PG1 - gear change issues

eaa53 · #1 16th June 2008, 19:02

Spent a very sunny day destroying a perfectly good 200Vi donor car today, no your ok the body panels were bent! Anybody want a complete power steering kits tank to rack! No, no odds I will try eBay.

I have moved on to the big dirty bits and discovered that the gear box I have what I thought was and still believe is, a PG1, has a different gear change arrangement than I though I was expecting based on the CD pictures. Never thought to check the working car.

Where the photographs show a weighted wedge and a separate shaft I have just the one shaft for in and out and round and round.

The John Watson WKC build shows the type I have, he used the 200 BRM so I think I have much the same. The Marlin CD pic's show it completely different. I guess this is the different between the R65 in the 1.6 and the PG1in the 1.8.

I think it is a call to the Help desk tomorrow to find out what I need to order.

Any thoughts before I buy the bits?

alackofspeed · #2 16th June 2008, 19:13

John (limpabit) used modified MGF gearbox components. It's worth speaking to him, as he had quite a lot of trouble with shifting before he swapped to MGF parts.

eaa53 · #3 16th June 2008, 19:42

Thanks JD I have PM'd him.

I will go look at some T and TF's tomorrow then I guess, local auto scrappy is a fan of the little motor and has lots of bits..

JC

limpabit · #4 16th June 2008, 19:48

Hi there.

Yep pretty sure all the 1.8's came with a PG1 box as well.

This is a picture of mine, the way it was.

My cables decides to destroy thereselves after 900 miles of driving.

So just completed the MGF conversion. Perfect with the hydraulic clutch (another addition you will want to do).

Need brackets, gear change adapter from gear box, roll pin and cables at the rear.

At the front, the gear lever contraption. I work of art engineering wise. Or maybe that's just me. Needs outer bracket chopped a bit, with a front stabiliser welded so it can bolt to the Marlin cross member (original gear change bracket). Just fits under centre tunnel.

Let me know if you need any more info or pictures.

eaa53 · #5 17th June 2008, 05:59

Sorry I got locked out of the forum last night and could not respond properly.

I will go look at MG F's today and eval options.

I have not got the 'T' section on my CD but found one odd picture as a starter for a cut and weld project.

I will detail more as I proceed.

eaa53

paulsul · #6 17th June 2008, 20:28

I discovered that the gear stick assembly to use would be from a Rover 200 without the PG1 box. The assembly Marlin have used is this one, not the VI.
I have put the1.8 vvc into mine and had to visit the scrappy for numerous bits. I am however interested in this MGF conversion. I find the cable set up a bit notchy but ok when you get used to it.
If you put the VVC in yours, I think you will find it to be very rapid. I would not have the guts to go for the Honda or Turbo motors.

Cheers

limpabit · #7 17th June 2008, 20:32

Hi Paul.

I found no end of problems on mine with the original setup.

How do you find your clutch? Is it still cable?

Rear end. Brackets, cables selctor adapter from the MGF. Gear stick contraption, modified to fit under centre tunnel. Works well. Nice smooth and rapid gear changes know.

The turbo takes your breath away sometimes. Like the car wants to control you. It's put hairs on my chest and taken it from my head though!

What VVC do you have in yours? 143 or 160?

paulsul · #8 17th June 2008, 21:10

Hi
I have the cable clutch and find it to be really good. It is the cable gear seletors that I am not too chuffed about. I have never actually looked at an MGF set up but will make a point of investigating further. It sounds like it has done the trick for you.
The VVC I have is only 143bhp but have had the head worked on.
It is more than quick enough form me. I am not as brave as I used to be but still consider myself to be a young 50

Cheers

limpabit · #9 17th June 2008, 21:37

Maybe it was me with the clutch. I seemed a bit of a ball ache connecting the clutch arm to the cable. And needed a heavy left foot. What with others having problems with cables snapping, decided to change.

alackofspeed · #10 17th June 2008, 22:00

I wonder what the straight line difference is between the Honda 2.0 i-vtec and the k-series VVC. I have a suspicion there's not a massive difference. The first time I floored my honda in a straight line, I thought "is that it?", and it has confirmed in my mind that once the driveshaft / cv joints have failed (it's bound to happen), and I've moved the engine, I'm going shopping for a rotrex.

craig · #11 17th June 2008, 22:20

Honda elise na 3.7 secs 0-62 9.7 secs 0-100
vvc sport 160 5.4 secs 0-62 16.2 secs 0-100
Honda elise sc 3.6 secs 0-62 8.3 secs 0-100

The top figures is what was timed on timing gear on the link up conversion
the seconds figures are lotuses figures
the third figures I got from seloc

I know the na honda elise is a supercar beater and videos on youtube to prove, the sc cars are.....well

Sometimes it's not about figures though but drivability and in gear acceleration which in the sc car is meant to be un-nerving
Craig

alackofspeed · #12 17th June 2008, 22:33

I'm too lazy to look - what are the stats for the Exige 190? I know mine will pull away from one of them quite easily.

craig · #13 17th June 2008, 22:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by alackofspeed

I'm too lazy to look - what are the stats for the Exige 190? I know mine will pull away from one of them quite easily.

No idea John

Craig

ps my form is away!!

pps why is it only on this site I keep getting error 5** internal server error....it is rather annoying! does anyone else get this?

craig · #14 17th June 2008, 22:43

this is probably about right

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i98OzHtXbW0

gt3 vs honda elise...talk about rash, add on supercharger and you have a porche going backwards

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0f8_y1fD7o