GEARBOXES

The gearbox is in my opinion as important as the engine; it can transform the performance of a car if the correct ratios are chosen. In your selection of ratios, the first gear ratio should be only low enough for the car to be driven off from a standstill with minimum of clutch slip in a competition vehicle. The higher the first gear one can tolerate the closer the rest of the gears can be spaced. A four-speed gearbox can become a three-speed gearbox if the first gear cannot be changed into on the move. The longer first gear can be held, the more chance of pulling away from the field or getting to the first corner while others are left behind having had to make a gear change before yours.

There are basically two ways of changing gear, either a syncromesh system or a dog engagement system. The syncromesh type is used exclusively in road cars and some competition cars. Dog engagement is only for outright competition use, as it is very crude in its operation, but much stronger and quicker than a syncromesh system’s gear change. Gears can be changed on a dog box with or without the clutch, but higher maintenance costs will be needed for the latter, as the dog rings and gear slots rapidly wear. It is important to ‘talk through’ your gearbox selection with an expert before spending your money, so do it once and do it right. It is true that most gearboxes can be fitted to most engines with a modicum of engineering knowledge or help from an expert. We can in all cases help you decide on all the above and would be our pleasure to do so. Each sport or road use will require a different gearbox requirement so be careful who you listen to.

We stock all ranges of gear kits such as Quaife, Tranex, Hewland, DR Engineering etc. These can be built into your gearbox by us or yourself, as a gear kit can be despatched to you via TNT. We can service or build a vast range of gearboxes such as ZF, Getrag, Borg Warner, Ford, Lotus etc. Fitting kits such as bell housings, clutches, forks and prop shafts are also in stock to ease your fitment problems. Quick shift levers can also be supplied.

So in summarising call us to give you the benefit or our years of experience.