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Author: Subject: Best Gearbox
scootz

posted on 18/1/12 at 11:31 AM Reply With Quote
Best Gearbox

Yep... very subjective, so I'll try and narrow down my criteria.

Reasonably priced (up to £250).
Lightweight.
Detachable bellhousing.
Decent aftermarket scene.
Capable of handling up to 250 ft/lbs of torque.
Slick shifting.
... oh, and lightweight! Did I already say lightweight!?

I've heard that the Mazda 5-speed box is a corker, but there are quite a few variants... does anyone know which one is 'best'?

Any other suggestions?

Cheers.

[Edited on 18/1/12 by scootz]





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rodgling

posted on 18/1/12 at 11:39 AM Reply With Quote
BMW E36 3-series box is light & cheap and can take loads of power & torque (260 lb-ft in the M3, 370 lb-ft in the M5 which I suspect is the same box). The five speed is supposed to be the stronger version.

IIRC it's about 30 kg.

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scootz

posted on 18/1/12 at 11:41 AM Reply With Quote
Cheers Rodg... will check it out!





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scootz

posted on 18/1/12 at 11:44 AM Reply With Quote
PS - meant to add that it must have a detachable bellhousing!

Do you know if the E36 one comes away (it's hard to tell from the pics I'm looking at).





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rodgling

posted on 18/1/12 at 11:46 AM Reply With Quote
No, it doesn't. Nothing an angle-grinder can't fix though... I'm sure it could be modded.
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PSpirine

posted on 18/1/12 at 11:47 AM Reply With Quote
From what I remember the E36 box does NOT have a detachable bell housing.. However, I took it out of the car a year ago and didn't really pay much attention so don't remember too well.


It's also extremely fat (think MT75 vs. Type 9) but is a reliable and very nice gearbox indeed.


Got one in the garage (somewhere) if you decide you want one to play around with.

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scootz

posted on 18/1/12 at 11:51 AM Reply With Quote
Thanks guys!





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ashg

posted on 18/1/12 at 01:14 PM Reply With Quote
omega v6 gearbox is a huge improvement over a type9 its 11kg lighter better gear change, will take bags of power, cheap as chips. only downside is that it doesn't have a detachable bell housing. on the plus side it will fit vauxhall and saab engines so there are plenty of options for good easy power.





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scootz

posted on 18/1/12 at 01:21 PM Reply With Quote
11kg's lighter than a Type 9... ???

That'd put it in the low 20's (kg).





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scootz

posted on 18/1/12 at 01:26 PM Reply With Quote
Just had a look... it is dinky!

I'd need a bespoke (longer) input shaft to make it work though





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rost

posted on 18/1/12 at 01:28 PM Reply With Quote
The older Getrag 265 (E30 I think) is supposed to be pretty strong too, it does have a detachable bellhousing





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fesycresy

posted on 18/1/12 at 01:37 PM Reply With Quote
Getrag 265 out of the Jags are getting rare especially for £250. But it is a good 'box.

How about a Supra 'box, maybe be a Getrag and it has a detachable bell housing.





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MakeEverything

posted on 18/1/12 at 02:08 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by scootz
Just had a look... it is dinky!

I'd need a bespoke (longer) input shaft to make it work though


Or a splined coupling made up....

[Edited on 18-1-12 by MakeEverything]





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rdodger

posted on 18/1/12 at 04:38 PM Reply With Quote
The mazda 5 Speed is good but doesn't have a detatchable bell housing. The 6 speed is better and known to handle more torque/power.

It is more bulky than a Type 9 and doesn't fit in all 7 chassis. Ask me how I know!

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gdische

posted on 18/1/12 at 04:40 PM Reply With Quote
The Toyota W58 box from 1980's Supras is great, but they are getting hard to find now. They do have separaqte bellhousings.

Geoff

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Neville Jones

posted on 18/1/12 at 05:10 PM Reply With Quote
Get a Borg Warner T5 from USA. Bell housings are available for nearly every common day engine for these. May be a little more than £250 though, by the time it gets here. Maybe check for the american car wreckers in Oxfordshire, near the yank airbases.

Cheers,
Nev.

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scootz

posted on 18/1/12 at 05:21 PM Reply With Quote
Cheers all! Off for more 'virtual' rummaging to see what's available!





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mark chandler

posted on 18/1/12 at 06:18 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by fesycresy
Getrag 265 out of the Jags are getting rare especially for £250. But it is a good 'box.

How about a Supra 'box, maybe be a Getrag and it has a detachable bell housing.


The 265 Getrag I have on the floor does not have a detachable bell housing, it's from a 4.0ltr, I believe the earlier 3.6/2.9 engined cars had something different that did.

Oh, its bloody heavy as well these are however fitted in high end BMW's, nice box make sure you get the prop, flywheel etc as they make good money when a complete package.

Regards Mark

[Edited on 18/1/12 by mark chandler]

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phil clegg

posted on 20/1/12 at 09:33 PM Reply With Quote
gearbox

yes for the 3 series box,light strong very cheap ,easy to find,hydraulic clutch,downsides are bellhousing is integral,also the problem i had to solve when i used on an alfa v6 the input splines are a long way back due to the type of flywheel bmw use,this means input into clutch needs mod or shorten box which i did.phil
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scootz

posted on 20/1/12 at 09:48 PM Reply With Quote
Cheers Phil.

PS - Meant to update the thread to say that I found an RX7 Turbo box dirt cheap, so I'm going to give that a whirl.

PPS- Yes, I know it's not that light








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