Gearbox ratios
Will standard gear ratios be ok if I stay with a less highly tuned engine? I am planning to use an all-alloy 80hp Suzuki 1300 initially, but upgrade
it to a 130hp Suzuki 1800 later (largest capacity in the same engine family).
There is only set of ratios for the Suzuki gearbox (from the Carry/Jimny/Samurai) :
3.652
2.249
1.472
1.000
0.795
In comparison, the MX5 has :
3.136
1.888
1.330
1.000
0.814
IIRC, the purpose of a close ratio gearbox is to keep the engine in it's power band. If I keep a wide power band, rather than going for a
traditional peaky performance engine, would there be any real advantage in a close ratio box?
How does the lighter weight of the Locost affect the choice of ratios? The lighter weight will give me better acceleration in all the gears - will
this exagerate the wider spacing of the ratios or is it really not an issue?
Bryan Miller
Auckland NZ
Bruce McLaren - "Where's my F1 car?"
John Cooper - "In that rack of tubes, son"
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