Home 
Home Search search Menu menu Not logged in - Login | Register

 Moderated by: Greg Fletcher
New Topic Reply Printer Friendly
Five Speed Info  Rating:  Rating
AuthorPost
 Posted: 11-18-2006 08:39 pm
  PM Quote Reply
1st Post
nvandal
Member
 

Joined: 08-02-2005
Location:  
Posts: 58
Status: 
Offline
Can anyone give me accurate information on the following concerning the five speed gearbox?

- What year and model BMW was it used on?

- Any model numbers on the box?

- Would the BMW box fit the Jensen bell housing?

- Does the BMW gearbox have the same shifter assembly as on the Jensen?

Any knowledgeable help would greatly be appreciated.

Most thankful,

Norm Vandal

Roxbury, VT

Back To Top PM Quote Reply  

 Posted: 11-18-2006 09:48 pm
  PM Quote Reply
2nd Post
Judson Manning
Member


Joined: 03-14-2005
Location: Atlanta, Georgia USA
Posts: 406
Status: 
Offline
Norm,

You may want to check elsewhere on the board, I'm pretty sure we've discussed this topic in depth.  For the BMW connection try:  http://www.bimmers.com/02/faq/transmission.html

The vast majority of BMW (Getrag) transmissions have an integral bellhousing which is specific to the BMW block and will not bolt-up to the 907.

In summary, the only bolt-on options are as follows:

JH 4-speed (Chrysler unit) with separate (907 specific) bellhousing

JH 5-speed (Getrag 235/5 unit) with separate (907 specific) bellhousing

Lotus Elite (Lotus 5-speed) with separate bellhousing.  While nice on paper, it is fragile and parts are impossible to find.

Lotus Eclat S2 (Getrag 265 unit used in early BMW M3s) with separate (912 specific) bellhousing.  Bellhousings are ridiculously rare and the 265 ratios aren't exactly JH friendly.

Lotus Excel (Toyota W58 unit used in the Supra) with separate (912 specific) bellhousing.  Bellhousings are attainable, but signigicant modification is required.

The Conversion Components kit is based on the Lotus Excel design.  After modifying a Lotus Excel bellhousing to fit my car, I can honestly say the CC kit is well worth the money!

Anything else requires significant fabrication work to develop a custom bellhousing, clutch, likage, etc.  If you have the equipment, then you could theoretically adapt just about any transmission.  How far does one go before the CC kit becomes the most practical solution?

Judson

Back To Top PM Quote Reply

 Posted: 11-18-2006 11:28 pm
  PM Quote Reply
3rd Post
nvandal
Member
 

Joined: 08-02-2005
Location:  
Posts: 58
Status: 
Offline
Judson,

First, did you get a look at my front and rear disk conversion kits? Did Ron Earp send you photos? I tried to send them to you but didn't have your email.

The transmission issue is that I've located a bunch of Getrag BMW gear boxes, of unknow variety at present. However, it's likely that there may be some that fit the bill. I'm still a bit confused by your post. You say the Getrag 935-5 unit fits the Jensen. Will it bolt to a four speed Jensen bell housing? Or, do you need a five-speed bell housing ( if there is such a thing? ) My car is currently being stored and painted. I switched from a four to a five speed using tranny and bell housing from a 75 donor car. I can't get at  it right now to do my own " learnin".

So, I'm not looking to switch..already done so. I'm looking to buy at least a spare gearbox for my car. Any idea what year and car the 935-5 came off?

Help if you can.

If you want brake kit photos email me at home off this list. vandal@tds.net

Thanks,

Norm V.

Back To Top PM Quote Reply  

 Posted: 11-19-2006 08:12 am
  PM Quote Reply
4th Post
normv
Member


Joined: 08-07-2006
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 46
Status: 
Offline
There is no BMW gearbox which will bolt straight into a Jensen 5 speed bell housing or not, the BMW equivalent gearbox to the Jensen 5 speed has the bell housing cast into the case, the only close direct replacement Getrag I have found is the lotus bell housing with the Getrag 265 as Judson say’s these are very rare , this gearbox is bigger than the Jensen one.

Back To Top PM Quote Reply

 Posted: 11-19-2006 12:14 pm
  PM Quote Reply
5th Post
nvandal
Member
 

Joined: 08-02-2005
Location:  
Posts: 58
Status: 
Offline
Wow...what a disappointment. This guy has a whole bunch of Getrag gearboxes and not a one will fit the Jensen bellhousing? I am correct? I'm reading you posts correctly?

Thanks,

Norm Vandal

Back To Top PM Quote Reply  

 Posted: 11-19-2006 01:19 pm
  PM Quote Reply
6th Post
Ron Earp
Member


Joined: 03-12-2005
Location: Cary, North Carolina USA
Posts: 339
Status: 
Offline
That is correct as far as I know. None of the Getrag BMW boxes made match the pattern of the 235 transmission, unfortunately.

I have one five speed in the car, and one as a spare.  In fact, just cleaned up the spare the other day.  If I didn't have to run them for racing I wouldn't - I'd use what Judson and others recommend - Toyota 5 speed or a Ford 5 speed. Much more robust, easily repaired, and affordable.

You have two "easy" choices other than an adapter kit, the stock Chysler 4 speed and the stock 235 Getrag 5 speed. A lot of those transmission/combinations Judson lists are extremely rare in the US due to numbers of cars available.

Ron

Last edited on 11-19-2006 01:20 pm by Ron Earp

Back To Top PM Quote Reply

 Posted: 11-20-2006 06:50 am
  PM Quote Reply
7th Post
normv
Member


Joined: 08-07-2006
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 46
Status: 
Offline
If he has one with a detachable bellhousing like the 265 it is possible to cut down the 4 speed bellhousing and weld a new face to it to adapt this gerarbox fairly easily.

Back To Top PM Quote Reply  

 Posted: 11-20-2006 08:06 am
  PM Quote Reply
8th Post
Sylva
Member
 

Joined: 09-14-2006
Location: Malaysia
Posts: 54
Status: 
Offline
Have a look for a Lotus Sunbeam gearbox on ebay uk, they come up every few weeks, but they are expensive (around 700 US$ for std ratio, and twice that for a GP4 set of ratios), But they come ready with a 900 series bell housing that fits a 910, a 911 or a 912, so I assume a 907, and a cable clutch.

This is the getrag box as per the M3/M5, so I assume it is the same box as you are talking about, but with a special case and 900 bell housing made by the factory.

These boxes take a lot of power, I've heard talk of 700+ horse power, What I know is I've gone through 3,  2.2 engines and never had any trouble with the box, either in a Rally sunbeam or on my track car. And the ratio's are ideal for a 2.2.

Problem is that the box is very slow across the gates, 4-3 is very slow, but this boxis bomb proof.

You would need to source a clutch plate as the spines are not as the Elite etc, I am told that there are two different spines available, but I've only seen one.

Kelvin

Back To Top PM Quote Reply

 Posted: 11-20-2006 01:51 pm
  PM Quote Reply
9th Post
Judson Manning
Member


Joined: 03-14-2005
Location: Atlanta, Georgia USA
Posts: 406
Status: 
Offline
Kelvin,

Thanks for the connection to the Sunbeam, I always wondered what transmission was supplied in those cars.  It looks like the Eclat S2 and Sunbeam share the same 265 box.

You are absolutely correct the 265 is near bullet-proof, however, the ratios are a bit wide with a ridiculously low 1st gear.  The guys at http://www.metricmechanics.com have a great history and analysis of this transmission.

In my opinion, the BEST transmission would be the MetricMechanic 'ultimate' based on the 265.  The ratios are much closer and the overdrive is retained.  For racing there is probably nothing stronger, but for the street, it would be overkill.

To answer your quesiton Norm, one could cut down a 4sp bellhousing to adapt ANY transmission.  The challenges include turning the input shaft to match the JH pilot bearing and of course a custom clutch disc. 

The really bad news is that the tollerance for fitting any transmission is about 0.002" (hence the locating dowels), so the welding/maching job has to be extremely precise.  When you add up the cost of welding and machining, plus linkage, etc., the bolt-on solutions become more cost-effective.

Is there any more disappointment I can dish out for you today???

Judson

Back To Top PM Quote Reply  

Current time is 10:47 am  
> Jensen Healey & Jensen GT Tech > Engine & Transmission > Five Speed Info Top




UltraBB 1.172 Copyright © 2007-2011 Data 1 Systems