Stay Manual or go Auto

Big woof · Post by **Big woof** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 1:58 pm

Paddle clutch would handle the torque from the engine I would have thought. Or there is quaife sequential gear box 6 speed only need a clutch to set of and then just floor it and bang it thourgh the gears

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 8:20 pm

For my vote TH350, TH400 or a lenco if you have to have a clutch or a lencodrive and dump the clutch.
The 350 and 400 are cheep, failey common easy to uprate and will handle pretty well anything you can throw at them. they will gain you time on the strip, especially if you have a trans brake.
Three or four speed lenco would be just cool in the cappa, all those levers and a lencodrive means you don't have to strain that old left leg of yours.
Best regards
Mike

Post by **Coops** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 10:00 pm

no mike im not falling for the mind games again,

(mmmm wonder if they do lenco's on ebay lol)

mgbv8 · Post by **mgbv8** » Sat Feb 09, 2013 10:25 pm

kiwicar wrote:For my vote TH350, TH400 or a lenco if you have to have a clutch or a lencodrive and dump the clutch.
The 350 and 400 are cheep, failey common easy to uprate and will handle pretty well anything you can throw at them. they will gain you time on the strip, especially if you have a trans brake.
Three or four speed lenco would be just cool in the cappa, all those levers and a lencodrive means you don't have to strain that old left leg of yours.
Best regards
Mike

OR!!
Do what we are doing to Tricky's TR8. TH400 with forward manual kit fitted with a heavy duty multi plate hydraulic clutch and ratchet shifter.

So its an auto but it still has the third pedal

Best of both worls for Coops maybe. Clutch in and rev it up. Lights go green and you dump the clutch for a near transbrake launch. Then punch through the gears on the ratchet with no clutch pedal needed for super quick gear shifts.

You then drive it as a manual pattern auto by selecting gears up and down as you need them. But when you want to stop you still need to dip the clutch or shift to neutral

Should be fun to drive in 2014 when its back on track eh??

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 7:57 pm

th400 manualised with clutch would be a good way forward

and be good for talking points (B&M shifter seems to work well on the 'glide and will do a 350 or 400)
Th350 would do the job with a converter, not sure if the clutch might not be a bit harsh on it so a 400 would be a better bet there.
best regards
Mike

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 3:30 pm

Hi Tony
Jeffco also make nice 3 and 4 speed transmissions with lots of leavers, very cool

http://www.jeffcoperformance.com/Transm ... rmance.php
Best regards
Mike

Post by **katanaman** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 5:01 pm

Just curious but is there any reason why nobody is looking at something like the AMG or high end Merc boxes? 6 speed autos (something like a 722.6) can be had for pretty reasonable money (the market has moved to 8 speed twin clutch) and there are a few controllers available for them these days starting from under £100 diy Arduino. The are rated at 900NM 630lb/ft so are pretty damn strong and if you wanted to you could even find a way to convert or make the flappy paddle change for full manual or programmable auto shift.

kiwicar · Post by **kiwicar** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 5:20 pm

Hi
the reason I have not considered them is the cost of controlers and the rather terrible reputation of the twin clutch ones fitted to Audis to select two gears at once whilst moving and promptly break themselves.
If however there are now sensibly priced controlers I will investigate.
Best regards
Mike

Post by **katanaman** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 5:29 pm

I dont think the 6 has twin clutches but I could be wrong on that. As for the controller there are a few DIY systems out there. This is some videos from someone I know on another forum who sells units to give you an idea http://www.youtube.com/user/olefejer?feature=watch

mgbv8 · Post by **mgbv8** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 9:45 pm

Coops could end up with an AMG flappy paddle box !

I would love to be able to afford a Lenco setup. That would put more knobs in an MGB than a "how many MG anoraks can we fit in a MGB" competition could

Appologies to MG fans out there. No offence meant

stevieturbo · Post by **stevieturbo** » Mon Feb 11, 2013 11:00 pm

Coops wrote:im running a manual at present a R380 box,
just the clutch options for the rover are small i need something to handle around 500lbft to be safe,
the current clutch set-up i can spin off the line if im not carefull.

uprated AP green spring

When I first turbocharged my RV8, I had an AP paddle and single disc and it worked great. Given the Rotrex wont produce huge torque, I really wouldnt worry that much.
I had the friction disc relined, and one of the guys off the forum bought it and is still using it I think ?

And there are plenty of clutch options if you make the effort. Mcleod street twin is one that will handle it and lots lots more.
Or I'm sure one of their big singles with a paddle disc would do the job.

Or with more effort and cost, a custom twin plate based on a small diameter race clutch shouldnt work out horrifically expensive. Helix, Quartermaster etc etc Flywheel might be the only awkward bit to using a small diameter clutch.

As for going auto....if you're heading down the route of drag only then it probably is the way to go.
But factor in what your overall gearing will be with final drive etc.

Post by **Coops** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 12:10 am

found this:
http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-RB7491UR

Post by **Coops** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 12:22 am

and this one rated to 500lbft
http://www.v8tuner.co.uk/product.php?id=825

Eliot · Post by **Eliot** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 9:06 am

TH400 is a big heavy box and I think overkill / unnecessary for your setup (power, weight of car, traction from rear wheels) - only select if you are thinking of lots of Nitrous, Ford 9" and big drag tyres.

As Pel alludes to, a TH350 is trusty unit which has a justified reputation. Plenty of knowledge and experience out there and parts are easy to obtain and cheap.
Torqueflyte TF727 is a good strong box too and is a good candidate - but the TH350 just pips it just because it’s so commonly used.
In my opinion avoid manual valve bodies if you intend to use the car even partially on the road - I had one for a while and I hated it. You lose the kickdown function (floor it, it changes down a gear). It’s up to you to know at what revs to select the correct gear and unlike a manual box where the syncro won’t let you put it into 2nd gear at 70mph, a manual valve bodied auto WILL let you do it (ask me why i know..)
TH700R4 also worth considering, Main benefits are 4 speeds, very low ratio first gear (but a wide gap between 1 and 2) and a lockup torque convertor - which is a clutch inside the torque convertor that locks both sides together . This reduces the ‘slip’ to zero and gives better fuel economy - only use when cruising typically.
As for other boxes, merc etc – main reason they are not favoured is just because of the level of experience and commonality of other GM boxes described above.
Personally I wouldn’t do anything thing until you have your car on the road, tuned and bugs ironed out with the sc.

PM me for my views on the gearbox specialist Perry mentions - I certainly dont agree with Pel on that one.

stevieturbo · Post by **stevieturbo** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 9:27 am

I dont think a single organic unit will be a safe option.

You will need a paddle style disc. Call the clutch suppliers and speak to them