Vitesse D type overdrive

[Iankev]

Hi all, I am going to look at a D type overdrive gearbox next week, it’s reconditioned at some point but also sat in a garage for a number of years so I was just wondering is there any sort or checks I can do when I go look?  Or do I just have to take the gamble and see once it’s fitted? It’s also around the £650 price …is that about right do you think? Thanks for any tips. Or if anyone has a box and bits for sale please let me know . Thanks 🤩 

[johny]

Hi, Im in a similar position having just bought the same unit and with a similar history. I wont tell you what I paid as I was very lucky but 650 seems high without some proof of the reconditioning work carried out. If its complete you should be able to select all gears and it spins freely. Then at that price I think youre entitled to remove the gearbox top cover for a look inside which should be rust free and all gears in good condition. The bronze gear selector fingers of the top cover shouldnt show a lot of wear from contact with the selector hubs. There will be some side to side movement in the input shaft but it shouldnt be more than 10mm or so at the tip which also shouldnt show much wear from running in the crankshaft bush. The gears themselves shouldnt have much axial play (the exact figures are all in the workshop manual) while the synchro rings should have a gap when pushed up against their associated gears which indicates they still have a useful life. 

If you find any of these points not satisfactory in your gearbox it might not be a deal breaker but could be a means of renegotiating the price.... As I have a selection of spares Im now rebuilding my gearbox and overdrive to get everything within spec and also replace all gaskets and oil seals.

[johny]

oh also check youre getting the gearbox you want by looking at the serial number as theres different sizes, ratios and numbers of synchros. Even then the internals can have been changed over the years but that is more difficult to check just by a visual inspection...

With the overdrive theres not much you can do to test it without removing covers for example to see what debris has been left in the filter but generally theyre pretty reliable. You could take a 12v battery with leads and if allowed test the operating solenoid by touching power onto its terminals and listening for a click. There are companies that will test the complete overdrive's operation before you install it in the car but I have opted just to clean mine inside and replace all its rubber seals.

I take it you know there are other components needed such as a shorter prop, mounting and speedo angle drive so very useful if the seller has these too👍  

[Nigel Clark]

£650 also seems high to me. I sold a D type OD with gearbox from a GT6 two years ago, all in good working order and I was happy with £400.

Nigel

[johny]

Yes theres complete 'kits' going for that and more now but with absolutely no guarantee! If on strip down the mainshaft tip or laygear is found worn (both very likely and difficult to detect without driving with the box) youll have major additional expense☹️ 

[Pete Lewis]

what you cant see is any mainshaft spigot wear or the lay shaft  spindle 

the weak point in these boxes 

Pete

[Iankev]

On 30/08/2024 at 23:45, johny said:

Hi, Im in a similar position having just bought the same unit and with a similar history. I wont tell you what I paid as I was very lucky but 650 seems high without some proof of the reconditioning work carried out. If its complete you should be able to select all gears and it spins freely. Then at that price I think youre entitled to remove the gearbox top cover for a look inside which should be rust free and all gears in good condition. The bronze gear selector fingers of the top cover shouldnt show a lot of wear from contact with the selector hubs. There will be some side to side movement in the input shaft but it shouldnt be more than 10mm or so at the tip which also shouldnt show much wear from running in the crankshaft bush. The gears themselves shouldnt have much axial play (the exact figures are all in the workshop manual) while the synchro rings should have a gap when pushed up against their associated gears which indicates they still have a useful life. 

If you find any of these points not satisfactory in your gearbox it might not be a deal breaker but could be a means of renegotiating the price.... As I have a selection of spares Im now rebuilding my gearbox and overdrive to get everything within spec and also replace all gaskets and oil seals.

That’s brilliant thank you, I needed up checking it over as best I could and eventually got £100 off plus it came with a prop and an angled piece that I think for the Speedo. Now It’s fingers crossed once I have it put in . Cheers 

[johny]

Great. Youll need a different mounting plate and mount, cut part of the transmission tunnel away and make up a cover plate, electrics including a switch and relay, plus longer speedo cable. However everyone says its a very worthwhile modification although in my personal case Im not so sure🤔

[Pete Lewis]

is this  still    D  type Plus complete with gearbox  ??   if using your own   it  will  need to strip the gearbox and fit a D type OD mainshaft    like tkc923  

once installed  you best check the solenoid throw ,  remove o/s  side plate and operate the unit  the lever inside has 

a 3/16" hole in it  this needs to align  with a similar hole in the case,   adjustment is via the nut on the solenoid shaft.

never remove or adjust the castle nut end stop in the case

before you fit it check the filter on the n/s  remove the cover and pull the metal filter out, there are anumber of magnetic rings    can be very  grubby and not easy to wipe clean. worth checking .

Pete

[Iankev]

2 hours ago, johny said:

Great. Youll need a different mounting plate and mount, cut part of the transmission tunnel away and make up a cover plate, electrics including a switch and relay, plus longer speedo cable. However everyone says its a very worthwhile modification although in my personal case Im not so sure🤔

Thanks for your help, I will do some inspecting as best I can and hopefully all will be good… I hope 🤞.cheers 

[Iankev]

2 hours ago, Pete Lewis said:

is this  still    D  type Plus complete with gearbox  ??   if using your own   it  will  need to strip the gearbox and fit a D type OD mainshaft    like tkc923  

once installed  you best check the solenoid throw ,  remove o/s  side plate and operate the unit  the lever inside has 

a 3/16" hole in it  this needs to align  with a similar hole in the case,   adjustment is via the nut on the solenoid shaft.

never remove or adjust the castle nut end stop in the case

before you fit it check the filter on the n/s  remove the cover and pull the metal filter out, there are anumber of magnetic rings    can be very  grubby and not easy to wipe clean. worth checking .

Pete

Hi Pete yes all complete gearbox as well, plus it came with a prop and the angled drive. I am no rush to fit the box but am hopefully going to buy one of the bits needed to go with it every month as I save up. I did see a post a while ago about all the bits needed..like relay, steering column cowl and switch so just a case of buying as I go….. without telling the wife of course lol. Thank you 

[johny]

At least change front and rear oil seals as rubber deteriorates even without use. Also a new gearlever linkage kit is good for improving the changing if theres any wear in the existing. A balanced prop is nice as well but that can be removed fairly easy later on if you do get any vibration....