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5-Speed or overdrive?

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tinman58

tinman58

Jedi Knight
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We went on a nice long drive up thru the delta to Sacramento and back on the back roads. What a beautiful day. Since my TR3 is still waiting for the motor go go back in (tomorrow) Glen let me drive his Beautiful red TR3 with overdrive. I have the toyota 5-speed conversion. After driving the TR with the overdrive I feel that if I were to do it over I would rather spend the money on the o/d unit for the upgrade from just the 4-speed trans. So if you are thinking about the toyota conversion I would try to drive a O/D equipped TR first. I still do like my 5-speed and it can be replaced for $125 from the junk yard. Happy New Year.
 
I'm with you on that one Dan. You can't beat an OD that's working well. Happy New Year.
 
I love the O/D, practically every car in the world made in the last 15 years or so has a 5 speed or more.

I have never had a mechanical problem in over 20 years of driving Laycock O/D equipped cars (I have had to trace down a few electrical ones). Flicking into O/D is cool and part of what makes the cars unique and special. I am not a total stickler for originality, but I have considered a 5 speed conversion for a couple cars, but have never done it and never regretted not.

I do know several people with 5 speed conversions in various Brit cars and they do swear by them, there are certainly practical arguments for them, but if practical were the rule of the day we wouldn't be driving old leaky British cars, not putting anyone down who has done it, your car your choice, just not my cup of tea.
 
Dan, I've had both OD and 5 speed conversions and really prefer the OD. I installed a J-type OD in a MK II GT6 and absolutely loved it. The GT6 had the stock 3.89 rear end and the J-type was a 27% Volvo unit. It totally transformed the GT6 into a real Grand Tourning car, a really decent (but small) highway cruiser.

The J-type OD engages in in 3rd and 4th and it is a thrill to flip in and out of OD. Also, it never fails to WOW your passengers as many folks have never seen or felt an overdrive gearbox in operation. There's really nothing like it in any modern car, period. A blast from the past, and correct for the car.

IF you choose OD, I think the most significant factor is to get a newly (professionally) rebuilt OD gearbox that you KNOW is in <span style="text-decoration: underline">top</span> nick. Then, properly maintained, you'll enjoy <span style="text-decoration: underline">tens of thousands </span>of worry-free miles with your Laycock overdrive.

Laycock A types, D types and J types are all tougn as nails and proven thorough many thousands of miles of racing, and driven zillions of miles over decades in a wide range of vehicles around the globe, including thousands of Volvos, triumphs, MGs, and other great marques.

Go for a nicely rebuilt Laycock OD. You won't regret it.
 
Dan,

I have OD in my TR-3B and can't say enough good about it. It really transforms the car and makes it a joy to drive.

I have driven a Healey with the 5-speed and it seemed to lack the feel of a standard British OD unit.

Paul
 
It's a Blond vs Brunnet kind of question
 
Since you put it that way, I like them both
grin.gif
 
Geo Hahn said:
Me too -- and I just like saying 'Laycock de Normanville'.
Click to expand...

That's as good a reason as any. But isn't that French? I'm sure there's a long story.
 
Hmmmm.. I'll be a contrarian on this.

I had O/D installed when I had my engine and transmission rebuilt a year ago, now regret it because I really didn't need it. Switching from 4-speed to O/D on the road seems to me like suddenly going froma vintage sports car to an ordinary road car.

Don't get me wrong, I think O/D is great... but just not for me.

Perhaps I should add, as justification for my point of view, that most of the roads around here are hilly, narrow, twisting, back-country roads with "nary" a straight stretch to be found. They remind me of the roads in back-country England. If I were back in Texas, Arizona or California, I'd probably have a different opinion.
 
glemon said:
I have never had a mechanical problem in over 20 years of driving Laycock O/D equipped cars (I have had to trace down a few electrical ones). Flicking into O/D is cool and part of what makes the cars unique and special. I am not a total stickler for originality, but I have considered a 5 speed conversion for a couple cars, but have never done it and never regretted not.

I do know several people with 5 speed conversions in various Brit cars and they do swear by them, there are certainly practical arguments for them, but if practical were the rule of the day we wouldn't be driving old leaky British cars, not putting anyone down who has done it, your car your choice, just not my cup of tea.
Click to expand...

:iagree:

Pretty much sums up my feelings as well. For me, overdrives and wire wheels are part of the charm of the cars.

Scott
 
Dan...My car is the 60 3A and it came with the 4:11 rear end and overdrive. During restoration I had both the tranny and overdrive rebuilt. It took a while for me to find help finding someone who could help me sort things out with the OD unit... but when I got it adjusted correctly it has really been a lot of fun. Yes...does have a leak or two....but last June it turned 50....so I guess it gets a pass for a few drops every now and then. Gil NoCal
 
LexTR3 said:
Perhaps I should add, as justification for my point of view, that most of the roads around here are hilly, narrow, twisting, back-country roads with "nary" a straight stretch to be found.
Click to expand...
Which, oddly enough, is exactly the kind of place where I really like the instant, clutchless shifts that an A-type OD gives you. 2nd OD, for example, is just the right gear when 2nd direct is too low and 3rd direct is too high. Then when you need a bit more for the next curve/hill, just flip the switch.

And the Toy box doesn't have anything like it.

Just for amusement, here is part of the route we took yesterday on the New Year's run:
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Little...mp;t=h&z=15
 
Randall,

That drive looks like fun. I wholeheartedly agree with you on the standard OD unit.

Happy New Year from Virginia.

Paul
 
LexTR3 said:
...I had O/D installed when I had my engine and transmission rebuilt a year ago, now regret it...
Click to expand...

I've got a gearbox in the corner of the garage that will solve your problem (and make me happy).
 
Geo,

I can help Ed as well, and I live in Virginia am am willing to pick it up and save the freight cost. Might even be talked in to performing the swap free of charge, of course.
 
Ha, ha.... thanks for all the offers of a standard transmission! I knew I could count on your generosity.

Actually, I learned something about O/D from reading Randall's posting. I obviously have not been getting the advantage out of it that it offers. Next time I hit the back roads, I'll check out that 2nd OD. Sounds like I have been missing something.

Live and learn, as they say, and I am glad to discover that I may have, in fact, made the right decision to add the O/D. Sheer luck.

Now the only drawback to the O/D that I can "complain" about is, as I have said before, that when it was added and the old transmission was removed or altered, the dip stick feature was removed, which makes checking the transmission level a bit of a task.
 
LexTR3 said:
Now the only drawback to the O/D that I can "complain" about is, as I have said before, that when it was added and the old transmission was removed or altered, the dip stick feature was removed, which makes checking the transmission level a bit of a task.
Click to expand...

Ed-

Do you still have the old cover? You can certainly adapt it for the overdrive unit. That way you can keep the dipstick too.

Randy
 
Randy,

Don't have the old cover. That stayed with the shop that did the work, as far as I know. The fiberglass cover is there, of course, with the old access hole, but instead of finding the dipstick there, one finds wires and other parts of the O/D.

Actually, I've finally come to terms with the new method of checking the transmission level, even though it means jacking up the side of the car and crawling under it. Fortunately, this doesn't have to be done too often.

I had no idea that the dipstick would be eliminated when the O/D was installed, but when I discovered this, it was too late.

I wasn't keen on adding the O/D but was convinced by others that (a) since I was having the engine rebuilt and work done on the transmission, that this would be the time to do it, (b) the shop had a good used O/D on hand at a good price, (c) many people told me that I would love the performance on the highway, and (d) if I were to sell the car, the O/D would make it more desirable. This last reason meant nothing to me, however, because I never intend to sell the car but to give it to my daughter or grandchildren.
 
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