More Gearbox and Diff news

More news on the gearbox - Frank has kindly offered his gearbox, as he'll get himself another one more suited to his needs.

So, this means that the gearbox with the following ratios is now available:

2.39/1.69/1.210/1.00/0.870

It's a semi-helical Quaife gearbox built by SP Components, so damn strong, and also will lose less power through the drive-train. Should be good for 250bhp at 7500rpm.

So what does this do to the car's speed etc? It means that 1st gear is really, really tall. At 7500 rpm (well past the max torque), the following speeds are indicated:
Gear / Speed / Change revs (to next gear)
1st / 80kph!!!
2nd / 113kph / 5000 rpm
3rd / 160kph / 5000 rpm
4th / 192kph / 6000 rpm
5th / 220kph / 6500 rpm

Obviously I won't be changing down from 7500rpm too often, but when I do it will drop me back into the torque curve nicely. More likely I'll be coming down earlier, as the torque curve tends to flatten out at higer revs, which in turn will drop me lower down the rev range and again into the start of the torque curve. All up, should be an exciting drive (on paper, anyway....).

The higher gearing on the box will also compensate somewhat for the lower gearing on the LSD (4.4). Otherwise the car gets dull. But with a 3.9, the car will try and do 90kph in first, which is just silly ;-) As it is in theory I won't have to leave 1st gear in most city driving.....

So, thanks Frank, and now I think most major decisions (engine, chassis, gearbox and diff) have been made for the drivetrain. I guess things like the clutch will also have an impact, but the one in the package should cope for now.

Just have to wait until the damn truck arrives.....