67 replies to this topic

[tiger99]

Remember that you still have a choice of final drive ratios so you can have the 5th gear ratio where you want it, within reason.

I suspect that it might just about be possible to fit in 6 gears. Now that might be very interesting... Any thoughts?

[Orange-Phantom]

Remember that you still have a choice of final drive ratios so you can have the 5th gear ratio where you want it, within reason.

I suspect that it might just about be possible to fit in 6 gears. Now that might be very interesting... Any thoughts?

Already been done!  I've got a Jack Knight 6 speed Dog Box on my Mini which I've mentioned in my previous posts on this topic.

 

Looks like this inside.

 

https://racecarsdire...6-speed-gearbox

 

It's got a slightly different and uprated stronger case.  MRA on these forums has the plans for it and if there was enough interest in it to make it viable he could redo the castings and make up the gear sets with the later style of dog engagement.

[KarmaVenture]

So - with a 5 or 6 speed gear box... how are you sorting the stick travel so you're not constantly battering you and your passengers knees?!

[Zach P-D]

Would assume a rather short throw shifter. I recently installed the minispares short shifter on my car and oh my it is lovely. feels about the same as my mk4 golf throw wise.

[Orange-Phantom]

So - with a 5 or 6 speed gear box... how are you sorting the stick travel so you're not constantly battering you and your passengers knees?!

It's fine and that is with a standard throw gear lever.

 

It's a standard H Pattern. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th are pretty much in the same place, 5th and 6th are to the right a bit more (you have to modify the plate under the rod shift otherwise you have to lift up the gear stick and then try and find the gate for 5th and 6th.  Yes MiniWorld you didn't do a very good job on that one did you!  Once this is set properly it works just like a standard H pattern gearbox.  The bias spring pulls it into the middle i.e. where 3rd and 4th are.  You just have to rev match it as there is no synchomesh on any of the gears.

 

I've just put a KAD standard gearstick which replaced the standard item http://www.kentautod...ift-for-reverse

 

No short throw shifter required, which is great as I'm personally not a fan of them.

[Ethel]

One of the Minis strengths is that it has masses of gear ratios available - even if you can usually only have 4 (forward) ones at the same time. No matter how many gears you do have, only one of 'em can get the maximum speed from your engine, in that respect 5 or 6 are no better than 4.

 

Sorry to prattle on, blame the so called experts who spread banal misconceptions where engineering is reduced to counting - 16 valves must be better than 8 etc.

[KarmaVenture]

One of the Minis strengths is that it has masses of gear ratios available - even if you can usually only have 4 (forward) ones at the same time. No matter how many gears you do have, only one of 'em can get the maximum speed from your engine, in that respect 5 or 6 are no better than 4.

 

Sorry to prattle on, blame the so called experts who spread banal misconceptions where engineering is reduced to counting - 16 valves must be better than 8 etc.

Indeed; depends of course if you're adding a 5th to close up ratios where '5th' just replaces the final drive of 4th or adding a 5th on top of the existing ratios of 1-4. Either way i'll be sticking with a 4 speed box for now using a solid-fuel rocket strapped to the roof if I need to go faster ;)

[nicklouse]

 

One of the Minis strengths is that it has masses of gear ratios available - even if you can usually only have 4 (forward) ones at the same time. No matter how many gears you do have, only one of 'em can get the maximum speed from your engine, in that respect 5 or 6 are no better than 4.

 

Sorry to prattle on, blame the so called experts who spread banal misconceptions where engineering is reduced to counting - 16 valves must be better than 8 etc.

Indeed; depends of course if you're adding a 5th to close up ratios where '5th' just replaces the final drive of 4th or adding a 5th on top of the existing ratios of 1-4. Either way i'll be sticking with a 4 speed box for now using a solid-fuel rocket strapped to the roof if I need to go faster ;)

 

just remember to fit a Quick release system to it as there is no way to shut it down once lit. you might miss your exit.