• 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
Tips
Tips

Smooth vs ribbed case ?

Share this page

B

bluemg

Senior Member
Offline
Many thanks to everyone that answered my question about the 185/70R13 tires being too large, Santa didn't bring my fake Minilite Rims, but there is always my birthday.
Bugeye is totally stripped to the bare metal and in primer now, all the metal work is finished, new sills and floor boards.
I see back in the archives several suggestions for folks to switch from the smooth case trans. to the ribbed transmission. I got to the transmission last night.
Transmission felt good, while in the car, both up and down through the gears.
I have maybe a 1/16 +/- movement in the shafts, first motion shaft and third motion shaft and the rear seal leaked(well lets say the felt looks like it is gone)
What would the advantage be to change over to a ribbed case Transmission?
Is the shaft play such that it would be necessary to rebush at this time, or worry about it when it starts to rattle?
Thanks for the help.
 
[ QUOTE ]
What would the advantage be to change over to a ribbed case Transmission?

[/ QUOTE ]

The 'ribs' add strength, other differences include less noise, ring synchros and a rubber dust seal. Ratios remained the same.
 
Ralph, in addition to what Barry mentioned, smoothcase parts are getting extremely hard to find, while rib case parts are still plentiful.
If you are a purist regarding appearances, you can have rib case internals installed in a smooth case. I've never had it done, and it's probably expensive, but I <u>do</u> know that it's possible.
I don't think that the shaft play is excessive, and the rear seal is a five minute job to replace.
Good luck.
Jeff
 
The ratios are actually a bit different in the rib case transmission. The smooth case is a fairly wide ratio box, while the rib case tightens up things a bit. 4th is still 1:1, but the other gears are all slightly different.
 
Bugeye58, I wouldn't be so quick to say Rib Case parts are plentiful. They are MUCH better than the smooth case parts, but try to find a first motion shaft for the ribbed unit.

The ribbed uint is a bit stronger than the smooth unit. It's good for about 6 - 6000 RPM hole shots, instead of 1 ;>}
 
Thom, perhaps I should have said "MOST" rib case parts are plentiful.
Overall, they are easier to find than smoothcase parts.
Jeff
 
[ QUOTE ]
They are MUCH better than the smooth case parts, but try to find a first motion shaft for the ribbed unit.


[/ QUOTE ]
ThomP - I've got a few 1st motion shafts with decent syncro surfaces if you need one.
 
Much tougher than that to find for either is the cluster gear (which I needed). I did find a source after 2 years of searching! I'm sure some of you are familiar with him...
Quantumechanics in CT. John was very reasonable and helpful. I would recommend him for any Spridget tranny needs!!
 
That is the one!! For many years that was just not available from either Moss or VB. It was one of those parts w/o a part# in their diagrams.
 
Back
Top