GT6boy Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 Having spent an enjoyable day getting jiggy with the car (see photo), I was puzzled as to the queer number stamped into the gearbox top. Anyone got any ideas? :-/ :-/ I believe it is was a Kipping GT6 box with J type conversion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 On any box that has been through the hands of reconditioners (and that is most of them by now!) this number is basically meaningless. If it is really a proper Kipping J-type conversion then you are fortunate. Is it the same length as a standard OD (D-type) box or the 1" longer version as cooked up from single rail Dolomite 1850 parts?Post a picture of the whole box maybe?CheersNick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6boy Posted September 24, 2007 Author Share Posted September 24, 2007 Hi Nick How's this for size? Any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 Yes that is the the shorter adaptor plate from early 1850 Dolomite. Certainly makes the fit easier. See pic of my old gearbox below.As standard, the early 1850 gearbox has the same (rather puny) guts as the Vitesse/GT6 box with the small diameter tip bearing (the real weak spot), but I believe Mr Kipping used specially made main shafts with the larger tip bearing of the single rail combined with the shorter length of the 3 rail to give the best possible combination. When built correctly, using selected late 1850/TR7 parts this is about as strong as these boxes get. There are various people out there still doing this but I think all the special mainshafts are still supplied via Canleys.So have you got one of these? No external way of telling that I know of! If it is reasonably quiet and the input shaft doesn't waggle about much, it is a good sign. You won't be able to tell without taking the lid off, dropping the layshaft and withdrawing the input shaft to see how big the the tip bearing is - don't suppose you want to know that bad? It is just possible someone like Dave Pearson knows of special markings put on Kipping conversions (if indeed there were any), otherwise, see above.Put it back in and drive the car before it gets dark all the time!CheersNick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted September 25, 2007 Share Posted September 25, 2007 Nick_Jones wrote:As standard, the early 1850 gearbox has the same (rather puny) guts as the Vitesse/GT6 box with the small diameter tip bearing (the real weak spot), but I believe Mr Kipping used specially made main shafts with the larger tip bearing of the single rail combined with the shorter length of the 3 rail to give the best possible combination. When built correctly, using selected late 1850/TR7 parts this is about as strong as these boxes get. There are various people out there still doing this but I think all the special mainshafts are still supplied via Canleys. It is just possible someone like Dave Pearson knows of special markings put on Kipping conversions (if indeed there were any), otherwise, see above.CheersNickWe are just having another batch machined. Same machine shop that's been making them for us for the past 20 years.No I don't (know any special markings on Kippings/Canley boxes), because there are none. We just use the next 3 rail, four syncro case in the pile. It might have started life in a Spitfire MKIV, but it could end up behind a GT6MKIII, we have never number matched cases.Having said that one of our (Kippings then) has taken the time to date stamp it, 22.12.98. That was near the end of the Kipping time and could have been built by anyone of three guys, Ashlee Chambers (the main gearbox builder for a number of years), JK himself (rare), or Mick Papworth (for a few years after Ashlee left). As it's stamped M285, my bet is with it's Micks 285th box! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted September 25, 2007 Share Posted September 25, 2007 [quote=GTEVO]Kipping then carried on producing them after 1989-90, with different heat treatment co and machine shop.quote]No you had 'disappeared' long before that because I was involved from 1987 onwards and you weren't on the scene then? It was about that time that all that 6R4 stuff ended up in Milvers furnace because MP didn't see any worth in it, what a shame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted September 25, 2007 Share Posted September 25, 2007 GTEVO wrote:btw fyi,-OR GT,- !Oh well if you are going back that far, or even further then don't forget Ken Tomlinson. He only packed up a couple of weeks ago, and cleared his workshop out. I had some stuff out of there, but more interesting was his stories about the old days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted September 25, 2007 Share Posted September 25, 2007 canleyclassics wrote:Having said that one of our (Kippings then) has taken the time to date stamp it, 22.12.98. That was near the end of the Kipping time and could have been built by anyone of three guys, Ashlee Chambers (the main gearbox builder for a number of years), JK himself (rare), or Mick Papworth (for a few years after Ashlee left). As it's stamped M285, my bet is with it's Micks 285th box!See! I knew you'd know Dave! Seems like you've got a real one Bruce!Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6boy Posted September 25, 2007 Author Share Posted September 25, 2007 ;D What a fantastic resource this forum is. Can I pass on my thanks to all who contributed to this thread- bloody marvellous! A simple question has had people rattling around through garages and trawling memories. THANK YOU ALL. :) :) :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6boy Posted September 25, 2007 Author Share Posted September 25, 2007 ;D Just found the John Kipping reciept from the PO! 18/05/99 £250 G201 D type to J type conversion, OD+GB with all the bits'n'bobs thrown in. Never throw anything away. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordleonusa Posted September 25, 2007 Share Posted September 25, 2007 Gareth, ISTR that your brown beast was at the TSSC International at Cranfield in the summer of 1987?And that you asked Footman James for a quote, but they refused to give you one?or is my fading memory playing tricks???Léon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6Steve Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 OK, us children want to know....First, what's ISTR. More importantly, what's the brown Triumph and should we seek out more details about it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire2500 Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 GT6Steve wrote:what's ISTR.I seem to remember.Or not as the case may be... ;D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6Steve Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 LOL, Thanx S15, I'd have never got that one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 GT6boy wrote: ;D Just found the John Kipping reciept from the PO! 18/05/99 £250 G201 D type to J type conversion, OD+GB with all the bits'n'bobs thrown in. Never throw anything away. :DSo the box had sat around for 5 months before it got mated to a o/d and sold as a D to J? I remember back in 97-98-99 Kippo had virtually given up on selling overdrive conversions and the waiting list was huuuuge. At one point it was something like 5 months and counting which might explain the delay in the box and o/d coming together. Trouble was all centered around the fast disappearing core market at the time. Since then we have had to get all sorts of bit's and bob's sourced/manufactured to continue doing them, and can now quote lead times of about 5 weeks (as against 5 months!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 GTEVO wrote:Well there you are soooooooooo wrong, or you have SOOOOOOOO short memory....A certain book has its 20th anniversary this year (ie. 1987-2007)As I wrote it recovering from a major accident in August 1986, and spent the next 12 months catching up in Coventry.....AND getting a certain brown Triumph back out on the road in the ensuing 12 months I can only suspect you got the collective amnesia....Funny thing memory as you get older eh? Elephants never forget ;DAs for Ken....I can't recollect him doing any decent, or large number of units.....that's why he got dropped rather suddenly..... >:(In fact they were far more interested in doing Rover 5 speed units if I recollect... ::)Well I bow to your superior knowledge/recollection. I left the RAF in March (the 5th March) 1987 and set up Canley Classics. Almost immediately I got involved with Kippo as I had a couple of small chassis Triumph resto's on the go. In the beginning I would visit the shop once a week to collect parts, share the gossip, and get stitched up by MP (I quickly learnt my lesson). I don't recall you being about then? As time went by and we all got more friendly I would pop over on a Friday afternoon and share in the traditional 'Beast Pizza' that Kippo would buy everyone. I have been part of the fabric of the business ever since. Of course having been long term friends with all those involved at the time I know only to well the full story................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrapman Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Sounds Like Gareth was out the back working and starving himself whilst you were indoors eating all the Pizza Dave! ;DColinp.s. It does interest all of us other CT members, as you are both an integral part of the history of the Triumph movement, just as much as the guys from the factory etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6boy Posted September 26, 2007 Author Share Posted September 26, 2007 GTEVO wrote:yea ...we must be all complete nutters......eh? ;DSome of the last chapters will have to go in a book.......aiieee! ::) All part of lifes rich tapestry. Can't make an omelette without breaking a few shells! :o :X Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrapman Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 And to quote ....It is omelettes and eggs. No eggs - no omelettes! It depends on the quality of the eggs. In the supermarket you have class one, two or class three eggs and some are more expensive than others and some give you better omelettes. So when the class one eggs are in Waitrose and you cannot go there, you have a problem"So who's 'The Special One' here.... ;DColin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6boy Posted September 26, 2007 Author Share Posted September 26, 2007 :X 'Oo, you little tinker! In that case, who's El Tel?!? :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 In that case does anyone sell Ostrich eggs? ;D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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