Herald Vitesse

[Spartan]

Maybe  stupid question but will a Herald or Spitfire engine fit too a Vitesse gearbox

[mark powell]

Don't think so, starter motor in different position. But what do I know?.....

[Pete Lewis]

the starter is monted on the rear plate   6 pot is on the O/S  and 4 pots on the N/S  the bell housing is therefore very different  as is the stand off the herald hsg is very shallow  the hsg on a 6 pot is very deep , the input shafts  on the gearboxes  are very different in length and spline diameter for the clutch disc

the base box is fully interchangeable if you swap the input shafts about , providing they are the same ratio and tooth profile 

Pete

[Clive]

Basically no, not at all simple. For a start no clutch plate available for a 6 cylinder gearbox onto a 4 pot engine (unless flywheels swap, that I don't know!)

[Spartan]

Thanks for your replies, not worth trying 

 

[dave.vitesse]

As the Herald/Spit box is wide ratio and the Vitesse/GT6 box is close ratio its very doubtful the input shafts are a direct swap.

Dave

[Clive]

Hmm, all is not as clear as it seems.

The other day I saw on a FB spitfire page a thingy about putting a 6 cylinder engine into a spitfire. An American chap had put a 6 pot in his spitfire, and used the spitfire gearbox. Oddly he hadn't swapped engine backplate, but cut a chunk out of the spitfire bellhousing. He seemed to have got it all working.....

Now, from that and the general way it was written, it seems likely he hadn't used a machine shop at all. So I am indeed wondering if you CAN use a 6 pot flywheel on a 4 pot engine. And in that case the clutch. The starter etc is all the same so that isn't an issue. The only thing is that I assume somebody would have already tried it and one of us would have known.....but then again every day is indeed a skoolday.

DAve, spot on. But if you have the skills you CAN cut/machine and weld the spitfire splined section onto a vitesse input shaft. Not for the inexperienced (friend did that, 98k later all still good)

[Pete Lewis]

I have re built a spitfire IV 3 rail with a vitesse  cluster , you have to change 2nd and 3rd mainshaft gears to match but it all goes together well and keeps 1st as std but closer ratio   2 nd and 3rd   been running for a year without problems 

Pete

[dave.vitesse]

No at bad combination Pete as the first was always a bit high on the Vitesse box. 

The factory did use a close ratio box in their competition Spits in the mid 1960's. Never found out want it was. Maybe you have given the answer. 

Dave

[Pete Lewis]

It all started with a local spit with sheared teeth on the cluster, I had a 6 pot cluster and the mix and match of internals 

was a economical repair ....when you look at the cost of a new one 

There was i believe some tooth profile changes changes , but dont know when or without a master gear even tell 

Guess If it makes a whine its  the wrong set

Pete

[thescrapman]

I think you get a "middle" set of ratios using an Ital gear cluster set

[Pete Lewis]

Ital/ marina /midget?  used the single rail box  there are parts that are interchageable with 3 rails  and some very similar but very different parts

Needs  careful  checking  of  part numbers  and tooth profile