Series IIA with synchromesh?

[Discoverme]

I posted a few weeks ago about a IIA I saw and was persuaded to stick with my D1 due to the lack of synchro. I fell in love with the car but the gear thing would drive me nuts in the city. I don't care about amenities and would be in heaven with a decent running series with synchromesh in all 4 gears. Is it possible and/or feasible to do this conversion to a IIA? Series III is of course an option but I don't love the look of the front end and I can't seem to find a good one on the east coast.

 

[JackW]

You can easily put a SIII gearbox in a SIIA - you need to either replumb the hydraulics to adapt to the SIII style slave cylinder or you use the SIIA bellhousing on a SII gearbox and retain the stock hydraulic system. Actually you really just need to change the mainshaft and gearsets (maybe the shift forks) in a SIIA case to convert it to a full synchro SIII type box.


Non-synchro isn't that bad however - you'd rapidly get used to it and hardly ever graunch the first-second upshift - even third-second downshifts will eventually become natural. Its just the downshifts into first gear that require much talent.

 

[Discoverme]

That's very reassuring to know that if I do get a IIa and if I just can't stand it that I could do a conversion. Now the problem is finding one that drives well in decent shape for not a lot of dough on the east coast.

 

[KevinNY]

You just need to take your time looking for one, there are series trucks for sale all over the place. I found mine, a former ECR resto, while sitting in a sub shop perusing the Want Ad Digest of all places, and only 10 minutes from me.

 

[rover4x4]

double clutch

 

[landrvrnut21]

I tell you what, I will trade you straight up a SIII box for a SIIa box. SIII boxes are weaker, and more prone to problems. SIIA also have a lower first gear. Either learn to double clutch, or drive an automatic, quit whining.

 

[monkeyboy]

My 25 y/o daughter thinks its hilarious that I double clutch her CTD 6-speed Dodge p/u...

 

[Ron]

Very late IIa actually came with synchromesh from the factory.

 

[Rocky]

Perhaps he should get a R380 shoehorned in. syncro 5 speed.....

 

[Discoverme]

Dude whining isn't the case here, I love stick and will probably learn it in no time, and in fact I used double clutch for fun on my old celica when I wanted to engine brake for a fast turn. I'm just scoping out the possibilities.

 

[Rover Wrench]

A little more than just a gearbox is required. The flywheel, clutch disc, and pressure plate need to be changed also. The good thing is that it is a bolt in swap with a little hydraulic plumbing on the side. My wife drives her IIa everyday to work and anywhere else for that matter and loves it. In city traffic you can start in 2nd and eliminate much of the double clutch hassle. Cheers, Mark

 

[Ted]

The double-clutching thing is not too hard to master. Also, it is only 1st and 2nd gears you have to worry about. 3rd and 4th are synchromesh. Considering that with the low gearing on a Series, you can actually start out in 2nd gear from a dead stop, the only real double clutching that has to be done is downshifting from 3rd to 2nd. You get the feel of that pretty fast.

cheers,

Ted

 

[PhillyRover]

I lived in Atlanta and Philly and my only vehicle was a 1960 Series II. Don't worry about the synchromesh, worry about the lack of power.