Standard gearbox
Turbo Mini Forums

Hi all. What's the standard metro turbo gearbox capable of? I know it's a strange question and depends on condition the way it's driven etc etc, but what do you think its capable of?
I don't want crazy power probably standard or just over a little. what upgrades would be best made to be reliable? I'm not the sort of person to be thrashing it alot but wouldn't want to be worrying when I did want to give it a good boot full. What are the week points in the box? as I've heard these gearboxes can be fragile.
Sorry for so many questions just trying to get an idea of things.
Thanks Ben.

Can anyone spread any gen on this?

120bhp seems to be the accepted reliable horsepower for a standard box, drops and cross pin diff.

But then again robert is putting silly power through standard drops and they haven't failed. But looking at tom booths thread he trashed a set with much less power so its roulette really.

Just assemble it with tight tolerences and hope for the best!

Thanks very much for the info pal

Rover deemed 94bhp and similar torque.

Thats why they boost limited the engines in the mid range, to keep torque down.

And even then the boxes and diffs werent great.

With a decent diff, and a well built box, a bit more power than that should last a fair while though.

9.85 @ 145mph
202mph standing mile
speed didn't kill me, but taxation probably will

how you drive the car is going to be a big factor too,

i'd say robert "how do robert P" proboly drives it quite carefully/smoothly feeding the ower in most driving situations apart from when he hits the drag strip or a trackday

if there the only times your gonna drive with vigour then you box will last longer on standard OE parts a given

if you like that rush of power in 2nd & 3rd & gunn it a bit in those gears a few times a wekk then expect bits to fall apart

my driving style on "the road" has changed alot since buying a camper van but i carry on that slow relaxed driving style in my mini turbo or metro turbo daily

hit the track & i'll drive like a complete novice twat LOL cause i have'nt a clue

SKYLINES ARE LIKE CLITS, EVERY FLANGE SEEMS TO HAVE ONE: see this sticker on my silvia

the Search-section on this forum is blummin superb & simple to use, unlike some other forums, without the search-section & the help of this bunch of chaps on here i'll never be able to !!!Start the day with a 998cc turbo!!! :) i'm getting closer though!

Tom Fenton says: I have it all, make me an offer

I have had 100hp normaly aspirated with a 50hp straight hit of nitrous on helical gears and its been fine.

I think the biggest problem is the high torque and long final drives. The shorter the final drive, the less strain put on the transmission. I run either the 3.6 or the 3,7. Same reason the MPi box breaks when in reality, its the same box as has been for years.

Ben,

I have 130 bhp and around 125 foot pounds of torque, with standard drops and standard turbo box internals, and it drives real nice. 8-)

Don't get me wrong, I have brand new bearings throughout and have all my thrust tolerances within specification.

I change the oil regularly and take it real easy in first, i.e. no wheel spin at the lights (well not every week), I just get her rolling...and I enjoy a real nice 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Which to be fair more than makes up for the easy start off.

I never boot it unless i am going in a straight line so not to tax the diff, however you must at the very least up grade the diff to a cross pin, if you are serious in the long term, a quaife atb or lsd is preferable.

If you want more than say 130 bhp then you must up grade the gear set for peace of mind. however well set up standard drops may put up with more power but will loose you hp at the wheels due to side load induced frictional losses and inhereant surface area contact.

In short putting more money into your transmission to start with will save you big time in the long run in terms of time consuming gear box rebuilds and false hope...and at the risk of hardened gear teeth being sucked up by your oil pump into your engine pump and bearings...

remember money spent in the transmission will provide extended enjoyment of all and any of your horse power mods you may make...

Any thing more than 130 hp and you will need a grey clutch cover, upto 130 an upgraded verto may do or orange pre verto set up.

and not to be forgotten lightening the car will reduce the strain on the box and will reduce the work done.

Cheer

Brocky

(speaking from experience and from what I have read on here over the years...Turbophils web site also speaks volumes...

Turbominis
"The No.1 Turbocharged A-Series resource!!"):)

Edited by Brocky on 5th Feb, 2010.

BTW - I took my buddy VTEC Pete out for a spin this weekend, and even though I am running her in, he gave it a name, the "Brocket"...cause I'm a brocket maaannn, nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah....

Build thread - http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=7483

Katy Mini Owners Club Thread - http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=505552

Let's make sure you embarrass at least one VTEC MINI today !

https://www.facebook.com/groups/17557298589...096464253807802

Thanks very much for your advice. I have the engine sat in my garage waiting for when I have chance to build my ultimate mini in a year or so (a pick up) tbh I don't want to be hammering it all the time. I just want something with enough power to be able to drive it comfortably with the added bonus of a turbo. I really arnt going to be wheel spinning it in 1st gear etc. and I have a smooth driving style. Ie rolling the power on smoothly rather than just planting it. Brocky you have a very good point about parts of the gearbox going into the engine. Would a standard clutch not hold upto the 120bhp mark?

Any increase in torque from standard will tend to spin the standard turbo verto set up.

You really need to change to the pre verto clutch set up (with the long arm).

Upto 130 Bhp you should be ok with an Orange cover
Over this and you will need a grey
Over 170 Bhp then theres the Double grey

Its also worth doing the turbodave mod of machining a mm of each of the lugs on the back plare.

There are also some upgrade verto covers avalible, I'm using a techniclutch 30% power upgrade and its currently holding well, but it is a new plate, and I don't think it will take much more...

I intend to fit my pre verto setup soon, with a grey cover, so that I can up the boost to 12-14PSI.

I think Robert on here modified his verto setup using double springs and has really good results with it, so a search might be worth while. :)

BTW - I took my buddy VTEC Pete out for a spin this weekend, and even though I am running her in, he gave it a name, the "Brocket"...cause I'm a brocket maaannn, nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah....

Build thread - http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=7483

Katy Mini Owners Club Thread - http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=505552

Let's make sure you embarrass at least one VTEC MINI today !

https://www.facebook.com/groups/17557298589...096464253807802

Again thanks for the information

any more info would be great the more the better.

Cheers Ben