[Fot] gearbox legality

[fpspitfire at insightbb.com]

----- Original Message -----
From: <fpspitfire at insightbb.com>
Date: Friday, September 21, 2007 21:37
Subject: Re: [Fot] gearbox legality
To: Bob <rdavis4 at cfl.rr.com>
Cc: mdporter at dfn.com,Bill Babcock <billb at bnj.com>,Young Randall <RYoung at navcomtech.com>,fot at autox.team.net

> FWIW...
> I run a Gearbox that looks almost identical to the Spitfire box 
> on the outside.  However, it is an aluminium case with 
> Hewland Mk9 gearsets and dog engagment inside.  It uses a 
> modified input, output and layshaft and is far beefier than 
> anything else out there.  Plus you get the added bonus of 
> being able to select any ratios you want.
> 
> If you have questions contact me.
> 
> Not sure if that type of conversion is legal in vintage, but it 
> sure is in SCCA :)
> 
> aaron
> 
> Aaron Johnson
> #8 (for now) HP Spitfire 1500
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Bob <rdavis4 at cfl.rr.com>
> Date: Friday, September 21, 2007 17:31
> Subject: Re: [Fot] gearbox legality
> To: mdporter at dfn.com, Bill Babcock <billb at bnj.com>
> Cc: Young Randall <RYoung at navcomtech.com>, fot at autox.team.net
> 
> > This GT6 has a T50 5 speed so can't say much about the others 
> > (besides the 
> > others are much larger and heavier than the T50). However, 
> they 
> > did modify 
> > the front of the T50 case to accept a larger input shaft ball 
> > bearing 
> > assembly in the later gearboxes which was supposed to help. 
> When 
> > buying 
> > spare parts (which are readily available if you know where to 
> > look) you need 
> > to know which box you have.
> > 
> > I have looked inside 100K gearboxes and 50K gearboxes. 
> Bearings 
> > show little 
> > or no wear in either. Even the syncro's are still good and 
> > Granny drove the 
> > car for 20 years.
> > 
> > Used gearboxes are everywhere for $150-$200. Really good ones 
> > from Japan are 
> > $500-$1000. A variety of close ratio gear sets are available 
> if 
> > you look 
> > hard
> > .
> > I know I will get hammered for saying this.....but most of us 
> > are just 
> > wannabe drivers anyway (me included) and how much advantage 
> will 
> > the gearbox 
> > really give you. It will sure keep you on the track longer and 
> > seeing the 
> > cars on the track is really the fun for alot of us.
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Michael Porter" <mdporter at dfn.com>
> > To: "Bill Babcock" <billb at bnj.com>
> > Cc: <fot at autox.team.net>; "Young Randall" 
> > <RYoung at navcomtech.com>Sent: Friday, September 21, 2007 
> 6:05 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Fot] gearbox legality
> > 
> > 
> > > Bill Babcock wrote:
> > >> Toyota gearboxes are as common as belly buttons, and most have
> > >> minimal wear on them. The Japanese have interesting 
> licensing and
> > >> inspection laws that ensure the domestic cars turn over 
> frequently.> >> The drivetrains are frequently exported to the 
> US. It would be
> > >> unusual to rebuild one--you can get a replacement for next to
> > >> nothing. I paid a hundred bucks for two from 2TG toyotas--
> of course
> > >> that was four years ago. I pulled them apart to check the typical
> > >> wear areas and they were indistinguishable from new.