Recommendations on gearbox reconditioner

[PaulB]

Hi All

Looking to get my Spitfire 1500 overdrive gearbox reconditioned as it whines in gears 1 to 3.

Any recommendations on a garage that would take it out and recondition it for me.

I don’t want to swap the box for a reconditioned one, but have my own box reconditioned as I have had the car for over 35 years and know it’s history.

I’m based in Essex but will travel for the right person. 

Also what sort of cost should I be budgeting for?

Thanks

Paul

 

 

[iani]

11 minutes ago, PaulB said:

Hi All

Looking to get my Spitfire 1500 overdrive gearbox reconditioned as it whines in gears 1 to 3.

Any recommendations on a garage that would take it out and recondition it for me.

I don’t want to swap the box for a reconditioned one, but have my own box reconditioned as I have had the car for over 35 years and know it’s history.

I’m based in Essex but will travel for the right person. 

Also what sort of cost should I be budgeting for?

Thanks

Paul

 

 

Not hugely difficult to remove a Spit gearbox yourself, it comes out inside the car easily enough. As regards reconditioning, Mike Papworth is in Coventry, Tony Lindsey Dean in Suffolk, plenty of others too, I haven’t had a 4 cyl ‘box done in many years so no idea of cost.

[glang]

59 minutes ago, PaulB said:

Also what sort of cost should I be budgeting for?

All depends on what is found. If youre very lucky and the hardened surfaces on which bearings run directly (mainshaft tip, input shaft socket and laygear internals) are all ok you could get away with a repair kit of around 100 pounds, gaskets and seals plus 2 or 3 hours labour (this doesnt include any OD work).

If the bearing surfaces have worn through their hardness they then wear much faster and generate noise so its no good just replacing the bearing. This is then when you need one of the  specialist mentioned previously because some of these major components are longer available and creative repairs have to be used so of course the cost goes up. However once the unit is disassembled they should be able to give you a price before continuing...

[Kevin R]

Mike Papworth is a Triumph specialist for this sort of work and reconditioned my 1980 Spitfire 1500 box in 2019.   If you contact him with your requirements he will give you a quote.

Whilst my gearbox was out he also fitted overdrive and supplied the cabling, switch etc  plus a new clutch and driveshaft ( the latter 2 items needed replacing anyway and for overdrive the driveshaft is shorter).  Mike also has years of experience in sourcing the best suppliers for components.

Total cost for the above was around £2000 - if your budget will stretch it is worth taking the opportunity to fit overdrive for a number of reasons.

To this you would to factor in removal/refitting costs + transport/courier to and from Coventry.

[JohnD]

Plus one ( in fact plus many for Mike!) from me.

[glang]

Paul already has OD and if its working correctly I think it should be left well alone. Theres some routine maintenance that should be done on the unit but to dismantle it just to look at the cone clutch friction linings seems to me unreasonable...

[Steve P]

I would recommend Mike too, he refreshed both my cars boxes once i removed them, I met him at the M40 services near Warwick to save me going to Coventry (from Surrey).

S

Edited March 4, 2023 by Steve P

[Tim Bancroft]

Hi Paul,

Regular RBRR man, Paul Hughes runs 2Spec classics in Warwickshire.

Did my saloon gearbox last year...very good.

http://www.2specgroup.co.uk/

I believe he would take it out and re-install.

Otherwise try Dale at Moordale

 

[PaulB]

Thanks everyone for your advice. 
 

I will reach out to those suggested.

Thanks

Paul

 

[thescrapman]

Whining in 1-3 implies layshaft bearings, or main shaft tip bearing perhaps.

anything untoward stuck on the magnetic drain plug?

 

[Velocita Rosso]

After the 10CR and arriving with noises from the box, and then investigating refurb costs, it was found to be a better decision just to replace the whole box. In these days sentiment of keeping your original box is maybe not a good decision.You just do not know what may be lurking in there   

Edited March 6, 2023 by Velocita Rosso

[Gus]

Smallman Hall in Bridgnorth Shropshire removed, overhauled my gearbox, overdrive and replaced in car for £2500 inc VAT. ( They only removed etc, as car was already going to them for other work).