I raced my TR4 in the Midwest for 12 years with an overdrive most of the
time. I did use a regular 4 speed for a short time but didn't like it as
well.
The only problem I ever had was a few gasket leaks and having to change out
the solenoid two or three times.
I was on a pretty slim budget in those days and wasn't able to keep up with
the fastest cars, but I wasn't the last on in line either.
As a matter of fact I'm rebuilding my car and plan on putting the overdrive
back in. It was really handy in a lot of turns where you could split your
gears and not have to shift all the way to third or fourth depending on the
corner speed. You also had the fourth overdrive to utilize on the
straights.
I never have run a close ratio gearbox, so I don't know what they are like.
But from my own experience, I really do like the overdrive.
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Sohl <billsohl@smtp.interactive.net>
To: Gt6steve@aol.com <Gt6steve@aol.com>
Cc: fot@autox.team.net <fot@autox.team.net>
Date: Wednesday, January 26, 2000 6:23 PM
Subject: Re: Racing with overdrives
>Steve,
>
>I hope there are some answers to the question you
>asked. Seems to me the first order of business for
>any Vintage Racer is making the car and drivetrain as
>"bullet proof" as possible. That to me goes hand in hand
>with your comments below. The added cost and complexity
>and probable failures of using OD doesn't make sense to
>me either.
>
>Cheers,
>Bill Sohl
>VTR Odd Magazine Editor
>
>> From: Gt6steve@aol.com
>> Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2000 18:33:55 EST
>> Subject: Re: Racing with overdrives
>> To: RodsINTOMG@aol.com
>> Cc: FOT@autox.team.net
>> Reply-to: Gt6steve@aol.com
>
>> In a message dated 1/24/00 7:19:51 PM Pacific Standard Time, RodsINTOMG
>> writes:
>>
>> << >>
>> Steve,
>>
>> I'm curious. I can't guess why you would want to race vintage with an
>> overdrive gearbox. First, they are about 25 lbs heaver than a standard
>> gearbox (at least in the MGB). Do you seriously run out of gears on the
race
>> tracks that you race? Do you get up into the dangerously high RPMs like
>> 6,500 or 7,000 or more on the straights of the tracks that you frequently
>> race?
>>
>>
>> I have an MGB with and early standard gearbox converted to close ratio
with
>> an MGA twin cam gearset. I run a 3.9 rearend on long tracks like
Thunderhill
>> and either the 3.9 or the 4.3 on tracks like Sears Point with the 4.3 on
>> tracks like Laguna Seca.
>>
>> I know that the MG car company ran very tall gears and perhaps an
overdrive
>> in the early '60s at places like LeMans with the long 2 mile plus
straights.
>> But vintage, where do you need it?
>>
>> It seems to me if you have your car camed correctly you should make most
of
>> your power at the top of the RPM band (say 6,000 to 7,000) and thats
where I
>> would want to be at the end of my longest straight in top gear. Simply
>> adjust the final drive to do it.
>>
>> I'd like to hear your thoughts and those of anyone on the list on this
>> subject.
>> >>
>> Hi Rod, Sorry it's taken me so long to respond.
>> My GT6 is running a 3.89 rear which works out about perfect for most of
the
>> western tracks at the end of the straightaway as you said. I'd like to be
>> running a 4.11 to launch out of the tight twisties a little better.
Vegas
>> comes to mind as a 4.11 track. My thought was to exploit the OD as a way
to
>> legally have a five speed to accomplish this. That's my official story.
>> The truth?? A friend just bought a five speed cheater box for his GT6
and
>> it's galling the HELL out of me to think he has an advantage.:-}}
>> Thanx for your observations and take that flamesuit off. Bye, Steve
>>
>
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