5 sp Gearbox

[grahamdelooze]

Hello,
Im not a R4 owner although my first car was a R6 that my dad bought in 73' and I had a R5 Gordini and a couple of GT turbos in the late 80'

Im currently looking at fitting a 5 sp box in a Hillman imp hence the return to Renault.

A bit of homework shows several very different types used in R4 and R5. I would like light or less bulky and short but gear change at the end of the box would be good.
An HA1 with a 4.125 diff seems like its got good close ratios as imps have little torque even well tuned

I like the look of a split case presumably alloy type 385 but I don't know how long they are. and a bit higher geared.
NG5 looks good with gear change at the end but probably bigger with high gears.

Any thoughts or spare boxes for sale?

Graham

 

[grahamdelooze]

OK just noticed the 385 and NG5 are Gordini so probably out. Im happy to continue to explore the HA1 if anyone's got one.
Graham

 

[angel]

There is no HA1 with 4.125:1 FD, the most common version as fitted on the 5GTL had a very tall 3.1:1 ratio. There was a lower FD version, I can't recall if it was 3,44:1 or 3.77:1, but harder to locate than the GTL one.
The 385 had a FD ratio of 3.87:1 as fitted on the Alpine (Gordini), but there were more options (including a 4.125:1 FD for the Gr.2 Alpine) because this gearbox had been fitted on much more cars than the HA1.

 

[grahamdelooze]

Hello Angel thanks for response. Are you sure, I read it was F6 with 4.125. That is a shame as it would have given me a very close ratio box with 3.83 2.23 1.46 1.17 0.95

I may have a bigger problem as I understand there are clockwise and anticlockwise engines. I need to determine Renault direction or if the diff can be turned over in the box like on the VW transaxle.

Graham

 

[angel]

The F6 gearbox is 4 speed (as on any R4/R6) HA0/354. It's hardly possible to fit the crownwheel/pinion from a 4 speed box to a 5 speeder, because the pinion is incorporated in the mainshaft, which is obviously different on each box. It may only be possible after major surgery (cutting and re-welding the mainshaft/pinion).

Regarding the 5 speed gearbox, be it HA1 or 385/NG it was only fitted on clockwise turning engines so it should not be of any problem to you (the Imp engine turns clockwise as far as I can recall).
I don't think the square-top gearboxes (HA1) will fit the Imp, they are shorter but wider and bulkier over the top.

 

[grahamdelooze]

Thanks angel, I think youre right about the size being too wide.