Drumster Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Since the box will be out of the car for a bit it's probably time to upgrade my 5 speed box from the standard ratios of 1st 3.36 and 2nd 1.81 to something with longer ratios. I have a 3.92 diff. Anything longer has to be a massive improvement but how long should I go with the 1st. As the car is used for sprints and the road I know whatever I choose it will be a compromise, but what would you all recommend? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Englishmaninwales Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 ChrisI fitted BGH E7 ratios of 2.66 1.75 1.26 1.00 and 0.84 about 8 years ago along with their 'heavy duty' mods to the bearings and lubrication, plus also an alloy lid with a filler/dipstick and an oil drain plug.Been very happy with it.Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Definitely go for dipstick/filler and drain plug while you have it out of the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Mcalvert Posted October 19, 2015 Leadership Team Share Posted October 19, 2015 Hi Chris,I don't know how the torque curves and max revs vary between the Zetec and the Xflow, but when I had my 5 speed ratios changed, I sought lots of advice (and played with gearcalc over many evenings!) and settled on what they called the "sporting close" E7 gearset which is 2.75 1.75 1.26 1.0 0.86. It certainly was a great improvement over the standard.I went for the Quaife alloy box at the same time which has the filler in the lid and lops a few kg off. I didn't have an improved drain plug or dipstick fitted, but in hindsight, probably should have done while I had the chance. All the best, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cskip Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 When I upgraded the gearbox on my Xflow car, I went for these ratios:1st = 2.52nd = 1.643rd = 1.224th = 1.00Admittedly I had limited choice on the ratios, I was running a 4 speed box. I adored those ratios. In my VX, I went a bit more extreme. The ratios are:1st = 2.22nd = 1.543rd = 1.214th 1.005th 0.82I am running a 3.92 diff. The ratios are great. Nice and close together. I have no problems at all pulling away with a realtively high 1st gear. It really suits the engine. And I can pull 60+ mph in first gear. That brings a grin to my face..I spent a lot of time with rolling road data mapping the gear change points with different ratios. The result is very good, but not perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumster Posted October 21, 2015 Author Share Posted October 21, 2015 Thanks guys,It seems the E7 is popular looking back through the archives, but the SPC box with1st 2.482, 2nd 1.61, 3rd 1.225, 4th 1.1, 5th 0.82 or 0.87sounds enticing and is closer to the spec that Skip mentions.I'll have a chat with Phil at RRT as he has offered me a drive in his 7 with similar ratios to the SPC.I'd love an alloy casing etc but I can see this insurance rebuild 'upgraditus' getting expensive. Did I mention new dampers And if you see Maggie then all these upgrades don't even reach the 4 figure mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Fox Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 BGH now do their own aluminium alloy casing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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