>So what do you folks who went for the 5-speed have to say?Bill Spohn and I
> are just guessing!
> Bill
I have thought about putting a 5-speed in my car. From my point of view, I can
either put in a complicated, antique, electro-mechanical device, or a new,
all-mechanical, Lucas-free piece.
Although the o/d would be a simpler initial installation -- out with the old,
in with the new, connect to presumably existing wires -- and would allow one
the occasional opportunity to say "Laycock de Normanville" (as opposed to "Ford
Sierra" or "Toyota Celica", the o/d is a very clear winner here), there is --
in my eyes -- one major disadvantage.
When driving a car with o/d, two distinctly different motions are used for
shifting gears and for changing o/d. In my '70, if I read the wiring diagrams
correctly, I would switch the o/d by pulling/pushing on the windshield wiper
switch.
I would change gears 1-4 by moving the gear lever, and would engage 3-od and
4-od by moving the windshield wiper switch.
The windshield wiper switch.
Yes, I could do some custom wiring, so that I had a small switch somewhere on
the gear lever, or the dash. That would take care of the fact that I think
it's just plain silly to change gears with the windshield wipers. But it would
still leave me with two distinctly different ways of changing gears.
If I put in a 5-speed, I would be able to change gears as simply as possible,
without mentally asking myself -- "now, for this next change, does my hand stay
on the wheel, flicking a switch with my fingertips? Or do I move my hand to
the gearshift lever to change gears? Or do I do BOTH?"
Yes, I know it's classic, and yes, I know that Paddy Hopkirk (etc.) did it,
while racing. It just seems silly to do it that way 40 years later, if there's
a simpler way.
Matt (with nomex)
'70 'B with all sorts of easy-way-out modern conveniences, like 12v battery,
electronic ignition, halogen instrument lights I can see, electric fan...
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/// (If they are dupes, this trailer may also catch them.)
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