Gearbox types

T

THE ICEMAN

0
G'day everyone. Just a quick question. I have three gearboxes and as far as i know at least two of them came out of commers. One a PA the other a PB. On the right hand side of the boxes there is a number cast in. I am guessing this is a casting number and some sort of model number. Thing is they are all very slightly different and have different prefixes to the number. 1D A... 2D A... 9D A...
Could these indicate different internals? Ratios? I intend to fit an overdrive (if i can ever find one[V])so it would be helpful to know.
None of the numbers seem to mesn anything to Google but i am sure someone on here knows...

Thanks
Aaron

A commer down under - or down under a commer?
 
hello mate, can't help you i'm afraid and most of the gang are having fun on a big meet for the weekend so it might take a few hours for a reply! :)
 
hello there
I would advise that you use the latest box you have, that way the syncros etc. will be in as good condition as possible.

There are a couple of variations I know about, the later Rootes gearboxes have bellhousings which allow the engine to sit at an angle, no use for a commer so swap over the bellhousing.

Some more "sporty" Rootes engines use larger clutches so have a deeper bellhousing. This means the gearlever rod needs to be extended and a new mount manufactured (which angles back). The bellhousing can be swapped, but the input shaft would also have to be swapped over too.

As far as the overdrive box goes, you will need the gearbox mainshaft for the overdrive too (if you can find one) so its not a case of chucking an overdrive on to your non-overdrive gearbox.

sorry can't help with the numbers!

Rupert

p.s. Like yourself, I'm too far away to make it to the meed [V]

"With great cars comes great responsibility"

www.littleyellowcar.co.uk
 
Thanks BMM that is good info. I will check out what the differences are in the bellhousings are. I know at least two were from commers as i took them out but the third came from god knows where many years ago. Would love to get to a meet one day... I was over your neck of the woods just a few weeks ago (Ireland) but no time for traveling around or getting across the pond. Oh well next time i suppose.

Hope everyone has a great time at meet!

A commer down under - or down under a commer?
 
Be great to see you at a meet too Aaron;-) a long way to come mind you!

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My name is Scott, not Comm-Don!
 
Yea it would be great to meet you all. Not to hard for me to get there but could be fun getting the highwayman all that way...
Has anyone done a 'round the world trip' in a commer? If i did would it be a record? I might feel an adventure comming on!

A commer down under - or down under a commer?
 
Hi Aaron,

I have noticed that the early Commer boxes have a coarse 10 spline input shaft, later boxes went to a fine spline. Commer gearboxes have a lower first gear ratio than hillman hunters and other hillman cars. The Commers came with a bigger clutch plate as well. Do you need an overdrive? I have installed a Super Snipe diff centre in my van (4.2:1), and along with the 175/75R15 tyres, it is spinning at 3000rpm at 100kph. You wouldn't want to do it all day, but it is bearable for an hour at a time.

If you are keen on an overdrive I would find the gearbox first, then fit all of the associated bits around it (clutch, pressure plate, tailshaft etc) as there seems to be quite a bit of variation between the Rootes group boxes. There have been quite a few Sunbeam Alpine overdrive boxes on Fleabay of late, most of them are in the US/UK however. I know that Dellow automotive here in OZ make a 5 speed Toyota gearbox conversion to suit the Alpine (not sure how much it is), this might work out to be the same price as an overdrive judging by the prices I've seen them go for lately!

If you find two I'll take one off your hands - the case hardening on the inside of my laygear is virtually non-existent. Anyone know a fix for this? It sounds pretty bad at 60mph, I've been wearing earplugs lately. Can you still buy a laygear in the UK? I know Speedy's have layshafts and rollers for sale.

Mike.
 
Hi Chromo, Had a look at all the boxes and seems they all have the later fine splined input shaft and all seem to be set up for verticle mounting. Thats a good idea on the 4.22 diff and looking at OD prices i think i will end up going that way. Its not ideal though as it makes the ratios for fisrs and second a little tall.
If you have the standard box i can pull the laygear/shaft out of one of the spare boxes for you no worries, just look after the post and its yours. As far as i know it should be in ok nick.

Aaron

A commer down under - or down under a commer?
 
Hi Aaron,

I have had no problem with the 4.2 diff ratio affecting the ratios of first and second gear. In first it will idle up a steep grade easily. I do have the alloy head and twin carbs on my 1725, but I really don't think you'll have problems. In fact i was considering changing the first gear to a Hunter ratio.

As for the laygear, Phantomrose has generously hooked me up with a gearbox to strip from one of his 11(!!!!!) Commers. Thanks for the offer however!
 
I put a toyota lite ace 5 speed gear box in my commer I made the adaptor
plate myself out off 5/8 plate the cable gearshift was the correct length to end up in the cockpit , but I have found the whole thing worthless as the only time I can pull 5th is going down hill .My motor is a 1725 bored and stroked out to approx 1800 , I have big valves and run 1 1and 3/4 S U, At 60 m p h in 4th it is doing 2800 but I must say it is more at ease at 55 m p h ,BUT I have pulled 80 m p h down a hill and the van was quit stable
 
thomo is it you that I met on my travels in Sydney on Australia day? If I knew all of this was under your van I would have looked closer!

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnyboy/sets/72157620371365454/

you're famous and made my Birthday (as did the whole car show but your commer was the icing on the cake!)

mybanner4a41eb1237a97.jpg
 
Hi Thomo,

Nice to put a name to a van at last! It looks great with the superlites! I too would have thought a Toyota 5-speed would be great in a Commer - what diff ratio are you running? Also are the Superlites 15" diameter, and what profile are your tyres?

I'm getting used to wearing earplugs on the highway these days, so I'm not sure if I'll bother messing around with the O/D...

Thomo when are you next bringing the Commer down to Melbourne?
 
Great Commer, not so sure about those kness though!

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If I told you I was a pathological liar, would you believe me? I'M GETTING A HIGHWAYMAN !!!
 
As far as I know a lot of commer camper came out to Aust during the 10 pound pom immirgation period around 1966 . I have no records of my van but it did come from the old dart as a camper. As a long time rootes man I have always harboured the thought of going around Aust in a commer .As you can see it was a mess when I got it, but it was almost in original condition.Over the years most van's have been fitted with bigger motors , most common being the Generals 6 cylinder Holden .My van has resisted this but at some time it has got a 3.55 holden rear end. The wheels are 15/7 75 profile tyres. With the cost of a laminated windscreen in Aust at approx 1000 dollars I have fitted a screen protector to it .If you have traveled in the middle of Aust you will see a lot of cars supporting one of these.So far I have traveled about 5000 miles per year but have not been the long way round yet(we all need dreams)
 
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