yorkshire_spam Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 Is there a dummies guide to Triumph gearbox/OD applications anywhere that I can't find?I'm considering that I should have bought a Spitty with an O/D - but now that the kids have adopted and named the one I've got (and become very attached in the space of 1 weekend) I might have to stick with the one I've got and add overdrive.Now... I understand that there's an overdrive and a non-overdrive gearbox.I also seem to have gathered that the O/D "should" be a Laycock/GKN J-Type (am I wrong?)So I'm looking at figuring out which vehicles had the same box/od as the 1500 '97 Spitfire (if any).... surely there must be some sort of look-up table somewhere that tells me what model of gearbox was fitted to what year of what model of Triumph?! ;)Somebody please point me in the direction of the right information (if only to stop me asking even more dumb questions!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard B Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 You want a;1500 Spitfire, single-rai,l J'Type overdrive gearbox.The same unit was fitted to 1500 Dolomites, however most of that source has dried up. Look on ebay or wait till Stoneleigh next year. Bear in mind you need ancillories as well as the gearbox, such as propshaft, gearstick (incl O/D switch), gearbox mount and X-cross-member.Easy'ish conversion and well worth doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heraldcoupe Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 Guessing your name gives a clue to where you're located, the full conversion kit which is for sale local to me is going to be a little far for you to travel.But if you fancy a trip to Wiltshire, I can put you in touch,Cheers,Bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire_spam Posted September 10, 2012 Author Share Posted September 10, 2012 heraldcoupe wrote:Guessing your name gives a clue to where you're located, the full conversion kit which is for sale local to me is going to be a little far for you to travel.But if you fancy a trip to Wiltshire, I can put you in touch,Cheers,Bill.Wiltshire? That's dooon sooooth isn't it? Somewhere below Sheffield? ;-)No desperate rush for a conversion as I'm doing mostly country roads and round town at the moment - just thinking ahead to motorway miles in the future.More dumb question(s):Does it matter if the O/D is from a triumph or are all GKN/Laycock J types the same?Cheers, Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 I believe the j types are all about the same, a few minor variations.HOWEVER the 1500 od gearbox has a unique (I believe) od housing that bolts to the gear linkage.Besides, you can't bolt s od on the back of a non-od box. It need the mainshaft swapping and adaptor plate.You need (and this will repeat other posts above)OD box with OD attachedOD gearstick/switch/wiringOD propshaftOD mounting plate and rubber mountspeedo angle drive and different speedo cableBest is to get a complete and known good kit. Honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire_spam Posted September 10, 2012 Author Share Posted September 10, 2012 I appreciate that you can't attach an OD to a non-OD gearbox - but there's an OD Box sans OD on eBay at the moment - so I was just trying to get a clear idea of what's required/involved.ie. Does the OD have to be one specific to the Spitfire 1500 gearbox (which would make it as common as rocking horse poo from what I can tell) or "any" J-Type OD (it's not like there are millions of them for sale.... but might be a little easier!)Thanks for the replies everyone - pretty much confirms/clarifies the stuff I was finding online! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard B Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 I'm fairly sure a J'Type from any Triumph 1500, 1850 or 2000.2.5 would fit. Does the gearbox you are looking at incl. the adapter plate? If not you can get them for about £25. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 The 1500 style has the extra bits for the linkage.Actually, it may well be the same casing as the 1850 single rail od unit. Others are no use (internals yes, case no) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 Same casing as 1850 single-rail unit. Basically same OD too though I suspect the operating pressure will be different. 1850 gearbox could be used as a donor (same mainshaft as well) but seems like a bit of a waste.....Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire_spam Posted September 11, 2012 Author Share Posted September 11, 2012 Thanks for all the great information guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velocita Rosso Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 You see....if you had been at the P and P meeting on friday......you would have had all the answers by now ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire_spam Posted September 11, 2012 Author Share Posted September 11, 2012 michael_charlton wrote:You see....if you had been at the P and P meeting on friday......you would have had all the answers by now ;)Are you on some sort of commission for everyone you get to attend the P&P meetings? ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velocita Rosso Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 6797 wrote:Are you on some sort of commission for everyone you get to attend the P&P meetings? ;)Yes...the commission is life long friendship in a great club Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire_spam Posted September 11, 2012 Author Share Posted September 11, 2012 michael_charlton wrote:Yes...the commission is life long friendship in a great club Well, looking at my calendar for access to my kids etc. I should be able to make the December meeting. Unfortunately most "first Friday of the month" I have my kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire_spam Posted September 11, 2012 Author Share Posted September 11, 2012 Been offered (reasonably locally) "Full kit with everything £395 " to do the O/D conversion - does that sound reasonable? Cheap? Over the odds?It's more than 2 bob and a co-op coupon so it sounds like a lot to this tight northerner! ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrookster Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Well, considering Rimmers will sell you the gbox + OD for £800 (and they tend to be pricey), assuming your offer is for a swap of your unit for theirs, and includes actually doing the job it sounds reasonable to me?I can't recall his details off the top of my head, but hunt out details for Mike Papworth, he does a lot of gearbox stuff and has a darn good rep, maybe worth seeing what he suggests?Also, I can never remember, but are the diffs the same between O/D and non-O/D cars? And will this make a difference to Mr Spam?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spider Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Hi If you are having difficulty in sourcing an o/d gearbox for a 1500 at a reasonable price I may be persuaded to part with mine. Only things missing as far as I can see is the gearstick and I think the gearbox mounting chassis plate may also have been removed. If you are in no hurry and find all the others too expensive then keep me in mind. The guy I bought it off is a colleague's father and he bought it from a guy who sold it as an unfinished project, the overdrive was tested down a long driveway by the previous owner and was said to operate as expected with no unusual noises, I can not vouch for it myself as I have not used it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heraldcoupe Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 6797 wrote:Been offered (reasonably locally) "Full kit with everything £395 " to do the O/D conversion - does that sound reasonable? Cheap? Over the odds?Probably about right for a private sale, incredibly cheap if it's a trader and comes with a warranty!As a benchmark, you'd be paying upwards of £1300 for a kit where everything was new or reconditioned,Cheers,Bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.thumb.jpeg.b15b81ef10abeea1c3039ae03c4a9f3a.jpeg)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.