I too had a Japanese 5 speed in my car. --Short throws, good ratios, smooth,
quiet, reliable.....Drove it every day, -really enjoyed it. ------in my Nissan
Maxima.
For real fun, and what I felt was a real vintage car experience, on weekends
I'd switch over to the Healey with it's OE long throw notchy crashbox. I LOVE
that thing! I've always felt that it is tons of fun, has never given me
problems, and is an important part of the vintage car experience. -And a
challenge to drive well--which is part of what makes the car, for me, so
entertaining. For me, it's part of the difference between an entertaining
drive, and "transportation".
I have no beef with Smitty conversions, -just not my preference. -But I do
like the idea of keeping the original trans with the car, if possible.
David W. Jones
'62 Mk II BT7 tricarb
Cumberland, RI USA
----- Original Message -----
From: Michael Salter
To: KingR44916@aol.com ; healeys@autox.team.net
Sent: Saturday, March 26, 2005 8:40 AM
Subject: RE: 3000 trans
Although I used to be a stickler for originality I have been a convert to
the 5 speed Toyota conversion. The original gearbox is clunky, has rotten
ratios and a tendency to be somewhat fragile, whereas the Toyota box is
reasonably inexpensive, shifts beautifully, is very reliable and has
perfectly spaced ratios. (That is what 30 years of development will do for
you).
Unless I was building a concours car I would never consider an original
box.
With a bit of work I managed to make the Toyota shift lever
indistinguishable from the original and defy anyone to tell that the car
does not have an original transmission without getting under the car.
Here is my 2 cents........ :-)
Michael Salter
www.precisionsportscar.com
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-healeys@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-healeys@autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of KingR44916@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, March 26, 2005 8:01 AM
To: healeys@autox.team.net
Subject: 3000 trans
i have a ? for the group. if you were doing your trans over would you put
in
a rebuilt one or go with a smitty conversion.originality not an issue which
one is actually better for the car
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