450SE - Which gearbox ??

[TvR Driver]

Had the growler into to a specialist to start on work to get her ready for next summer ( its going to be a scorcher !! honest !! )

Good news is the chassis and main stuff seems to be ok but as i knew we need the gearbox out to investigate further as i lost fourth gear and second is on its way !!!

I have asked for quotes based on the following and would appreciate everyones thoughts :

Replace with a second hand gearbox as in her now
Rebuild totally my gearbox with all new parts
Replace with a t5 or something else ( i believe easier to find parts for and also will take more horses )


Cost may come into it dependant on findings but initially interested in your thoughts and reasonings please ......

The dilemma is do i try and keep it original or ......

Next questions will probably be which clutch and what to do when old nck is on the bench........

I look forward to your replies

[adam quantrill]

I pick up boxes off Ebay from time to time and bung them in. I have a spare waiting in the garage for the time when the one in the 400SX goes pop. Last one I bought was £57 pickup only.

If you have a rebuild it has to be good or else why not just fit a secondhand box?

[Number 7]

FWIW I think the best option is to have your own box properly rebuilt by a reputable company. Buying secondhand is always going to be a risk - even if the box is cheap, and you can buy another cheap one, you've still got the hassle of taking the box in and out again, and downtime on the car. Coverting to T5 is possible, but I think it involves a lot of work and cost. IIRC 5th. gear is a weak point as well. My car has 325 torques, and I still run a Rover box (which has been rebuilt some years ago). I think even SH runs a Rover box in his Wedge.

[shpub]

I only changed from the LT77 when I went supercharged and 500+ bhp and started snapping internal shafts.

T5 conversion will cost around the £2000 mark as it requires new bellhousing, clutch slave, clutch, propshaft and a solution to sort out the speedo sensor. The gearbox mounts will need changing as well.

CTS rebuilt and strengthened my LT77 and put up with an awful lot of power and torque.

[GV]

I'm dropping off my LT77 at CTS tomorrow for a rebuild - I'll report back when it's done.

[Transmitter Man]

Steve,

Can I ask what parts of your LT77 were strengthened or replaced with better quality items?

I believe the clutch fork can also do with strengthening?

Phil
420 SEAC

[GV]

I saw this whilst browsing - I'm going to mod my clutch fork by welding a a steel plate which is very simple IMO similar to the pic below.

[TvR Driver]

Thanks for all the replies

It seems like the way to go will be to have mine rebuilt and strengthened

Adam - you are quite right they are quite cheap to buy but being useless at major works i would worry about having to pay someone to take the engine out again whereby if i can have the box properly rebuilt it will hopefully come with some sort of warranty ...... I will find out more

Number 7 - you are right as well downtime is a sin !!!! And how did you get steve heath to materialise !!!!

Steve - Thanks and i will dream of 500hp LOL think 300 + would be a great start and if the lt77 with some strengthenening will handle that then i will contact cts ( if you have any contact details that would be apprecated ) and ask them to look at a rebuild - what parts in particular were strengthened ?? any advice much appreciated.

GV - would love to know how it goes and if you dont mind me being nosey would be interested in timescales and costs and what you are having done / strengthened ???

Thanks chaps all very helpful and at least i have ideas as to where to point my wallet !!!

Ty

[shpub]

GV said:

I saw this whilst browsing - I'm going to mod my clutch fork by welding a a steel plate which is very simple IMO similar to the pic below.

That's not ideal. I welded two bars along the side length wise which is a lot better.

Only needed to do so because I had a multi plate racing clutch.

[shpub]

Transmitter Man said:

Steve,

Can I ask what parts of your LT77 were strengthened or replaced with better quality items?

I believe the clutch fork can also do with strengthening?

Phil
420 SEAC

It was a standard CTS rebuild that they do for extremely stressed LT77s.

[GV]

Dropped off the LT77 at CTS - today should have it back by the weekend....let's see.