This is just a general bit of kite-flying...

I have a x-flow mated to a standard type 9 gearbox. Most of the ratios are just fine for general driving, but 1st gear is way too low - if I use 1st, I'm changing up within 1 or 2 seconds as the engine's at the limit - barely 25mph. My live axle diff ratio is 3.89:1 - not ideal, but it's fine for 2nd upwards and gives me plenty of acceleration... I'm not too worried about top speed.

Is there any sensible solution to this, apart from paying out a huge wad of money for a set of quaife gears?

Note: if any proposed solution cost a huge amount of money then it ain't going to happen!

cheers,
David

P.S. don't take this topic too seriously...

dont bother with 1st and just use 2nd upwards?

Tin top ratios will always seem to low, especially the lower gears. I tend to use 2nd most of the time - it makes for some good 0-60 times too

How about 22" wheels? ..... well you did say not to take it too seriously

[Edited on 13-6-07 by RazMan]

Nice Ferrari style gear bezel with 1st removed?

How about just tune the x-flow to rev to say 9000rpm. That should help the gearing!

new diff shouldn't be too expensive - you don't need the whole axle.

other option is a new 1st gear from bgh (bit cheaper than a full set of gears from quaife)

I have a std (as far as I know! ) type 9 in my locost with a 3.62:1 diff, and all the gears are very useable. Can't remember what top end in 1st gear is but it is not too slow, certainly not a huge gap when changing up to 2nd and that is good for over 70mph (75 iirc)................

Maybe a change to a 3.54 would be good for yours??

I thought the 3.62 would be less good than a 3.92 diff in mine, but I have to say I am not sure now, as the performance is extremely strong with the 3.62. (sub 4 sec to 60 mph)

v6 box has a longer 1st gear...

and longer input shaft by 1"

(v6 box is is approx around 3.3 where as std box is 3.56ish)

Also v6 box is a little stronger.

There are a lot of racers using a hybrid type-9 with a longer first gear for the reasons you have identified. At the end of the season there may be some available as they are banned next year!

BHG or BGH (or something like that) do them and he's a really helpful chap too.

I have the same problem 2L pinto with type nine and 4.11 diff.Got a 3.54 to fit in and hope that will sort it

Hi a 3.54 diff ratio will be the easiest and cheapest way to a solution. Just requires a diff and a change over.

cheers matt

Edit Like he said^^^. Beat by 30 seconds.

[Edited on 13/6/07 by procomp]

Cheapest option is find a real 2000e 4 speed gearbox note 2000e is the name of the old Ford UK a ratio set from the the Corsair V4 2000e which was the first to use this particular gear set -- the Burton Power web site is a bit misleasing on this.

How hard is it to find a 3.54 diff for a Timken type live axle?

And how much would I have to pay for it?

[Edited on 13/6/07 by David Jenkins]

BGH Geartech do a long first gear kit...I have had this fitted to my type 9.....

Dave B.

Flog the diff to the racers, it's the favourite for the locost race series.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mike Page
There are a lot of racers using a hybrid type-9 with a longer first gear for the reasons you have identified. At the end of the season there may be some available as they are banned next year!

BHG or BGH (or something like that) do them and he's a really helpful chap too.

---

I had a look at the BGH website - it looks like about £495 + delivery + VAT on an exchange basis. I can't work out whether that's just for the gear assembly or the whole box.

Bit rich for me, just at the moment. Maybe I'll just investigate the diff...

I'm tempted to keep ye olde 4 speed in the Sylva if / when I go Zetec.

Rob Lane's website reveals the following data.

Gear Ratios
4 Speed 5 Speed
1st
3.656 : 1 3.656 : 1
2nd
2.185 : 1 1.97 : 1
3rd
1.425 : 1 1.37 : 1
4th
1.000 : 1 1.000 : 1
5th
N/a 0.820 : 1

So although the 1st and 4th gears are the same, 2nd and 3rd are usefully shorter. The 5th gear doesn't really matter to me.

Burtons do a kit too
https://www.burtonpower.com/default.aspx?dets_product.aspx?PSet=99&PartNo=GBT9200

James

How difficult is it to fit a replacement kit like that?

I totally rebuilt my crossflow, so have a reasonable amount of technical competence!