-
Hi Guest!
You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
There are some perks with a member upgrade!**Upgrade Now**
(PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Hey - did you know if you click on the title of a thread it will take you to the first unread post since you last visited that thread?
but were afraid to ask: 
STOP!! Never post your email address in open forums. Bots can "harvest" your email! If you must share your email use a Private Message or use the 
smilie in place of the real @
Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
5 speeds
- Thread starter healeyboz
- Start date
Share this page
Westfield_XI
Jedi Warrior
Offline
I went with an 1200lb streamlined body/chassis and a 5-speed. I will tell you how it worked out in a few months: have to build a new shop so I can finish the car.
kcbugeye1275
Jedi Knight
Offline
If you have the four speed tranny, the 3.9 rear end is a must for the bugeye. The A series motor can and will stand high rpms, so if that is what you have, enjoy. It will work and last. However, if you can find the 5 speed tranny you'll never regret the switch. It really makes the car one which will run on the highway. 5th gear is 19 percent over fourth and with mine 4000 rpm is not quite 80 mph.
saabmp3
Jedi Hopeful
Offline
The dog-leg shift pattern puts reverse in the top left corner of a standard 'H' tree and then reverse down into the bottom right. I'll try some ASCII drawing here...
R 2 4
|_|_|
| | |
1 3 5
Which is in direct contrast to my saab (with a somewhat normal pattern)
1 3 5
|_|_|
| | |
2 4 R
The reasoning behind the dog-leg pattern, atleast what I read when I was researching them, is to facilitate racing. First gear isn't used very much in short track racing....neither is 5th (overdrive). However, the 2-3 combination is used quite frequently. Therefore, this allows faster transitions between these gears. Interesting idea no matter what.
Another note, I also have a 3.9 rear in my car. It came stock with a 4.22 (which I foolishly thought was higher than a 4.22) and this was the first step I took towards getting her on the highway. I swapped for a 3.9 from a late model midget (I think, I'll have to check my old PM's). There are also 3.7's around if you look for them.
Ben
R 2 4
|_|_|
| | |
1 3 5
Which is in direct contrast to my saab (with a somewhat normal pattern)
1 3 5
|_|_|
| | |
2 4 R
The reasoning behind the dog-leg pattern, atleast what I read when I was researching them, is to facilitate racing. First gear isn't used very much in short track racing....neither is 5th (overdrive). However, the 2-3 combination is used quite frequently. Therefore, this allows faster transitions between these gears. Interesting idea no matter what.
Another note, I also have a 3.9 rear in my car. It came stock with a 4.22 (which I foolishly thought was higher than a 4.22) and this was the first step I took towards getting her on the highway. I swapped for a 3.9 from a late model midget (I think, I'll have to check my old PM's). There are also 3.7's around if you look for them.
Ben
OP
healeyboz
Jedi Knight
Offline
Interesting thread. It sounds like there are many options. The whole idea behind this build was to keep the British theme and try to stay as period as possible. I wanted to make upgrades keeping all of this in mind. I need to get her on the interstate and see how she does. I am sure that a new dif will be in the works. I will have to keep my eye out for the 5 speed.
Oh, hey Jack. Pics to be posted of the new seats later today.
Oh, hey Jack. Pics to be posted of the new seats later today.
bugimike
Yoda
Offline
A few years back, I commuted regularly (80 mile round trip) on I-95 with a stock rib-case, 1275 and 3.9 rear and never had problems keeping up/staying ahead of traffic! As mentioned above, the most daunting events were coping with the aerodynamics of passing/being passed by 18 wheelers, though when you find one not afraid to go, they can provide a nice slipstream tow in a bugeye /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif !!!
middleagecrazy
Senior Member
Offline
Just like Mike I travel 88 miles each day to and from work. I'm running the 1275 with the ribcase and 3.9 diff. I run eighty series tires on the rear. It turns right at 4300 RPM at eighty. The other day for a very short time it ran at ninty right at 5000 RPM. I would love to five speed mine. Someday I'll find that special deal and get it.
Anthony
Anthony
regularman
Yoda
Offline
I got so sick of the high rpms at highway speeds. Mine had the the 3.90 rear gear and ribcage. I don't mind winding it up on back roads and having fun, but on the interstate the high rpms gets old quick. I should have plenty of tall gearing now with the 3.55 rear diff gears and the datsun 5 speed. It seems to start off fine up my fairly steep driveway and that is as far as I have driven it so far. The od gear may be too much and I might end up driving in 4th most of the time or swapping for a 3.70 rear gear and some boot.
kcbugeye1275
Jedi Knight
Offline
Where does the 3.55 come from in the world of spridgets?
Trevor Jessie
Yoda
Offline
Aftermarket... from Victoria British
racingenglishcars
Darth Vader
Offline
I ran a 3.7 with a 948 Morris Minor one time and didn't like it. It was way too slow on the startup. But I guess now in the days of econoboxes, it's pretty normal.