long ratio gearbox...
Turbo Mini Forums

Right hear it goes, I am currently in the process of buying a new shell which I am going to do metro turbo'd. The thing is I would still like to use it as a sort of everyday car to go down the motorways and such as I will be travailing from Swindon to Reading/Basingstoke for my college work (I am a trainee apprentice). my plan is to have a top speed of around 120mph(theoretically) so I will be able to toddle down the m4 without having to worry so much about how high my revs are while still keeping at 70-90ish. I would also like a long ratio for using on track messing around with hot hatches.

i was wondering really what is the best way about doing this, I was hoping to keep the gearbox helical because of the price of strait cut and as i only earn jack per hour.

i hope this made some sense, I couldn’t really find what I was after when I used the search engine so posted this

another query i had was with a rev limiter, can you get one which you could mate to a mega jolt setup (if it doesn’t already have capability to it), as I do have the bad habit of trying to get that little bit more out of each gear I don’t want to blow the engine

yours paul

ps sorry about the spelling, i did have used work spell check so should be ok now.

Edited by Paul R on 11th Sep, 2007.

Drives
-Ford S-max Mk2 Ecoboost
-Rover 100 VVC #2 - track project

Searching is all you need on TurboMinis

you need a higher final drive 2.9 or 2.7 perhaps

hoggie is your chap on rebuilding to spec

personally i think 120 is optomistic without some serious power

Edited by wolfie on 11th Sep, 2007.

i was only meaning theoretical 120mph top speed, i would be very happy to hit 110-115 tbh.
and thank you :)

Drives
-Ford S-max Mk2 Ecoboost
-Rover 100 VVC #2 - track project

Searching is all you need on TurboMinis

Or what about an MPi box with the normal 1st, 2nd, 3rd then a nice tall 4th? Has anyone tried this?

i would like to have the ratios so they flow like a standard box, i dont particualy want to have 3 quick gears then a really slow 4th

Drives
-Ford S-max Mk2 Ecoboost
-Rover 100 VVC #2 - track project

Searching is all you need on TurboMinis

Well, you need a re-think then, as A+ ratio boxes have somet like a 1.43 step from 3rd to direct, wheras a SC box has around a 1.26 step from 3rd to 4th...

So if you want a closer 3>4, then you need a close reatio transmission.


I'd stay the fudge away from the MPi gearset. Find a S/GT ratio set - these are wider than the SC ratio's and have a start-gear that makes a 2.7 or 2.95 final drive a realistic 'nice drive' option without too much clutch slip.

Alternativly - see if you can get an answer out of quaife regarding their 'alternative' wide ratio SC gearset. They don't answer my emails - maybe you'll have more luck with them...

Edited by turbodave16v on 11th Sep, 2007.

i still have a gt engine sat at my house

yes a s or gt ratio's with a 2.95 would be fine but would need a nice breathed over engine to make it a bit sporty but keep mpg good.

always looking for them bigger bunches of bannanas

I am confused now by what Turbo Dave says about not going for the MPi gearset as that is my set of choice ...... I've spent the last couple of years buying up every MPi box I can find!!!

Below is a quick gear step table based on TD's data in another thread (all of mine have these ratios so it might be more common that first thought!)

1st 2nd 3rd 4th
MkIII Cooper 'S' & 1275 GT (Close Ratio) 3.33 2.094 1.353 1

so steps are 1.590 1.548 1.353


Mpi (some not all) 3.44 2.06 1.35 1

so steps are 1.670 1.526 1.350

To my mind the last couple of shifts have the same step (near as damn it) and the 1st - 2nd is a little bit more on the MPi .... but that is desirable on a "road" car which is likely to be fairly heavy (nice seats ..... leather??? .. mmm, reasonable stereo ...... speakers are quite heavy, maybe a webasto roof, electric everything). Even more so if your going for a tall final drive like 2.7:1 (which is free in MPi boxes)

Candice's MPi is a joy to drive, a proper usable first, 30 mph around town is a comfortable 3rd gear cruise and motorways no problem at all .... did 350 miles staright the other week in it, roof open, and arrived feeling happy and comfortable ..... something that can not be said for most Minis!!!

just wondering why Turbo Dave doesn't rate the gear set? Especially as MPi boxes can be had for less than an "S" gear kit and come with a tall FD for free.

Edited by RogerM on 12th Sep, 2007.

Every day is a school day ...........

How fast and how expensive ...... the same question...

it may be due to a quality issue maybe?

Maybe but I've now got 7 of them and yet to find a worn gear set ..... drops always seem to have picked up on the thrust face though ....

Every day is a school day ...........

How fast and how expensive ...... the same question...

Well, every MPi gearset I've seen has been toast....

That is why i'd avoid it.

But if you have some spares, then crack on...

So it's a case of seeing in bits before you buy then ......

It may not work out in the end and I guess I'll find out soon enough but so far I'm happy with the one's I've got.

Candice's car is going to murder boxes if there is any weakness due to the fact that it's going to be so damn heavy. LOL

Every day is a school day ...........

How fast and how expensive ...... the same question...

wide ratio gear set? - that'll be the metro economy gear set you need (found in HLE's ..) - fantastic for fat torquey motors and high final drives :)

1st gear = 4.004:1
2nd = 2.307:1
3rd = 1.435:1
4th =1:1

the standard A+ is:
1st = 3.64:1
2nd = 2.18:1
3rd = 1.42:1
4th = 1:1

ttfn,
Dave

Edited by icklemini on 12th Sep, 2007.

Drives
-Ford S-max Mk2 Ecoboost
-Rover 100 VVC #2 - track project

Searching is all you need on TurboMinis

sorry wolfie pm'd got first dibs on engine. pm him asking if he has the gearbox for sale!