Conference terri::cars_uk

    Westfield, here in the UK, can supply all the bits required to fit a
    Sierra 5-speed box to the OHV(Kent) engine, they will also sell you the
    box as well if you like! I suspect that if you do this conversion you
    will also need to do something about the propshaft which will probably
    no longer fit. The Westfield Centre (independant dealer, again in the
    UK) also do lots of bits for 'seven' type vehicles and may be cheaper
    than Westfield themselves. If you're interested mail me for the address
    and phone numbers.
    
    - John.

    	Some outfit like the Westfield Centre could probably source
    and export a secondhand Sierra box. The type N Ford gearbox was fitted
    to a variety of vehicles certainly in Europe. The version fitted to the
    Sierra XR4i was supposed to be superior due to the closer ratios used.
    Caterham used the XR4i box mated to the Kent OHV engine for a number of
    years. They would probably want to sell you a brand new box though.
    This box needs an adaptor plate for the OHV engine.
    
    		Jeremy

    	The 5 speed box is heavier than a typical Ford four speed. However
    the fith gear is mounted in an extension housing behind the box holding
    the usual four gears and reverse. The extra weight will therefore fall
    roughly halfway along a Lotus 7. I have fitted this type of gearbox to
    a Marcos I am building. If you like I can take some measurements, like
    bellhousing to mounting and bellhousing to gearlever. From this you
    should be able to work out if a remote lever is needed and where the
    gearbox mounting should go.
    
    		Jeremy 

    
    Thank you for the quick replies. I think I'm going to look for
    a 5 speed out of a 2.3 Pinto. It may bolt up to the 1.6 without 
    needing an adapter.
    
    Other than the transmission and modifications to the frame to match
    the Caterham modifications, it will be to original specs.
    
    Regarding shipping costs, I shipped a pair of aluminum heads from a
    Daimler SP 250 Dart over there for Russ Carpenter to rework a short
    while back and the shipping bill alone was 500 dollars. I shudder to 
    think what a transmission would cost. 
    
    I've never seen a Marcos up close. Does the wooden subframe require
    joinery of any sort?
    
    
    Charles

    	From the late Sixxties onwards Marcii have had steel chassis. My car
    is one of the last of the kit versions, which I picked up in 1993. The 
    chassis is a semi space frame made of 40x40mm square tube. The body is 
    GRP, with a few bits of plywood in it for strengthening. 
    
    	I understand the change from wood to steel was partly for cost 
    reduction and partly to increase their credibility when they where 
    trying to break into the American market. The wood worked well, making
    the cars very light and many of them are still around today. 
    
	Just for further info I measured the 5 speed box. The bellhousing
    is 7" long. The gear lever is 22" from the gearbox end of the
    bellhousing. The mounting point is 15" from the gearbox end of the
    bellhousing. The dimensions are to the nearest 1/2"
    
    		Jeremy

Be aware (I'm not certain about this) that just bolting the Sierra 
box to the Kent engine may not be the whole story. You may need to do 
some work on the clutch, like using a Kent pressure plate with a 
Sierra driven plate - or something like that. Also the propshaft 
might be a problem, you may have to get a Sierra shaft and have it 
shortened or reworked in some way.

- John.

    re .5
    
    What's a 2.3 Pinto ? if you mean a 2.3 Sierra or Cortina they were V6's
    not Pinto's - I think you'll have the same problem.
    
    Graham

A 2.3 litre Pinto was a small car here in the States in the mid-late 70's.  They
came with a 2.0 or 2.3 litre 4 cyl.  Horrible cars, but pretty reliable engines.

Would a 5 speed from a Capri fit or is that the same 'box as the Pinto?

Dave

    
    thanks for the clarification Dave, here in the UK the 1.6 OHC and
    2.0 OHC engines - both 4cyl -  were commonly (and perhaps incorrectly)
    referred to as Pinto engines - 2.3's were V6's....
    
    Graham 

    
    Re wooden chassised Marcii.
    
    The whole chassis is wood from the tail of the car through to the front
    bulkhead (I'm not sure if you knew this as you said 'subframe'). A
    steel subframe bolts onto the front of that to carry the engine and
    front suspension (at first sight it looks very like the steel chassised
    cars under the bonnet).
    
    I don't know the construction of the wooden chassis well, but there is some
    joinery involved. However, much of it is simply glued together. It drew
    heavily on the methods used to build the Mosquito in WWII and
    frequently boat restorers are called on to revitalise rotting chassis.
    
    Mark ('69 steel chassis owner)

>>Would a 5 speed from a Capri fit or is that the same 'box as the 
>>>Pinto?

Depends, some Capris had Kent engines, some Pinto, some Essex (V6) 
and some Cologne (V6). Well confusing isn't it :-)

- John.

    
    ....and some had the funny V4 thing they put in trannies...
    
    G