Capri Transmission help

Capri Build

As I work on the Capri, I have found out that it will be "provisionally" accepted by at least two of the vintage racing organizations on the east coast.

The syncros are gone in the stock 4-spd. When it was an SCCA IT car, I was not allowed to change to another transmission. The vintage organizations aren't as strict on those things, tending to want the cars to appear as they would have when they were raced and classing the cars by driver experience and ability as well as engine size, etc.

I am getting estimates on having the stock tranny rebuilt, but it seems to me like there is a big gap between the gears, especially between 1st and 2nd. I also want to Auto X this car.

The Cologne V6 was offered in several cars/trucks including the Ranger. I am pretty sure that Ford Rangers with the 2.8 V6 and a manual transmission would have a 5-speed.

Would this be an "easy" way to get a "better" transmission? The motor is built to IT specs (not too much more HP than stock) so I'm sure a stock 5 spd would be as strong as the stock 4 spd.

Where/how can I find out if the ratios in the 5 spd are closer than the ratios in the 4 spd? Will the transmisison housing be the same length? Cost is a factor, so getting a custom driveshaft might not make this worth the effort.

Thanks-

You should be able to get new gear ratios for the Type E (FOG/Rocket). You should talk to Taylor Race Engineering; I've never talked to them but I heard good things: http://www.taylor-race.com/framedmap.cfm?drawing=rocketmap&category=Transmissions&subcategory1=Quaife&subcategory2=Quaife%20Parts&subcategory3=Quaife%20Rocket

The 5 speed upgrade (Type 9) should come from a XR4Ti and you would keep your bellhousing. Here is a break down on the ratios in this manual: http://www.lotusowners.com/Miscpics/Type%209-Ngearbox.pdf

You should be able to get either the 4 speed or 5 speed regeared by Taylor Race. Look on their website for Quaife Rocket and the Quaife Sierra, respectively.

I believe the gearing of the Type 9 is the same as the Type E but with an O/D added to the back, and some say a slightly less-nice gearchange feel. Norm Murdock @ Team Blitz used to talk about engineering a five-speed swap that would use a better trans than the Type 9 or anything from a truck but I don't know if anything came of it. I think the ratios in the Ranger boxes were not that hot either, with a really short 1st.

I do remember how tall 2nd was after the short 1st in my Capri. A W/C T-5 would have been a nice improvement but I did like the smooth long throws when shifting the Type E. Curious what you figure out.

I will give Norm a shout...thanks guys...

I will also see what Tayor Race says...

You can fit a T5 with a bell housing from a Mustang II 2.8.

In reply to fast_eddie_72:

That may be the best news yet...

In reply to fast_eddie_72:

Wish my Dad has known that as that was why he eventually have up his Capri due to a lack of available transmissions (this was pre-internet days) and he had gone through two of them already and the third was on its way out.

I have not done it myself, but when I lived in CA I had a friend who did. I saw it. Need to do some pretty typical stuff- machine a pilot bearing, fabricate a cross member etc. But it all bolts up. I don't recall the details, but they may be on the internet somewhere.

I had all the parts at one point, but went with a T9 on a machined Capri bell.The T5 weighs more and for my mostly stock 2.6 I didn't think I needed more than a T9 could deliver.

Capri transmissions... Ever get yours in 2 gears @ the same time!!!

The shifter gates were so worn... on rare occasions I'd manage to engage 1st and 3rd at the same time! Had to crawl under the car and pull the shifter tabs back to neutral before she'd move an inch

My 1 2 linkage used to fall off all the time on the old '74 I drove in high school. Got pretty good at reaching under and putting it back without looking.