68vitesse

Pictures are a four syncro box for a 2L Vitesse, the centre of the pin on the reverse lever in the gearbox is about 2.25 inch from the inside of the back of the box. The reverse idler is all the way back against the spacer. The lid goes back on with the selector and gearbox components as in pictures. If you want any more pictures etc. the box is on the bench in the garage. Regards Paul

Looks like it is a single rail box which I believe was never fitted to a Herald, the letters from the gearbox number will tell you where the case started life. The number should be on the top of the main case. Regards Paul

Still say the spring is badly made, it is not a swing spring, the eye of the second leaf should be a tight fit to the bottom and top of the first leaf eye. It would probably be ok on a Herald as it has smaller rear brakes but as the spring eye is not properly supported could lead to fatigue failure of the main leaf. Regards Paul

There was a batch of badly made rear springs, I still have one lying around in a shed. The ring on the end of the second leaf is far to big and touches the brake pipe where it leaves the rear brake cylinders on a Vitesse. One of the suppliers mentioned list the same spring for the swing axle and rotoflex Vitesse. I ended up using the best of my old springs after rebuilding it with new poly buttons which I cut from a sheet of polyurethane from eBay. Regards Paul

Think this would be Castrol PH grease. Regards Paul

Oil level was correct and not towed, gearbox used with different overdrive for some years. Regards Paul

Just split the overdrive and found that the thrust washer under the one way clutch has disintegrated. Regards Paul

Changed half shaft bearings and seals in my diff last winter, link to thread. http://forum.tssc.org.uk/topic/1918-diff-inner-axle-shafts/ I had removed the diff to change the bushes to polyurethane. Regards Paul

Always found strawberry works well but blackcurrant will do. Regards Paul

The overdrive rear mount bolts are easy if you cut a slot for a screwdriver in the nut end, drop the bolts in, jam with the screwdriver while fitting washers and nuts. Then fit spanner on nuts while rotating bolt with the screwdriver and finish of with the spanner. Regards Paul

Made one for my 68 Vitesse from Stainless Steel flat bar (strip) about the same width and thickness as the bonnet check straps, bolt is UNC to the manifold. The 67 2Litre Vitesse I have has the rod arrangement. Regards Paul

Perhaps they are applying for a Darwin award. Regards Paul

Ref your lack of non return valve for the washers, I use one from a shop which sells bits for aquarium's, also if you dismantle the jet be careful not to lose the small ball which acts as a non return valve for the jet it's self. Regards Paul

Think they are the same as listed on some TR parts sites, wonder what they are like to fit. Regards Paul

Made a tool to remove the pressure filter plug on the J Type overdrive out of curiosity had a look at the overdrive I removed several years ago, no drive on moving off then engaged, it is full of yellow metal flakes. This overdrive will get a professional rebuild, always used EP 80/90 GL4, the gearbox it was attached to was OK and did several thousand miles with good syncro. until it shed some teeth. Checked the overdrive I used as a replacement both filters nice and clean so not the gearbox. Regards Paul

Some did an expensive bush, Rimmers list one at about five times the standard price, last standard ones I used came from TRGB. Regards Paul

Do not know if it is age related but everything which is labelled reformulated and or improved from supermarket products to websites never seem as good or easy as the original, or does this make me a moaning old git. Last job before retirement was managing the broadband section of the company, we supplied all types of connection including point to point and satellite. Regards Paul

The profile change to the teeth on third, would that need a profile change to the teeth on the gear cluster?. Regards Paul

Same number of teeth on both the gear cluster, from front 26, 24, 20, reverse 15 and 15 for first, also both the third gears have same number of teeth 22. Regards Paul

Got the gearbox apart today and found a cluster which looks the same also a third gear which just seems to have a shorter cone the syncro ring engages on. The gearbox has the fine input shaft with three rail selector reverse up by first so a mixture of bits with the larger bearing for the mainshaft tip. I have a coarse and fine input shaft so think I should have bits from two gearboxes but can only find one lot, a newspaper with some of the bits dated February 2006. Any thoughts on compatibility of the parts greatly appreciated. Regards Paul

Fitted poly bushes including rear trunnion to my MK1 2L Vitesse over last winter in the kit supplied the crush tube for the trunnion bush was longer than the one supplied for the spring eye, ended up reducing the length to match else you could rock the brake back plate. The reason for using poly was a bad experience with poor quality, bolt would not fit through crush tube, original style ones. Six months down the line and a couple of thousand miles still OK and an MOT yesterday without advisories, still have nylon ones fitted to front suspension as they did not need replacing. Regards Paul

Lifted engine and gearbox as a complete unit to get access when I did one a few years ago. Recently had to change the gearbox in my Vitesse it was bad enough getting the replacement on the back of the engine with both out of the car. Left manifold carburettors alternator etc. on the engine just needed a new manifold to exhaust pipe gasket, but it comes down to what equipment you have access to. Regards Paul

What comes first the classic car which causes classic lunacy or classic lunacy which causes the purchase of classic car?. Understand there is no known cure only brown liquid sedatives. Regards Paul

Ref. previous post about green stuff pads, which some people do not like, I fitted to my Vitesse over the winter. Just got back from getting a brand new MOT on the car and I asked the examiner about the brakes, his reply was that they where very good and exceeded the requirement of the test. Regards Paul

Found another Haynes manual, date on front page 1987 page 132 . Vitesse 2L and GT6 with overdrive 3.89 GT6 3.27 So corrected at some point. Just been looking in a Haynes manual for Dolomite 1500 for information on J type overdrive. Lists one rear axle ratio as 3.89 but Early 3 rail gearbox 4th 1:1 overall ratio 3.89:1 Later single rail box 4th 1:1 overall ratio 3.90:1 ??????????????????????????? Regards Paul