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3.54:1 Ring & Pinion...

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Randy Forbes

Randy Forbes

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Just a heads up to let you know that Mike Lempert is taking deposits on another batch of gearsets.

Delivery is estimated at five months, but understanding the operations and processes involved, that seems reasonable to me.

Advance planning for next winter's project list!

Mike's E-mail is: mlempert@bellsouth.net

Now if I can decide on a positive traction unit, I'll be all set...
 
Randy,
I sent a deposit to Mike L. about 11 months ago. In the mean time I got a 3.54 pumpkin from a Austin saloon & installed it. Would never go back to the 4.11 for road use. If & when the Lempert gears arrive I will either install them in the 4.11 pumpkin or just keep them around as spares in view of the likely future shortage. Mikes price is quite a bit lower than the other couple of gear vendors who offer the 3.54 ring & pinion.
D
 
Thom,
I don't really know which cars have the 3.54 axle. I got mine from Earl Kagna in B.C. He had a couple of them at the time. I'll bet that Sherlock would know such a thing. The axle is the Austin A90 type.

I used the entire pumpkin. Just bolted it in. Earl had actually run & tested it for leaks & noise before the sale.

For me it was worth the effort. I'm not exactly in the flat land. As you say, first gear was so low as to be practically useless. It now works as a very good gear. It will still burn the tires on a start, just takes more throttle. What I really like is being able to cruise at 78 mph & turning 3,000 rpm. (28% overdrive) The top speed is actually higher in direct fourth than in OD, but I don't run top speed very often.

Sorry, I just go by the tach & mental notes for speed. Around 2,200 rpm is 60 mph in OD. 2,600 is 70. 3000 is about 80. The plan is to have the speedometer recalibrated by MOMA (Motor Mart), New Mexico when I'm in the mood. Margaret told me that a gear change inside the speedo would do the trick.
D
PS,
I found a bit more info on the BMC C series axles;
3.54 is marked 39/11

The differentials fitted to the Isis is of the C-series type.
Here is a brief list of which ratios were used, and where:
4.1:1 Isis, Wolseley 6/90, Austin A90 c.19mph/1000rpm 15" rims
3.9:1 Austin A99-A110, Wolseley 6/99-6/110 with Manual Transmission ?
3.54:1 Austin A99-A110, Wolseley 6/99-6/110 with Automatic Transmission
D

[ 02-04-2004: Message edited by: Dave Russell ]</p>
 
Dave Four questions:

Which Austin Saloon(s) have the 3.54 gears?

Did you use the entire differential or just the ring and pinion?

Is is worth the effort? I have the in-between 3.80. 1st gear isn't really useful here in "flatland".

How did you address the seedometer issue? Please don't tell me you do the math in your head as a mental exercise. I already have a Mini with a KPH speedo, so that exercise is familar.

Thanks
Thom
 
Well... I have a 3.54 gear set in my VandenPlas MK II Saloon that I could be tempted to remove. For the right offer. I would have to move the VDP from the back of my property, and clear a space in my shop for the job. So I would hope to get offers reflecting the work involved. Just thought that I would throw this out, if there was any interest. The VDP is the Austin Healey type 2912 CC engine, with auto trans, and 14 inch tires.
 
I had a ratio adaptor box made by a local speedo shop. It is installed in the cable just behind the dash with another short length of output cable going to the speedo head. It cost me about $150.00 installed.
 
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