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Tightening up a Type 9
Benzo - 1/8/18 at 07:50 AM

Alright folks,

Purchased another 7 at the weekend, my first Car Engined westfield.

Type 9 box, to me currently seems like a complete bag of bottles. Little to no definition between Reverse & First Gear, little feel between gears or crossing gates and the slowest change known to man.

Did some reading up, purchased an uprated Nylon heavy duty saddle, stripped down the leaver but the original still seems in one piece so not expecting big things from the uprated saddle.

Previous owner has cut and welded the leaver, putting 2x 90deg bends, to clear the dash, not sure this is helping with driver input.

Do most people just cut the stick off low and have a stump out of the top of the box that works under the dash level?

or heat and bend the stick the minimum amount to clear the dash?



Any other hits or tips?


Benzo - 1/8/18 at 07:51 AM

Think this should really be in Engine & Transmission Section


big-vee-twin - 1/8/18 at 08:20 AM

You need a year lever turret extension, which moves the position of the lever back. Also can get a new quick change lever
link


[img] Gear Lever fitted
Gear Lever fitted
[/img]

[Edited on 1/8/18 by big-vee-twin]


Benzo - 1/8/18 at 08:37 AM

That extension would be perfect, but due to the taper down on the panelling of the tunnel top, this extender would break though and cause quite an awkward detail.

Are the quick shift kits worth a punt? the complete stick type or the spacers to adjust fulcrum position?


mcerd1 - 1/8/18 at 10:44 AM

the pic in your first post looks like a quaife gear lever (as used by caterham)

https://shop.quaife.co.uk/gear-lever-ford-sierra-type-9-5-speed

or https://caterhamparts.co.uk/gearlevers/90-gearlever.html


these levers aren't cheap and are way, way better than the stock ones - assuming that your actual box is ok that lever should make it feel pretty good....
(the short quaife ones come pre bent for extra clearance to the dash)

these are about as good a quick shift lever as you can buy for this box (and you can adjust the pivot height, it has 2 options - just take the lever off, remove the circlip etc that holds the bearing and spacers, then rebuild it at the other position)

I'd say if this lever doesn't give you a nice feel then you may need to check that their isn't a bigger issue with the box
do you know anyone else with a type 9 box you could compare the feel to ?

[Edited on 1/8/2018 by mcerd1]


JimSpencer - 1/8/18 at 11:05 AM

Hi

I suspect it's a Quaife knob (or a very similar one) but don't think that's a Quaife lever?

As mcerd1 says - get the Quaife lever and the heavy duty saddle from Burtons, job should be jobbed


Benzo - 1/8/18 at 11:28 AM

I'd rather put £115 towards a Quaife Clubman box!

Do these work?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ESCORT-MK1-MK2-CAPRI-CORTINA-SIERRA-5-SPEED-TYPE-9-QUICKSHIFT-KIT-MLR-BBA/152651519844?hash=item238abd5764:g:sXMAAOSwsTxXjJ 2r


nick205 - 1/8/18 at 11:40 AM

I used a Pinto and type 9 in my MK Indy. I didn't fit any extension or other mods to the gearstick, just bent the lever back to clear the bottom edge of the dash. The gear change wasn't the quickest, but then the type 9 isn't a new gearbox design. It could have been better, but ultimately worked OK for me.

I stuck with the normal clutch arrangement - did wonder about a hydraulic clutch, but by that point in the build I was more focussed on getting finished and on the road.



[Edited on 1/8/18 by nick205]


mcerd1 - 1/8/18 at 11:55 AM

quote:
Originally posted by JimSpencer
I suspect it's a Quaife knob (or a very similar one) but don't think that's a Quaife lever?

As mcerd1 says - get the Quaife lever and the heavy duty saddle from Burtons, job should be jobbed



looks exactly like a Quaife lever to me (I've got one on mine too)
also Westfield also sell them too: linky


can't find a decent pic of the OE lever just now, but its held on to the box with a cheap pressed tin plate, not a machined billet housing


So getting the cheaper quickshift kit is not only a waste of cash - I'm pretty sure it won't fit what you've got anyway



as above I'd check the saddle - the Burtons HD version is probably worth a punt:
http://www.burtonpower.com/hd-brass-saddle-gearlever-to-selector-shaft-type-9-e-gbt9539.html

[Edited on 1/8/2018 by mcerd1]


mikeb - 1/8/18 at 12:15 PM

Any ideas what this kit does
https://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=2007

just looks like a shorter lever that fits over the top if you cut down the original, RD list it a a quick shift?

M


Benzo - 1/8/18 at 12:19 PM

Thanks for the input folks.

I will likely upgrade to Quaife clubman or Pro Straight cut box over the winter so i'm just looking for a quick fix on the Type9

I've New h/duty saddle is in the post, can heat and bend the standard leaver to clear dash in the mean time, cut and thread to suit.

is there anything else I should look at to improve positivity of the change?


Benzo - 1/8/18 at 12:22 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mikeb
Any ideas what this kit does
https://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=2007

just looks like a shorter lever that fits over the top if you cut down the original, RD list it a a quick shift?

M


The spacer adjust the fulcrum point of the stick allowing for a shorter throw!

Not sure which a longer leaver is supplied.


DavidW - 1/8/18 at 12:23 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Benzo
I'd rather put £115 towards a Quaife Clubman box!

Do these work?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ESCORT-MK1-MK2-CAPRI-CORTINA-SIERRA-5-SPEED-TYPE-9-QUICKSHIFT-KIT-MLR-BBA/152651519844?hash=item238abd5764:g:sXMAAOSwsTxXjJ 2r


I had one of these fitted for a while and they do work.


Benzo - 1/8/18 at 12:46 PM

quote:
Originally posted by DavidW
quote:
Originally posted by Benzo
I'd rather put £115 towards a Quaife Clubman box!

Do these work?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ESCORT-MK1-MK2-CAPRI-CORTINA-SIERRA-5-SPEED-TYPE-9-QUICKSHIFT-KIT-MLR-BBA/152651519844?hash=item238abd5764:g:sXMAAOSwsTxXjJ 2r


I had one of these fitted for a while and they do work.


Thanks Mate!


mcerd1 - 1/8/18 at 12:57 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Benzo
Not sure which a longer leaver is supplied.


is that not to replace the top half of the OE lever - OE ones are horrible 2 part things with a rubber isolator


the OE lever:


mcerd1 - 1/8/18 at 01:00 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Benzo
quote:
Originally posted by DavidW
I had one of these fitted for a while and they do work.

Thanks Mate!


I'm sure they work too - but you've already got a better one

I have to add that the Quaife one only used to cost £60 back when I got mine (still not cheap, but £115 is just getting silly....)


Benzo - 1/8/18 at 01:11 PM

I've just ordered the kit from motorsport tools to see what it does.

Ah, my stick has been cut as welded before the 2nd half, that's why the 2nd shank looked redundant to me.


rusty nuts - 1/8/18 at 01:31 PM

Have a look at Dave Andrews website for info on modifying a standard lever for no cost


Benzo - 1/8/18 at 02:00 PM

quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
Have a look at Dave Andrews website for info on modifying a standard lever for no cost


I saw it, but the kit is handier and leaves the selector closed up to the elements, the spacer is profiled to suit to top of the box.


JimSpencer - 1/8/18 at 02:18 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Benzo
I'd rather put £115 towards a Quaife Clubman box!




Erm.. You have to order the gear lever for the clubman box.. it's one and the same thing, IIRC

If you've got a Quaife lever and a decent saddle the gearchange will be like a bolt action rifle.. if it's not then it isn't.

BTW - I'd suggest BGH if you're going down that route, excellent service for the Club competitor.


JimSpencer - 1/8/18 at 02:25 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mcerd1

looks exactly like a Quaife lever to me (I've got one on mine too)
also Westfield also sell them too:

can't find a decent pic of the OE lever just now, but its held on to the box with a cheap pressed tin plate, not a machined billet housing

So getting the cheaper quickshift kit is not only a waste of cash - I'm pretty sure it won't fit what you've got anyway

as above I'd check the saddle - the Burtons HD version is probably worth a punt:





Yeah - agree it's similar, but Blue.. and it look like the shaft been painted??

It's the vague change the OP has that makes me think it just can't be (with even a halfway decent saddle anyway) as I've never come across a Type 9 where a Quaife lever hasn't had a slick change - Your's Ok?

[Edited on 1/8/18 by JimSpencer]


mcerd1 - 1/8/18 at 02:38 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Benzo
I've just ordered the kit from motorsport tools to see what it does.

Ah, my stick has been cut as welded before the 2nd half, that's why the 2nd shank looked redundant to me.


I've been looking at your fisrt pic again, and actually I guess that could just be the OE lever with the rubber boot cut off and the top half welded on....
the Quaife on has a machined billet housing with a really nice spherical bearing - no plastic bushes at all

I've never actually seen an OE one with the boot cut off before - I'm not sure why you'd leave it open like that, its bound to let crap into the top and start wearing everything out.... (dust/git in grease can make really good grinding paste...)


if the OP has a pic with the panel off then it would remove any doubt.
after all it could already have one of the cheaper quick shift kits fitted (that could be either fitted wrong or worn)

either way the HD saddle should still be worthwhile





[Edited on 1/8/2018 by mcerd1]


Benzo - 1/8/18 at 02:53 PM

I've had it in bits and the shifter is totally standard internally.


Benzo - 2/8/18 at 08:41 PM

Heavy Duty Saddle, quickshift and more direct stick input has saved the day, I haven’t driven it yet because it’s in bits
But much tighter running through the box!


mcerd1 - 3/8/18 at 09:19 AM

nice one

whats your best guess for which bit made the biggest difference in your box?


Benzo - 11/8/18 at 09:08 AM

quote:
Originally posted by mikeb
Any ideas what this kit does
https://www.rallydesign.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=2007

just looks like a shorter lever that fits over the top if you cut down the original, RD list it a a quick shift?

M


So after all that i've gone and bought a quaife clubman box complete with quaife quick shifter / stick

I still however think that the the stick is too far away & the bend on the stick doesn't give as nice an input as a straight stick into the box, so has anyone actually tried / used one of the rally design turret extensions? are they a good job?


rusty nuts - 11/8/18 at 11:35 AM

Use the search facility on here , DIY remote extensions and quick shifts have been covered several times. Made mine as have others , mine cost the total of £0.92 for the remote and quickshift


Benzo - 11/8/18 at 11:38 AM

quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
Use the search facility on here , DIY remote extensions and quick shifts have been covered several times. Made mine as have others , mine cost the total of £0.92 for the remote and quickshift


Brilliant I will have a look! Cheers!


rusty nuts - 11/8/18 at 11:45 AM

Pretty sure it was posted by David Jenkins. Mine extended the gear lever back by about 5 inches , the gear change is smooth and precise with very little movement.


David Jenkins - 11/8/18 at 02:26 PM

'twas I wot did it!

Info here: linky

The whole of my site can be found by pressing the WWW button below.

You'll have a bit of working out to do, as I never got around to drawing up the dimensions. Not too difficult to do - I managed it! You will need access to a lathe though. The hardest part is to get the reversing cam aligned correctly before welding - if you're uncertain about welding this properly, there's no reason why the whole thing couldn't be brazed (if done properly).