can centre oil pickup pipe be fitted?
Turbo Mini Forums

i will soon be replacing the gearbox for one thats all ready built up but if has the standard pickup, can i replace this with a centre pickup whilst the box is all together?
i will be changing the diff for a cross pin one but the rest of the gearbox is staying put.

thanks. Dan

You have to lift the laygear out so required a partial stripdown to get it in.

Not complicated at all though.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

I don't know wether or not to not do it just yet. I have the gearbox built up. I will be putting the engne on it and changing the diff but I have never done anything with the gear box other than the diff and don't want to risk breaking something.
I really do Want oil pressure round roundabouts though!!

Thanks for reply. I just don't feel confident with gear boxes.

you cant fit it without one, you'll lose oil pressure for sure.

i would just do it now, youll only regrett not doing it when its all in.

Edited by Rick.SPI on 17th Feb, 2011.

It's easy enough, it's only nuts and bolts and a shaft to slide out. Get a metro haines manual, they have full stripdown and rebuild instructions for gear boxes

john is spot on here. get a metro heynes manual, it wont take you long to do at all.

no no no. I'm Andy, John is the short chubby lad with the spec's

Yeah Andy is the tall lanky git with the big nose.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

Ok then I will give it a go, I have since decided to get s/c drops is it hard to fit the bottom one - what's it's real name? I know the idler And the 'top' one.

Thanks. Dan

read the haines manual, it's not too bad.

Just orderd metro Haynes from eBay. I have yet to take the engine out so got plenty to do for now.

Thanks. Dan

If you are changing the diff ratio you will have to lock up the box to get the main pinion nut off, so at the same time you can take the nut off the first motion shaft at the other end to replace the bottom transfer gear. I would call it the input gear but each to their own.

I'm not changing the ratios Tom. The box is built up Allready though it is pretty much brand new with only about 2 months usage on it. It is standard so I want to add the oil pickup. X-pin diff and the straight cut drops. Then next year the engine will be rebuilt. It has a short FD in at the moment though I don't know what it is I will count the teeth when I remove it. It felt a lot nicer than the one that I used after that on a different engine.

Thanks for advice. I will probably have more questions come the time I am pulling it to bits.
What is the next weakest part of the box after that is all done? How many banans will the helical gears take before they become unreliable?

Thanks. Dan

We're running a standard box with cross pin diff and s/c drops at 150 bananas on the metro van. I'll be splitting it of the block tomorrow to see how well it has survived. It would be fair to say it's been abused ever since it was fitted, but it certainly drove OK before it came out.

That's brilliant news for me Andy I look forward to seeing how it did as I want somewhere in the region of 150 but only next year after the engine is rebuilt. The gearbox by that time will have another 6 months road use with only a but of track use if I manage any at all.

My manual came well quick from eBay! It was at home waiting for me when I got home from work yesterday. Will have a look at it today.

Did you get the box off yesterday?

Thanks. Dan

I'm working in Rotherham today with not much actual work on if anyone is in the garage and fancies a bit of a chat?

Couldn't shift the flywheel. Left it torqued up over night. I'm in work near Bradford...

EDIT: If you are around Rotherham when I am, I'm happy to run through gearbox basics with you.

Edited by apbellamy on 23rd Feb, 2011.

I might be back here again it's a big job that I'm on so will be on for a while. But Im not sure what days.
How long has you gearbox been on the car?

2-3000 miles, it's only being replaced as we'ev got a s/c gear set