697 replies to this topic

[Bungle]

so IT isnt square wheels

[JetBLICK]

Have been checking out the ratios of the gearset I have. Looks like its a ST Abingdon set, at least 2nd and 3rd match those ratios. I have a standard 31 tooth 1st gear, so need to dry assemble the box and see if that gear even works! If not a 29 tooth 1st gear will be ordered from 'Spares. All in all this £420 gearset (new from 'Spares) will have cost me £110 or £170!

I believe if you have standard first gear then you may have a clubman gearkit. Its what i'm using, it uses the standard first and reverse. The 2nd, 3rd (and obviously 4th) are the same as the ST ratios. 1st is slightly different however, it has a 2.55 ratio as opposed to a 2.58 thats on the ST gearset.

Nice build jammy, good find on the gearset too, i've been lookin on ebay for ages, cant believe i missed them, u live up to ur name dont u - cept the 'Dr' bit

[Jammy]

Yea, I've wondered about whether I have the Clubman set, although the laygears are listed as different part numbers, and I thought the 2nd ratio was different?

I think it was one of the best bargains I've had, as long as it all works! It was one of those 'do you have a buy it now price' type auctions!

[Jammy]

Well I've been puttin in overtime in the evenings and have just completed my 2nd 7day week, consecutive day 22 of work tomorrow! With all this work the progress has slowed some what, put that doesn't stop me buying stuff! This next bit being something I won on Ebay a couple of weeks back, but was only able to collect last Friday night. One A+ gearbox with crosspin diff, again for a special price of £78.

Picked up the gearbox which was slightly (understatment) grimy and dirty:

(click for bigger)

So part of Saturday afternoon (after I'd got home from work) was spent cleaning it up. Initially I set about with a few wire brushes and hot water with washing up liquid. This was somewhat effective at getting the worst of the grime off, but after a good 30 minutes I started to think there was a better solution! So off I go into the garage to fetch the WD40, on my way out I spy a can of carb cleaner and decide to try that too. Well the WD40 wasn't bad, but the carb cleaner was something else! In no time at all I had all the grime just dripping off the gearbox, but had also emptied the can (it empties VERY quickly), so had to get a couple more cans from Halfords. Anyway, below is what it looks like now.

As for the general condition of the gearset, well it turns over very freely and there doesn't seem to be much play, however those gears won't be staying in it for long, I bought this box solely for the diff. Counted the pinion teeth and I make 17, so its either a 3.6 or 3.7. I'm hoping it'll be a 3.6 as I'll then just be able to swap the pinion for an 18 tooth one and get a 3.4 FD which would be better for those longer journeys. I'm hoping to strip the box tomorrow night and dry build it with the SC gearset so I know which replacement parts I need to order from Minispares this week.

Oh, and one call tomorrow morning and hopefully 'IT' should be arriving this week!

[Pie]

I find that petrol or thinners cleans the shizer off a gearbox quite quickly

[Chris C]

i need to get some cleaner, the last bottle i bought decided to roll out on the driveway and then i proceeded to run over it and have it explode before i even got to use it.

great project by the way.

[Jammy]

Have tried paint thinners in the past, they're ok. The thing about carb cleaner is that the nozzle sprays the fluid at quite a high velocity, so its almost like jet washing the gearbox at the same time!

[alexcrosse]

what about 'gunk'? used to use it in my karting days all the time, great stuff.

[Jammy]

Yea, i got a can of that when I went to Halfords to get my 2nd and 3rd cans of carb cleaner, it was ok, about as effective as the WD40. I hear its good if you leave it for 10-15 minutes and then pressure washer it, but I didn't want to use the pressure washer as I didn't want to get all sorts of water and fluid over the gearset and bearings.

Also, should have said earlier, if you plan to use carb cleaner for any sort of cleaning, wear some safety glasses! I got the carb cleaner in my eyes a couple of times and it stings!

[alexcrosse]

yer man, gunk wont do anything until you add water. Use a brush to paint it all over, then hose it off (not pressure or owt) and the water reacts with the gunk, and removes ALL grease n C**p.

[Bungle]

Also, should have said earlier, if you plan to use carb cleaner for any sort of cleaning, wear some safety glasses! I got the carb cleaner in my eyes a couple of times and it stings!

so dont clean your box in loose under pants

[Alburglar]

First time I've read this jammy. I think you may be flogging a dead horse with the top engine mounts. I found the best results were mounting three corners of the bottom of the engine to the subframe. Mine was totally solid. I still have the mounts if you want them.

-As for the door skins, they would need to be bonded with glass filings in the resin. This is basily chop strand mat, chopped up really fine either with a pair of scissors or in a blender. whing you add this to the resin it makes a thick paste. Plus you have to clamp the skin to the door frame and let it set for 24/ 48 hours.

Edited by Alburglar, 29 October 2007 - 06:08 PM.

[Jammy]

'IT' has just arrived! Stay tuned while I go unwrap it...

[minivanman]

Well?

[Pie]

im waiting!!!!