Sherpa gearbox - which one for 1980?
Discussion
Hello, BL geeks and spods! My Google Fu is weak today. I am trying to find out whether, when BL stopped using the B Series petrol engine in the Sherpa, and fitted instead the O Series Two litre OHC unit, they also changed the gearbox, or whether they continued with the unit as used in the MGB (which not for nothing is known as the Sherpa Coupe, although the van arguably handles better than the soi disant GT).
I am shortly to collect a 1980 Sherpa campervan that has a two litre O Series, and a non overdrive gearbox. I am pondering changing the box for one with a Laycock overdrive, for an extra 8 mph or so on the motorway (allegedly), and maybe 0.000000000001 more MPG. MGB gearboxes with overdrives are plentiful, and there are at least two companies of blokes with Midlands accents working in sheds who can provide Laycock overdrives on an exchange basis and so on. I just want to be sure that I get the right unit.
Thanks for all nerdy knowledge. To MGB lovers: sorry (but not really).
I am shortly to collect a 1980 Sherpa campervan that has a two litre O Series, and a non overdrive gearbox. I am pondering changing the box for one with a Laycock overdrive, for an extra 8 mph or so on the motorway (allegedly), and maybe 0.000000000001 more MPG. MGB gearboxes with overdrives are plentiful, and there are at least two companies of blokes with Midlands accents working in sheds who can provide Laycock overdrives on an exchange basis and so on. I just want to be sure that I get the right unit.
Thanks for all nerdy knowledge. To MGB lovers: sorry (but not really).
The van is discussed a bit in the Impromptu BL Lineup thread, and may in due course be awarded its own threads either here or in Readers' Slags.
VW vans are slow, very cramped inside, and cost megabling. Too many knobheads have them. Not everyone who has one is a knobhead, of course. This BL van is a bit more peppy than a VW van (all things are relative), is spacious inside, and it cost only £2000, with an Mot until June.
I will consider and probably then dismiss engine upgrades, but only if I keep the van for a while. My daughter is twelve and a half, so the van is for going to Latitude and other festivals for the next few years, with maybe some west Scotland island-hopping, the vanning combined with stays in posh hotels.
If Scotland closes the border, I shall not care, because I have an Irish and therefore an EU passport (Ha! Tough luck English dudes - enjoy life in the fifties!). My wife will qualify for a Scottish passport, so, all good.
VW vans are slow, very cramped inside, and cost megabling. Too many knobheads have them. Not everyone who has one is a knobhead, of course. This BL van is a bit more peppy than a VW van (all things are relative), is spacious inside, and it cost only £2000, with an Mot until June.
I will consider and probably then dismiss engine upgrades, but only if I keep the van for a while. My daughter is twelve and a half, so the van is for going to Latitude and other festivals for the next few years, with maybe some west Scotland island-hopping, the vanning combined with stays in posh hotels.
If Scotland closes the border, I shall not care, because I have an Irish and therefore an EU passport (Ha! Tough luck English dudes - enjoy life in the fifties!). My wife will qualify for a Scottish passport, so, all good.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 27th March 17:39
Sherpa collection day is today. Let's see if the extant gearbox even works before I plan to get a better one!
The first plan for the van is to use it as a van. I have stupidly bought an old Honda 125 cc puttering-about bike, and that is at a location on the way back home with the van. The bike should fit in between the cupboards in the back of the van. I shall explain to Mrs BV, who has seen and sat in the van and vaguely approves of it, that the bike came free as a sort of yacht tender or lifeboat.
This may of course lead to me spending tonight sleeping in the van, outside my house. We shall see.
My daughter will see the van when I collect her from her school on Saturday afternoon. I hope that she will think it is uber cool, but she may think that it is super-lame. Her feelings about me vary between the same points.
I may edge into cool when she sees the Ahsoka Tano light sabre that I've just bought her (Ahsoka Tano is, as any fule kno, Anakin Skywalker's padawan learner, who left the Jedi Order before Skywalker became Darth Vader. She is a heroine of the early Rebellion, and my daughter's favourite character, apart from Cerasi Nem, the Level 70 Jedi Knight whom she plays in MMORPG Star Wars - Old Republic). Next year, my daughter will be 13 and only interested in Gabba all nighters and scoring Mandy, but I cherish the childhood geekery while I may.
The first plan for the van is to use it as a van. I have stupidly bought an old Honda 125 cc puttering-about bike, and that is at a location on the way back home with the van. The bike should fit in between the cupboards in the back of the van. I shall explain to Mrs BV, who has seen and sat in the van and vaguely approves of it, that the bike came free as a sort of yacht tender or lifeboat.
This may of course lead to me spending tonight sleeping in the van, outside my house. We shall see.
My daughter will see the van when I collect her from her school on Saturday afternoon. I hope that she will think it is uber cool, but she may think that it is super-lame. Her feelings about me vary between the same points.
I may edge into cool when she sees the Ahsoka Tano light sabre that I've just bought her (Ahsoka Tano is, as any fule kno, Anakin Skywalker's padawan learner, who left the Jedi Order before Skywalker became Darth Vader. She is a heroine of the early Rebellion, and my daughter's favourite character, apart from Cerasi Nem, the Level 70 Jedi Knight whom she plays in MMORPG Star Wars - Old Republic). Next year, my daughter will be 13 and only interested in Gabba all nighters and scoring Mandy, but I cherish the childhood geekery while I may.
As for terrible to drive, bear in mind that I have owned a Series Landy with a diesel engine, no overdrive, and very marginal brakes (also a good petrol one with an overdrive and OK ish brakes). I have also driven a VW van - original spec, horrid and gutless aircooled engine, four speed box, terrible brakes, and so on. I am old enough to have rented early Transits. Thus I am used to driving truly appalling vehicles. Having said that, I may need a big sweaty drink later this evening. Devon to Oxon in a Sherpa van on a Bank Holiday Friday, plus in and out of Bristol to collect an old Honda commuter bike, but at least I will be mostly against the traffic flow (the getting back out of Bristol, early evening, after getting in may be challenging).
Train from Didcot at 1356, yikes!
Train from Didcot at 1356, yikes!
I arrived home quite late but all safe and sound, after a long and tiring but only mildly adventurous day. Van and bike both good. I will post some updates and pics later on today, and may start a thread for the van in Readers' Cars . The bike is lovely, and in showroom condition, but as a modern (1998) example of a not at all rare mid 70s commuter bike (it looks and rides mid 70s), it probably does not warrant its own thread.
I will just briefly say that I can't understand why people here and elsewhere suggest that Sherpas are pigs to drive. This one is responsive, relatively smooth for an old van, has lots of legs in third and fourth gears, handles fine and stops well. The steering does not feel as heavy as that in a VW van, and - unless my memory of old Transits is failing - the Sherpa overall feels better than one of those. The van cruises happily at 65, and will go over 70 (but I did not want to push it, in case that led to me pushing it); but I think that an overdrive gearbox would definitely finish it off (or finish it off). Much better to drive than an old Landy (I like old Landies) and streets ahead of a Dubbervan.
Furniture removals will cost extra, but I am happy to throw parcels to lie unnoticed behind bushes and get soaking wet in the general vicinity of people's houses, for a moderate consideration.
I will just briefly say that I can't understand why people here and elsewhere suggest that Sherpas are pigs to drive. This one is responsive, relatively smooth for an old van, has lots of legs in third and fourth gears, handles fine and stops well. The steering does not feel as heavy as that in a VW van, and - unless my memory of old Transits is failing - the Sherpa overall feels better than one of those. The van cruises happily at 65, and will go over 70 (but I did not want to push it, in case that led to me pushing it); but I think that an overdrive gearbox would definitely finish it off (or finish it off). Much better to drive than an old Landy (I like old Landies) and streets ahead of a Dubbervan.
Furniture removals will cost extra, but I am happy to throw parcels to lie unnoticed behind bushes and get soaking wet in the general vicinity of people's houses, for a moderate consideration.
Hugo a Gogo said:
I'd just spotted the pics in the other thread, big Morris badge on the back door
filling out your BL lineup nicely
that's ace that
Insurance company says "Fright Rover" (the young lady could not read the word "freight", and said "fright").filling out your BL lineup nicely
that's ace that
DVLA says Austin-Morris.
Badge on front says A-M. Badge on back says Morris.
Haynes Book of Lies says Freight Rover.
Confusing? Not at all!
Here are two not very good pics from the bike's eBay ad, taken by the seller standing too close to the bike. It is more elegant in real life than it looks in these pics.
I will post some better ones later when I have overcome some TECHNOFEAR issues.
Period accessories v good - I have things such as a proper 70s leather car coat (you wore that on cold spring and autumn mornings because the heater would not be warm enough by the time you got to the station, and you then left the coat in the car for the evening drive home, as you would not need a coat during the warmer bit of the day). Also old shades, and sometimes even packs of Rothmans and JPS (I don't smoke).
I will post some better ones later when I have overcome some TECHNOFEAR issues.
Period accessories v good - I have things such as a proper 70s leather car coat (you wore that on cold spring and autumn mornings because the heater would not be warm enough by the time you got to the station, and you then left the coat in the car for the evening drive home, as you would not need a coat during the warmer bit of the day). Also old shades, and sometimes even packs of Rothmans and JPS (I don't smoke).
Trabi601 said:
838HNK said:
I guess the "Light Steering" Sherpa was heavily loaded at the rear and the "Heavy Steering" had the stuff up the front .... and/or some big variances on tyre pressures ...
Or possibly someone hadn't greased the nipples on their trunnions.The bike rides reet tidy, too. It's a1998 bike, registered in 2001. 124cc four stroke OHV single, carb, drum brakes, one up, four down, modern lights and electrics (lights always on as you ride), uprated loud hooter, side and centre stands. Speedo in Km/H (marked for 30, 50 and 50 mph), tacho, turn signal light. It seems to want to stay on half choke for longer than I would expect, but that may because of the ambient temperature and whatnot.
I have had my Sherpa up to an indicated 70 on the M4, and it passes lorries going uphill with ease, without changing down. It feels like it has more in it, but I do not want to push it, for fear that I will end up pushing it. The single-carbed O Series seems to me a good engine - reasonably smooth and responsive, and third and fourth gears are long and pully. I have been offered a five speed gearbox from a later O Series engined van. A Laycock overdrive would be more period, but could add one more thing to go wrong. The Laycock overdrive on my Dolomite Sprint works very well, but the one on my old Triumph Vitesse never worked properly.
This one is for sale and is the actual MGB van - B Series engine.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/leyland-sherpa-classic-c...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/leyland-sherpa-classic-c...
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff