As you've gathered, I bought a Formula 27 to run for the summer. It's an auto and I got it nice and cheap... probably because it is an
auto! 
I reckon it would cost under £500 to whack an LT77 manual box in it. Is this money I'm likely to see back, or do I just keep it 'as
is' and sell it for much bargainarooney money with the auto still attached?
Gentlepeople, the floor is yours...
[Edited on 8/7/11 by scootz]
i wouldnt want an auto myself. I had an auto omega and it was a nightmare, it would change gear in the middle of a corner.
Would probably sell easier and for more with a manual box, although the auto box could be good with a V8 !
quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
i wouldnt want an auto myself. I had an auto omega and it was a nightmare, it would change gear in the middle of a corner.
No idea what an f27 with an auto v8 on carb is worth so my 2p is sort the running issues and bang it on the bay . Might have better gearing if the diff ratio is more suited to an auto box .
Formula 27's never seem to fetch much, i don't think it would ever have made anywhere near the original asking price auto or manual,
personally i would just offload it as is, let someone get a bargain and get your money back.......shame really i reckon they are quite underrated, and
the one you have should be an awful lot of fun once running properly.....might not be funny in the bends but what about the straight line potential
Al 
It just ruins the fun! You want to be able to hold slides, and an auto box doesnt help. To get my jeep sideways you pull out hard and then balance the throttle to keep it steady. With an auto, it would change gear when you backed off the throttle.
I wouldn't disregard one just because it had an auto box, however I would have to try it out (never used one) before I made a proper decision
Hang on, if you put a manual box in it, you possibly stand to make a profit when you sell it.
Are you sure you're comfortable with that? There's a first time for everything I suppose 
If you put a manual box in it though, you're unlikely to see much of the summer once you've done sorting out niggles and stumbling blocks.
Probably best to just drive it.
I love automatics - but I would only buy an auto seven if I was going to immediately change it to a manual.
quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
It just ruins the fun! You want to be able to hold slides, and an auto box doesnt help. To get my jeep sideways you pull out hard and then balance the throttle to keep it steady. With an auto, it would change gear when you backed off the throttle.
quote:
Originally posted by indykid
Hang on, if you put a manual box in it, you possibly stand to make a profit when you sell it.
Are you sure you're comfortable with that? There's a first time for everything I suppose
If you put a manual box in it though, you're unlikely to see much of the summer once you've done sorting out niggles and stumbling blocks. Probably best to just drive it.
What did happen to the quantum Scott ?
Some people might like the fact its an auto. If you're not keeping it just put it on ebay and i'm sure you'll get your cash back. An auto might really suit a RV8.
B&M shifter as used by American drag racers would give you near manual shift control.
You noted before its a BW65 box, the BW66 was fitted to jags BTW.
You can modify these to take away most of the automatic function so you end up with three gears and torque convertor, I believe this just involves
playing around with the valve actuator within the box.
When I raced a landrover years ago now, this was a popular box to use as you do not lose traction dipping the clutch when climbing hills and stirring
mud.
Try giving Malcolm linky a call, he used to run a few cars with these so may be provide advise on how
to do this.
For myself, as long as the engine has plenty of power why not, to change the box also involves adding an extra pedal so you may have to reposition the
brakes etc so are in danger of losing the car for the summer.
Regards Mark
nb/ look at the price of his roll cages, kit car manufactures are taking the pee when you look at his prices !
[Edited on 9/7/11 by mark chandler]
Definitely leave as is.
There's loads of manual cars out there.
A lot of them not selling.
To the few who are actively searching for an auto car, yours is the one.
Leave it as it is, enjoy it for a bit, then flog it.
Autobox and big lazy engine is fine. The BW 65 was an impored type 35, a 3 speed with stronger brake bands and clutches to cope with larger
engines.
The type 35 was intended for engines up to 2 litres but was just tough enough to just cope with 3.5 litre Rovers and 4.2 litre Jags.
These BW boxes were tough and simple much better than the later electronic controlled boxes.
Two types of fluid can be used in these BW boxes: high friction and low friction, the low friction additive type gives very smooth gear changes,
the high friction type gives a much more noticeable unpleasant jerk when kicking down
Just to clear up any confusion the Type 65 was fitted to both Rovers and Jags, the type 66 a later improved version.
just advertise it as a mobility seven, I am sure there are a lot of people who would like to have a toy car but have some disability, could make
some-one very happy
Denis
quote:
Originally posted by kipper
just advertise it as a mobility seven, I am sure there are a lot of people who would like to have a toy car but have some disability, could make some-one very happy
Denis
quote:
Originally posted by kipper
just advertise it as a mobility seven, I am sure there are a lot of people who would like to have a toy car but have some disability, could make some-one very happy
Denis
Cheers guys. As always - you're right... all of you!
(PS - it does have a B&M pro-ratchet shifter).
quote:
Originally posted by scootz
quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
i wouldnt want an auto myself. I had an auto omega and it was a nightmare, it would change gear in the middle of a corner.
That's a possible concern... torquey-engine + lightweight-car + kickdown mid-corner could = brown pants!
I'd be surprised if you could swap in a manual geabox without an mods - mounts and prop would probably have to be changed.
Advertise it and see how it goes. Highlight the Auto part as a rarity and make it a selling point; car suitable for less able bodied drivers.
.... and to answer your question, I would not buy any automatic car.
[Edited on 9/7/11 by 02GF74]
quote:
Originally posted by scootz
quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
i wouldnt want an auto myself. I had an auto omega and it was a nightmare, it would change gear in the middle of a corner.
That's a possible concern... torquey-engine + lightweight-car + kickdown mid-corner could = brown pants!
Cheers Dr D!
The BW65/66 just has 1, 2 and D. I'd like to bin the D and replace with 3 only. Is this possible? If so, do you know of any 'how to..
' guides to do it?
PS - I have a B&M Pro-shifter ratchet if that makes any difference!
[Edited on 9/7/11 by scootz]
Found a plate on the box... it's a BW66, so stronger internals!
quote:
Originally posted by scootz
Cheers Dr D!
The BW65/66 just has 1, 2 and D. I'd like to bin the D and replace with 3 only. Is this possible? If so, do you know of any 'how to.. ' guides to do it?
PS - I have a B&M Pro-shifter ratchet if that makes any difference!
[Edited on 9/7/11 by scootz]
My MK Indy Auto is for sale...here!
John.