Opinions please: Overdrive in a PV544
 

G'day folks,

Having seen how much oil is leaking out of the gearbox fitted to my newly bought PV544 I'm planning to remove engine and gearbox to do a bit of a reseal.

I suspect 1960's seals have met modern oil - never mind - to be expected (!)

Anyway I was thinking and dreaming a bit and came across this =>

http://www.vclassics.com/pv_od.html

Now this chap reckons that an M41 (M40 + overdrive) is more "original". I understand, however, that V544s weren't factory fitted with overdrives so I'm guessing originality could be a bit of a wild goose chase.

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As I've already got a non original B20 under the bonnet - what would you do?

I've got a feeling that the later gearbox options in the poll would also mean a repositioning of the gear stick (that I'm not especially keen on - I want a ye olde worlde looke)

Maybe different propshaft and flange. You would need to check this out

If you want to lower cruise rpm then I would fit a high ratio diff. Saves messing with the body and M41 gearboxes are not so easy or cheap to find now.

Definitely need a different propshaft - the overdrive is bolted on the back

I do indeed need to check out the differential that is fitted. It could have been changed to suit the replacement engine...

Or a Low ratio diff Dai?!
Russ

The 544 I have just bought has an M41 fitted, and is brilliant. The tunnel appears to be from an Amazon, modded to fit, but I would have thought that only the back part of the tunnel needs to be widened. The speedo cable has been routed through the tunnel into the cabin, rather than fitting a longer one, a bit strange, but it works!

Lower number=higher ratio.

You may have seen this, some info in adapting M41 in detail.

http://www.vclassics.com/pv_od.html

Sorry C1800, did you read #1 of this thread??????

again and again i'm astonished.
regards, Kay

Thanks chaps - I think we're all guilty of speed reading once in a while!

I've also found this =>

http://www.tinustechniek.nl/1-div-aandrijving.html

(it is in Dutch though which might not help everyone here)