Hi, I have done loads of searching but I am still undecided so thought it best to get others opinions in this...
I have my silver top 1.8 zetec and type 9 sat in my chassis but the shifter is far to far toward the front of the car.
I am undecided, should I...
A) mod the chassis to get the engine as far back as I can, improving the weight distribution? but this will narrow the tunnel and may cause an issue
with the pedal assembly?
B) buy or make a gearbox extension ?
What are your opinions on this and what problems have others met using either method?
Thanks in advance!
Shaw
I put an extension on my gearbox to bring the lever back 6". I was surprised how well it worked and a good feel during changes. If you move your engine/gearbox back that also means getting the prop shaft shortened.
Gear box extension seems the obvious way to go. At about £50 saves a lot of time and effort.
I would go the other way and mod the chassis. But it all depends what you are wanting from your car. If you're wanting a race machine with perfect balance then mod the chassis, the steering rack, suspension geometry, chassis triangulation.... But if you just want a sweet ride that is fast and light and you'll take out only on a sunday, then just add a remote shifter.
Mine is a first book, narrow live axle chassis. I moved my engine back by about 5 inches, but I was at the building stage then so it was no big deal
but solved a host of other problems.
I chopped out the front of the tunnel to get the box in then plated it with 18g steel to regain the strength, so it looks more like a tin top bulkhead
than a standard seven. The only compromise I had to make was around my feet. There is no room to put my foot to the left of the clutch pedal, but
I've driven a lot of cars that are no better in that respect (911 Porsce springs to mind).
The gearlever is right where it should be, the steering shaft had a much better run and I was able to use the existing big alternator (Pinto and RS
ally bell housing on Rocket gearbox)
Westfield do an extension, not the cheapest, but it works.
Thanks for the advice, can anyone recommend a brand/supplier of a remote?
I have a pretty much blank canvas as far as the other components are concerned so I'm open to options. To be honest I favour the chassis mod but
as you quite rightly say, is it worth the effort for £50..
I am sure that Ben_Copeland, a member on here, supplies these or sells them on eBay. May be worth a u2u to him to find out.
Regards
Jon
Made my own for the total cost of £0.92 including a quick shift following instructions I found on David Jenkins website.
I had a extension on when I bought the car,hated it & took it off very sloppy gear changes & hard to find gears,might just have been mine though.
quote:
Originally posted by slingshot2000
I am sure that Ben_Copeland, a member on here, supplies these or sells them on eBay. May be worth a u2u to him to find out.
Regards
Jon
Dog leg gear lever --- which is the way Lotus did it.
The zetec in my car is mounted further back and gives more clearance for air filter on carbs and gear lever is idealy positioned.
Only compromise is narrower tunnel but as mine is a wide body it is not that critical.
Not that hard to do yourself but a fellow builder may be able to help you.
Well a little update, the grinder has been busy this aft, removed the two vertical uprights at the front of the tunnel, I am going to replace these
with 40x20 rhs diagonals to clear the gearbox, the tunnel will need notching further back near the rear gearbox mount so am going to overlap and dog
leg the box section, when I find my 110 converter for the mitre saw I'll post some pics. Thanks for the advice