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I've always been an overdrive rather than a 5th gear enthusiast myself

1664 wrote:I've always been an overdrive rather than a 5th gear enthusiast myself

One is a description of ratio, the other is a description of how many gears there are in the gearbox. I'm not sure I get your point.

dash wrote:

1664 wrote:I've always been an overdrive rather than a 5th gear enthusiast myself

One is a description of ratio, the other is a description of how many gears there are in the gearbox. I'm not sure I get your point.

Overdrive gave you an effective 'half gear' increment in third and forth (even second on a TR6 I believe) at the switch of a button so you could effectively go first, second, third, third and a half, forth, forth and a half, and back again. Also gave a very satisfying 'automatc' gear change feeling.

No 'point' as such, just a preference.....

1664 wrote:

dash wrote:

1664 wrote:I've always been an overdrive rather than a 5th gear enthusiast myself

One is a description of ratio, the other is a description of how many gears there are in the gearbox. I'm not sure I get your point.

Overdrive gave you an effective 'half gear' increment in third and forth (even second on a TR6 I believe) at the switch of a button so you could effectively go first, second, third, third and a half, forth, forth and a half, and back again. Also gave a very satisfying 'automatc' gear change feeling.

No 'point' as such, just a preference.....

So a splitter box then? Not really an overdrive in anything but marketing speak. So Triumph fitted lorry gearboxes to cars then? You learn something every day

I don't know what a splitter box is. I don't care what a splitter box is. I like overdrive.

1664 wrote:I don't know what a splitter box is. I don't care what a splitter box is. I like overdrive.

It certainly sounds more impressive

1664 wrote:I don't know what a splitter box is. I don't care what a splitter box is. I like overdrive.

smashy and nicey also liked overdrive
i do believe the classic that was the humber sceptre ( spelling ) had it also.

All I know is that it was an intermediate gear that was engaged/disengaged by a switched solenoid. Lots of car manufacturers fitted it, Triumph, Rootes (Humber, Singer, Sunbeam etc). It was a separate unit to the gearbox I believe.

and it was called overdrive by them all

My Hillaman Hunter (GLS ) and my Old Rapier both had overdrive

These are OVERDRIVE, i.e. a higher gear than "top" (4th in these 2 cars)

I fitted the overdrive box (it fits behind the main gearbox) myself and was very pleased with my self (that was 30 + years ago !)

ghost123uk wrote:My Hillaman Hunter (GLS ) and my Old Rapier both had overdrive

Oooh which Rapier? The old bench seat column gear change one or the fastback? I had a white 1970 fastback which had overdrive in 3rd and 4th via a stalk switch on the steering column. Crackin' lookin car; well, it was......

These are the only pictures I have of it unfortunately.Taken not long just after I had erm............... perhaps not paid as much attention to the road as I possibly should have in 1979. Note the windscreen being held in place by the windscreen wipers, it actually fell out and slid along the bonnet upon impact. I was over the bonnet too but was kept in the car by my foot that was trapped. (Pre seat belt law days) It was bent like a banana

Overdrive: An epicyclic gearbox with integral, solenoid-actuated hydraulic cone clutch. Made by Laycock DeNormanville.
I've only ever dismantled one, that was for a Jag MK X (and yes it did go back together ok!)

@ 1664 (what is your name !) Oh dear, I think you where luck there !

Mine was a 68 Series V one as per =



The Hunter GLS was a right street sleeper, 120BHP on Twin 40's

silverbullet wrote:I've only ever dismantled one, that was for a Jag MK X (and yes it did go back together ok!)

I was going to mention Jaguar but I wasn't certain enough

ghost123uk wrote:Mine was a 68 Series V one as per =



The Hunter GLS was a right street sleeper, 120BHP on Twin 40's

They made some good looking cars back then

1664 wrote: They made some good looking cars back then

Those rear fluted wings on my Rapier caused exhaust gasses to get sucked forward, only between 60 and 80 MPH (motorway cruising speed) so you could not have the windows open without risking carbon monoxide poisoning

Asphyxiation is a small price to pay for style like that