Gearbox Builders
Turbo Mini Forums

Ello chaps, the time is coming for me to really start my turbo build and ive chosen (with good advice) to build a strong box and bottom end and tweak things after.

Firslty im going to start with the gearbox and work my way up, i dont have massive pockets and want the best possible setup for a reasonable price. Ive been doing some research and have decided on getting my box re builts with all new gears, rings and layshaft etc, with a centre oil pick up, s/c drops and a competition diff pin or maybe even a 4-pin diff unit.

Does this box of joy sound okay to you gurus? Any opinions would be wiked as well as reccomendations on what i sohlud go for. I like the look of Morspeed and have heard good things about them:

http://www.morspeed.co.uk/minigearboxes.htm

Ive looked at the basic £300 re con and stated as above what other goodies id like to put in.

Who else would do decent box builds and what do you lot think about the possible spec ive mentioned! Thanks again guys

Rich

I'd suggest that a 4 pin diff is required as a minimum really. S/C drops are also a good idea.

You also mention "new gears", what do you mean by this?

My advice is to buy the haynes metro manual and do it yourself. Gearboxes are so easy to rebuild it's untrue - I just don't understand why peeps see it as a 'black art' or surround it with mystery...
The only thing you can do wrong is to try and put the (i think) 3/4 fixed hub on the wrong way round, or the sliding sleeves on the wrong way round.
All that's needed is to scribe a mark, or scribe 'diff' or something on the appropriate side before removing and you won't screw up the re-assembly.

That does depend Dave. For example I have friends who would think twice about changing the cambelt for example on their own car. So they would have neither the confidence, tools or ability to perform a gearbox rebuild. On the other hand, if a fairly big job such as a clutch change or head gasket change on an unfamiliar vehicle does not phase you in the slightest, then you are probably quite able to go about rebuilding your gearbox.

ah, well - yes. I see your point Tom. But there are a surprising number of peeps who will happily build engines, but are scared to death of gearbox builds...
The mini is the EASIEST automotive transmission to rebuild i know of - conversely, getting it from the car to the workbench is the worst of all others though!

Hmm. Well im eager to learn and do have a hands on practical head anyway. I may give it a go myslef then! I just cant help thinkin that if i do one thing wrong it could kaput and ill have to re do it all over again. I suppose if a pro does it youve got the re assurence that its all ready to be bolted on to the bottom of the block.

What stuff would i need to get if i wanted to re con it myself? Did someone say something about a re build kit?

Thanks for the replys!

Rich

as has been said, get a metro haynes and get going. There are a few problems, but im sure you'll always find the answers here. On the up side, your not going to break it so give it a go.

I've seen the future and tbh its Pie

Tom speaks good. If changing a water pump of head gasket is something you'd leave to a garage - definately leave transmission building to someone else aswell...

Ive done a water pump change, two head gaskets and driveshaft oil seals without and problems! Its just i know its one of the most if not the most important part to get right and i dont want to fluff it.

i didnt feel comfortable rebuilding my gearbox either. get in touch with a chap called 'icklemini' on minifinity, he built my gearbox for me for a good price and his work was spot on.

a note on the haynes manual theres a couple.
the one you want is the 1980 to 1987 one with ablack and white metro on the front.
you DONT want the 1980 to 1990 one with the red metro on as this doesnt tell you anything!

get on ebay and youll pick one up for a couple of quid have a flik through it nd see whether you think you can do it or not.

no longer a series, but still 1.3 turbo.

Hogsters pretty damn good for gearboxes, he may have quite a bit on at the mo but worth asking!!

-MINI CLUBMAN 1380 TURBO-

More examples of peeps who do engine work but don't touch gearboxes!

WHAT'S UP WITH YOU ALL ???



LOL!

because my gearbox man is so cost reasonable its not worth my time running about for bits to do it myself ,plus i'm scares of the gearbox monster that lives at the bottom,

carl

WWW.FORCE-RACING.CO.UK PLEASE CLICK HERE

hmmm, I thought even you did your own...

I'm sat here now starting to think that maybe because i eat, sleep & breath transmissions - this is why I don't understand peeps being scared of the gearbox monster...

i have always fanced a go but gearbox's always seem so complicated

i have a couple kicking around now is there anything to look for in the casing with regards to wear?

I do my own gearboxes, it really isn't that tricky to be honest. My recommendation to anyone that fancies having a go would be to get an old knackered 998 etc box to practise on. If you can dismantle that all the way, and understand how it all works, e.g. synchro's, shift mechanism, and put it back toegther, then you should be OK to have a go at your own.

Wolfie, I always check the mainshaft bearing housings to make sure the outer races have not spun in the housing, and also the layshaft bored holes to make sure there is no wear there as well. Other than that, a good visual check is OK.

ive just started doing mine, it may well turn into a recipe for disaster, however once its apart it really isnt as complex as you would imagine