It was all going so well

[nofinchance]

I seem to have spent more time 'fettling' than driving my 7 lately.I lost 3 months of this BBQ summer to an idioit mechanic.Also I have used up my free time on other dead 7s stripping them for parts and so on so this weekend when the sun shone I ditched the kids and the husband took the phone off the hook and warned everyone I was having some ME TIME so do not disturb! I only seem to have driven my 7 in a 20 mile radius since getting it so I wanted a loooong drive.This is where it goes pear shaped as the car has decided it prefers 4 gears to 5 so has ditched 4th.Other than that it drove beautifully and I even left a 56 plate megane convertible in my dust when it's owner felt he was far superior to me,apparently not! So anyway my gearbox is bust ,I have a feeling it is a SD1 box so should I look for one of those to replace it? I have the 16v doly sprint engine fitted so what other boxs should I consider? The back axle seems to be original of 5 speed type.I see lots of lying on my back in my future[V]

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[john 215]

Hi Steph,
Gutted for you [V] I would stick with the 5 speed, as you say same as SD1, normaly at least one on Fleabay at anyone time BUT always the chance that no better than the one you have taken out! Zoe has just replaced hers but not sure it came from. Check your clutch whilst box out as well. What has actually happened as far 4 th gear?
Great the look on peoples faces when some 30 year old car blows there doors clean off, had the same thing the other day with a Merc totaly priceless!!!
Cheers John

LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!
1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)

1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6,ON THE ROAD NOW KICKING AR5E !!!!

[nofinchance]

Hi john[:D] thanx for the speedy reply.The problem with the gearbox is that it has/had a habit of jumping out of 4th.This happened rarely and I thought it was me not engageing it properly.Anyway driving steady through town(not checking myself out in the shop windows[:I]) It jumped out and refuses to go back in now.All the other gears work fine.I did manage to force it in when I got home and it feels a bit 'coggy' as if it is not exactly meshing.Anyway I am thinking replacement as I don't wanna spend ££££s on a box that may never be good.However as you say second hand replacements are unknown.I had thought of going to a proper specialist like robsport and getting the headlights done while it's there.It's a question of time realy not confidance or ability or wanting[:(]

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[john 215]

Hi Steph,
Does sound an internal fault, sometimes when the bushes go on the remote that can play havoc on selection, but others alright then my money is on a syncro problem [:(] Maybe someone on here has a good spare, place a thread in wanted section nowt to loose
Give Simon (Robsport)or Steve up at S+S Preperation a call he may well have a good 2nd hand one.
Cheers John

LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!
1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)

1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6,ON THE ROAD NOW KICKING AR5E !!!!

[Beans]

Are your 'box's extension rubbers in good condition?

<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)
1980 TR7 DHC (my first car currently being restored)
In parts a 1980 TR7 PI DHC, 1981 TR7 DHC, 1981 TR7 FHC</font id="blue">
<font color="red">http://tr7beans.blogspot.com/</i></font id="red"></center>

[zoe]

steph,i bought my gearbox off ebay , had it rebuilt bearings and synchromesh replaced at a local gearbox specialist , then swapped it with the gearbox i had and put new clutch to be on safe side , that way the car was only off the road one day , and my gear box is now surplus , but does need attention, maybe u could have your gearbox rebuilt ? this local man is very good . get back to me if u want his details Zoe

[tom bauer]

ok i assume most have found this site, but if not go here: http://www.roversd1.nl/sd1web/index.html
very easy trans to o/h, anyone with some mech skills can do it. i doubt there is any such thing as a good used lt77 box though so beware of anyone saying it was fine when taken out.

tom

it's not how fast you go, it's how quickly you go fast

[Hasbeen]

OK, I have never even lifted the lid on one of these boxes, BUT.

With the old stuff I used to work with, for a problem like this, the
first thought would be a bent selector fork, or one that had slipped
out of place. A cheep & easy thing to fix.

Does this happen with these boxes, or are all these old problems
eliminated in the deaign?

Steph, is the gear lever still sitting in it's normal position, when
in 3Rd, or is it a little back from normal?

Meanwhile, who needs 5 if you can blow off a megane with 4.

Good luck with it.

Hasbeen

[Chris Turner]

S+S were clearing ot a lot of good gearboxes, very cheap.

www.triumphtrs.co.uk
TR8 FHC
TR7 Sprint
TR7V8 rally car

[Last TR]

The labor to put in a "good used transmission" is twice as much as to put in a rebuilt transmission (by the time you take that used transmission back out and rebuild it.) My experience is that there is no such thing as a good used transmission.

Ken
Anchorage, Alaska

1980 TR8, 1973 TR6, 1965 Volvo PV544, 1958 MGA, Jeep Cherokees

[nofinchance]

The last post kinda answers my question but here it is anyway.I can get a refurb box for around £350 + £100 exchange + post.Or a second hand one at £95 + post no exchange.So what do I do ? I am getting near the 'basil faulty branch moment' with this car any more trouble and I will have to quit the dream.[:(].

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[PeterTR7V8]

Go for the refurb. With the exchange the price difference is a lot less than the risk. Best of luck & hopefully a few thousand miles of trouble free motoring will restore your faith.


Never say die. At least not while you're still breathing.

[john 215]

Hi Steph,
Sick with it girl, dont let some poxy gearbox destroy your dream, NOW STEP AWAY FROM THE LEAFY BRANCH [;)]
If you afford it then exchange would be best or phone Zoe's gearbox man you all live in the same sort of area, isshh so poss save on postage that got to be a few ££££s they are not exactly featherlight things.
KEEP THE FAITH, I FOR ONE WANT TO SEE YOU OUT AND ABOUT IN YOUR 16 VALVER [8D]

Cheers John

LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!
1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)

1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6,ON THE ROAD NOW KICKING AR5E !!!!

[Last TR]

The dreaded previous owner spent $500 on labor to have a "good used gearbox" installed in my car just before I bought it. I quickly discovered that it jumps out of first gear and needs the first gear synchro replaced, and at some point I'll be removing and replacing the 'box again.

Ken
Anchorage, Alaska

1980 TR8, 1973 TR6, 1965 Volvo PV544, 1958 MGA, Jeep Cherokees

[Dave Dyer]

Hi Steph,
You mention you've been stripping the other dead 7's for parts, do these have gearboxes ?

Plus I personally wouldn't spend money on a recon box, you can buy a whole car for that!

Also there seems to be a lot of people breaking perfectly good TR7's, presumably making more money on selling the parts rather than the whole car[:(!] But in these cases I would think the box would be OK, as opposed to a box out of a worn out '7.
Keep looking.

Cheers, Dave