cog would be great for motorway work and having used one of these boxes I can confirm the shift feel is truly wonderful.

Size wise this box is a big old lump for sure, but we've seen people put it behind an LS and drop the lot in a TVR so we know it fits between the chassis tunnel tubes, the challenge as I understand it is you've then got precious little space to route the exhaust which would definitely need re-working (perhaps in oval tube).

If a T56 Magnum/TR6060 to Rover V8 bell housing could be created I'm sure there would be a market for it, I'd have one for sure

A kit that comes with a suitable twin plate clutch (£600), a concentric slave cylinder setup (£300), and the bell housing (£600) would be the way to go and at £1,500 for the lot I'd buy the kit and then find a good used TR6060 which you seem to be able to source and land in the UK having paid all duties for £2,000.

So it's a project that would conceivably cost £3,500 in parts or say a round £4k as a drive-in-drive out package when fitting and the required exhaust fabrication work is factored in, and that's pretty much what Lloyd Specialist Developments quoted me when I last looked into this

I figured I could sell my z-spec T5 box with TVR bell housing for an easy £1,000 (or more) making the whole TR6060 idea a £3k project, sure...I could buy a turbo kit for that, but in many ways the twin plate clutch, lower cruising RPMs from that extra cog, and the lovely clack/clack shift feel is more tempting to me, it also future proofs the transmission for any later forced induction plans.

Tempting, we just need someone to come up with the kit

[debaron]

ChimpOnGas said:

So it's a project that would conceivably cost £3,500 in parts or say a round £4k as a drive-in-drive out package when fitting and the required exhaust fabrication work is factored in, and that's pretty much what Lloyd Specialist Developments quoted me when I last looked into this

Big fan of the Lloyd boys too they did my Megasquirt install and aren't too far from Bristol. Did they say that it could categorically be done and that they would do it?

[Boosted LS1]

I went off the t56 although 6060 might be a more suitable box. I'm inclined to use a TH400 auto but with a manual shift. My overall gearing is pretty high but if it's not high enough for relaxed high speed cruising I may be able to fit a Gear Vendors overdrive, assuming I have space for it. If I understand things correctly I'll have an 8 speed :-)

[phazed 11.83]

debaron said:

phazed said:

He's going back to T5.

Any ideas why?

The overall gearing isn't suitable. Worth a pm to Anthony if you need details.