5 speed box on x flow

[Simon Horan]

I'm considering a phased upgrade over time as funds allow. The car is 95 1600 x flow, is it possible to get a 5 speed box into it without major mods ?

 

Cheers

 

Simon

[Jonathan Ratty]

I have just that on my car. It was bought from Caterham as a 'special edition' of the Classic SE in 1996. I believe the gearbox is a Ford MT75. It's not perfect - first gear is way out, meaning standing starts are hard work. When I have the time and money, I'll have the box re-built with more suitable ratios. 5th gear is most useful for cruising. Lots of people would question whether you *need* 5 gears on the x-flow engine - I think you'll find most of the racers keep the 4 speed box. As to whether there is any work involved, I could not find anything different about my car, when I built it, to a regular 1600/4 spd combination.

 

Regards,

 

Jonathan

[Mike Bees]

I think it's a Type 9 Jonathan. IIRC the MT75 doesn't fit in the Caterham tunnel, and also has an integral bellhousing (not much cop for a nice K-series or a Vauxhall wink.gif).

 

Mike

[Jonathan Ratty]

Mike -

 

Thanks for the correction. I remember a debate on Se7ens.net a while back about how you tell them apart. Mine had a sort of exposed bracing on the outside of the box which I thought suggested it was the MT75. Ratios are still all wrong, regardless of the type!

 

Jonathan

[Simon Horan]

Cheers,

 

I had heard that this was not possible on a 95 car, yours being a 96 - is there a difference I need to know about ?

 

Any suggestions as to good source/price ?

 

Simon

[Jonathan Ratty]

I *believe* there was some degree of chassis harmonization around 96. My understanding is that there used to be wide variations between the L.A. & DeDion chassis up to this point. Around 95-96 some 'coming together' of the designs was achieved, resulting in a sort-of hybrid long cockpit L.A. chassis. Mine certainly has diagonal bracing at the top of the engine compartment which may not have been present before this. The cockpit also no longer conforms to the long/short variations.

 

My recollections of all this are fairly hay, and the books aren't terribly clear about what, if anything, changed. I would call Caterham. As to a source of boxes, try Redline (01883 346515) or James Whiting (01784 241466), who advertise in Low Flying - they ought to know what fits where.

 

Jonathan

[Mike Bees]

When I bought my first kit in '94 you could buy a Classic SE with 5-speed 'box.

 

Mike

[Graham Perry]

Try Phil Stewart at Road and Race Trasmissions in Kent.(01959)525105 They supply Caterham. Last time I was there he had about twenty on the shelf. Bound to be cheaper and a nice guy as well, operating out of modest premises.

[kim]

My 1997 1600 Xflow came as a kit with a Ford Sierra 4x4 5 speed box if that's any help,Whether the chassis/mountings were moded before delivery by Caterham to take this I'm afraid i have no idea. I find the 5 speed useful for cruising (German autobahns etc) but rarely use it when playing.

 

Kim