R-type centre gear change (picture)

John Robins

I know we have mentioned this before and there are some pictures posted somewhere, but I can't find them, so here are two views of the gearchange on B373TO, from above.

Christopher Carnley · Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 1:01 pm Post subject:

Words fail me, (for a change!).

Certainly no factory conversion or factory authorized conversion, I hate it.

Chris

Laurie Fox · Guest

The earlier discussion is at www.bdcl.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=644 plus pictures of the central gearchange from underneath. This was in the early days when I was starting to put pictures in topics (2004); there are over 1000 now!

Laurie

John Robins · Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 2:39 pm Post subject:

The gearchange mechanism has always been like that, to my certain knowledge, since 1964. If it does nothing else, it can now claim to have reduced Christopher to speechlessness!

Christopher Carnley · Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 5:16 pm Post subject:

John.
It has been a beautiful day here, I have been in the workshop in a suds suit
turning 55/65 ton 3% chrome steel to make synchro cones, and then I am faced with a bit of bent steel welded onto a beautifully crafted gear lever.

I am sorry to dent your proud feelings, but the "thing" is best covered up!

Chris.

John Robins · Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 6:28 pm Post subject:

I have no particular feelings for it or against it, but since I would have to find a new floor panel to return the car to a RH change, let alone sourcing all the other bits, and since I am used to the car the way it is, it will probably get covered up and as you suggest remain unseen.

As interest had been expressed, and as the floor had to come out, I took the pictures.

I am very pleased to hear that we still have some hands-on engineers left in this country. My experience of searching upon the internet for items, or for people with the capability of producing items, has so far caused me to fear a collapse into the opposite.

Christopher Carnley · Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 8:24 pm Post subject:

John,

My experience is that the opposite, generally is all sadly too true.

I only know one firm in the country that is totally reliable in making anything, Honley Bearings.

Chris.

John Robins · Posted: Sat May 21, 2016 10:27 pm Post subject:

There's nothing to beat dragging up an old subject from the past, so I shall.

I visited Wroxton last Thursday, and Alan Bodfish copied the original build records for B373TO, and in spite of Mr C's protestations as seen above, the centre gear change was fitted by the factory when the car was built.

Perhaps Christopher is now speechless again!

Christopher Carnley · Posted: Sun May 22, 2016 8:18 am Post subject:

Very interesting, but still looks like a right old cobbled up variation on the original theme. I still hate it,and it compares very poorly alongside the left hand drive column change mechanism.