michaelotti Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 1970 HERALD CONVERTIBLE WHICH I'VE HAD GREAT FUN IN FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS INCLUDING A REALLY GOOD WEEKEND AT TATTON, I AM GOING TO IMPROVE THE CAR SLOWLY (CANT DO IT MYSELF SO HAVE TO PAY!!) THE ONLY BLOT FOR ME IS THE GEARBOX, IS IT POSSIBLE TO FIT OVERDRIVE AND IF SO WHAT DO I NEED, OR IS IT BETTER TO SELL AND BUY A VITESSE?Ta, :-/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heraldcoupe Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 Fitting an overdrive is very straightforward nuts-and-bolts work, but if you have to buy a complete kit and pay someone to install it, it's going to be an expensive job. Canley Classics arethe only company I can think of who supply full kits with all new or reconditioned parts, budget around £750 for the parts alone.You can cut the costs drastically by finding individual secondhand parts. the vast majority of what you need can be obtained from a terminally rusty Mk1-IV Spitfire, should be achievable for £200-300. You would be left needing a propshaft, new ones are available at around £150, or secondhand ones from certain other vehicles can be used - you need one which is 46.5" long if you use a Mk1-3 Spitfire gearbox, or slightly shorter for the MkIV type. Local specialists will be able to shorten your original Herald propshaft, but get everything else fitted up and take precise measurements before having this done.Should you sell and buy a Vitesse? Your call really, much faster in a straight line (in unmodified form) but the handling is nowhere near as good. Overdrive was still an option, so you can spend lots of money and still have a car without overdrive. My recommendation would be to get involved with your local area and find someone to hold your hand through doing the overdrive conversion yourself. It's what clubs are all about.....Cheers,Bill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelotti Posted October 11, 2005 Author Share Posted October 11, 2005 Thanks very much for the info, i think that if i managed to get all the bits the work is not beyond something my brother could do, i am quite happy with the Herald really as i'm not interested in racing round in a car that should be looked after i would just like overdrive as it gets a bit noisy cruising at anything much more than 40-45 especially with the hood up, i am going to carry on using the car for 6 months or so and the plan was to have the bodywork and paint done while still keeping it really original as its only done 21k but i think i'll have the o/d done as soon as finaces improve!Thanks, Michael. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted October 11, 2005 Share Posted October 11, 2005 It is a very worth while conversion. Transforms the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelotti Posted October 12, 2005 Author Share Posted October 12, 2005 I can imagine, as it is i tend to try and avoid roads which have long higher speed stretches and stick to the High Street! Were they all really this noisy?Cheers Michael. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heraldcoupe Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 I'm not old enough to remember what they were like when new, but in my experience they are all pretty noisy with the roof up. The Saloons and Coupes can be fairly civilised (as long as they're put together properly), it's the convertible roof which makes them noisy. Keep the roof down and it won't be a problem!Cheers,Bill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 well i have a 13/60 saloon. and i did an 85 mile round trip from Bourne to kettering.and back to deliver a g/box i was motoring on at 60-70 all the way no problem. they are a bit noisy conpared with a modern car.my 13/60 convertable was a bit more noisy but not that much.but that was the most fun i had had in ages from bourne through stamford,corby,kettering, down the 14 to the east bound kettering services.i drive for a living but i really enjoy my heralds and vitesses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Posted October 12, 2005 Share Posted October 12, 2005 Just to say we had the conversion done back in 96 on the White Tornado to go to Hungary with and yes its a D type recommend it to anyone with a Herald who intends to use their car regular especially touring, we wouldn't be without ours now best money we have ever spent , bought it from John Kipping at the time :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelotti Posted October 13, 2005 Author Share Posted October 13, 2005 I'm definately convinced i need to get it done as soon as i can find the funds, i think it will make the car far more useable, i cant imagine doing 60-70 mph though even with the hood down, 50mph seems about as much as i and the car can bear and even that is tiring after a couple of miles.The car is great and i've wanted one for years but every time i've had the funds i've bought something else, it does seem a lot noisier at anything over 40 mph than the mgb's, tr's etc that i've had although i seem to remember that i once had a very early non o/d Dolomite Sprint which was mint and really low mileage but still v noisy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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