Question; the gearbox let go in my beloved MK2 Cortina a couple weeks ago At Shakey, it a type 5 4 speed standard stuff behind most 3ltr Fords, its being rebuilt at the moment but my gearbox man recommends the Tremec 600 5 speed as he says pretty unbreakable, cost 2k + however its no straight swap and require some work. The motor is a Rover V8 3.9, stage 3 heads, GMC 471 Supercharger, Helix clutch, Fostec Atlas with 2 piece shafts best time 12.00 so far (lifting both front wheels) any advice would be much appreciated.

Mark

 

Obviously it is an incredibly strong box, perhaps overkill for what you have, and are the ratios suitable ?

But at least it will be peace of mind for the future. No matter what box you move to it will involve a lot of work, so that aspect is largely irrelevant

If you wanted to retain the 4 speed, no doubt there are boxes in the US that can be built to handle what you need. Best to speak to someone there though

http://www.aluminumv8.com/catalog/20...ogComplete.pdf

http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/fo...play.php?f=119


http://www.v8forum.co.uk/forum/

 

Many thanks Steve,
There are quite a few options to chose from there, the American T5 combo may be worth considering, thanks for the links, I think I need to do a bit more homework before committing, you're right the Tremec is overkill but after breaking so much on this car it would be one less thing to worry about.

Mark

 

Presumably this is a race car ?#

ie you had a 4 speed and were happy, or would you prefer 5 ? Does it have to be synchro box ?

Whilst the ET isnt flying ( no disrespect ), if you're lifting the front wheels it suggests either a light chassis, huge tyres and/or very low 60ft's

IMO that would leave me cautions with a T5 without spending a lot of money on it.

I've seen some of the yanks talk about T10's and Muncie's as being cheap strong 4 speeds, maybe 5, but I know nothing of them.

If it is a race car, there are various dog style engagement boxes which will shift much easier and faster than any synchro, or you can have some of those popular american boxes "faceplated" as they call it, which is effectively a dog conversion.

I had this done on my T56, and as far as shifting goes when racing etc...it really does shift much much easier. Road use....it isnt particularly nice though but I'll suffer it.

I've never used the 500 or 600, but the newer 600 is supposed to shift a lot nicer than the older 500, so if going down that route it would be the better option.

Definitely do research though, and phone and speak to a couple of the American specialists, or ask on Yellow Bullet, it's mostly drag racers so they'll know what's available to you.

 

Hi Steve, yes now race only, was on the road for many years, does not have to be a synchro box and I did look at Libertys and quaife ect but ££££ , you're right big slicks pulled the front wheels but also broke a bellhousing in half on the line, smaller slicks now- no wheelies but faster times. 1.6 60ft best so far.
Will have to look into "Faceplating" more reserch needed, thanks for your help.

Mark

 

When I say Liberty etc, I dont mean one of their custom race transmissions, they will uprate many boxes, so there will be plenty of options

The actual process of faceplating an existing box, where they have parts for it of course is not that expensive. Obviously there is little point doing it to a box if you're breaking shafts or gears though
Not mine, but you see what goes on.

http://streetsceneks.forumer.com/top...s#.VXA1d89Viko

One of the local drift guys recently bought one of the G Force 4 speed dog/crash boxes for his car a while back. I think he managed to get one second hand.
Seems a simple straightforward bang gears and it just goes.

https://www.gforcetransmissions.com/#

A fully built T5 should be very strong though and up to the task in hand, which may be a more cost effective option ?

http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/sh....php?t=1111578

No idea what a toploader is or what its from, but it gets mentioned a lot and there are picturs of faceplated versions on YB too

http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/sh....php?t=1098970


For race only, I would definitely look into a non synchro box. If it can be a very old, modified box from the US, that should mean parts will be plentiful and cheap.

 

Wow! now I need to go and sit in a dark room for awhile and decide just where to go next, thank you for the detailed reply, and a toploader as far as I know is an American term for a box where the stick goes in the top as opposed to a column change, am going to shakey tomorrow with the Outlaw Anglia's for the weekend, Steve Wells runs a Rover in this class on methanol with a Liberty set up (8.6 's @150+), I'll pick his brain, thanks for all your help.

Mark

 

Am looking forward to the rematch mark

 

Yer baby