Hi List,
Bought a s/h Ford 5 speed gearbox today. I really want it for spares or in
case I ever get a Morris Minor/Ford Escort/Cortina/Capri and want to convert
it to a 5 speed. It is also going to be my guinea pig box for some ideas I
have for the modified box in the car.
I used a litre of degreasing cleaning it and then painted it a nice shade of
red (red gearboxes go faster?). I then had a look inside it and used some
other de-greaser on it to give it a bit of a clean before spraying lightly
with rust prevantive. It looks ok inside with no serious wear or chipped
synchros. The yard had a whole row of cars with suitable 5 speeds but I
chose this box because the engine had already been removed and I figured it
would be therefore be quicker to get the box out (although the yard pulled it
for me at no extra cost). On second thoughts this may have been a wise move
because if the engine was good enough for someone to buy then the gearbox
might have seen similar mileages and likewise be good (though if I ever use
the box I will strip and rebuild it). I thought about going back to the yard
next Saturday to check the mileage on the car but since I found the
speedometer drive gear is in 2 pieces there seems little point. I did pull
of the rear extension and learnt that I need to purchase some roll pins and a
pin punch of the right size to knock them out of part of the selector
mechanism (I improvised with a 3/16 clevis pin). I found one part missing
but this may have been deleted on the later boxes.
I will also go to a Ford main dealer to buy a few other odds and sods ready
for when the supply dries up.
Next, and many months away, I will be working on shortening the extension
housing so as to move the shift further forward.
Daniel1312
|