Hi All,
I have just aquired a new Seven S3 a supersport 1800 k series with 6 speed box, im interested to hear of other owners experience of this gearbox and whether worth changing the diff ratios or going for a type 9 box as i understand its more of blatting type set up via country lanes of which found the ratios best suited. It might be my mistake as i thought the 6th gear might be like an over drive settling the rpm to 3000 , but no its like a caged animal at 5500 at 80 mph
Are these 6 speeds like this or have many owners made modifications to make it more enjoyable.
Just keen to hear of others thoughts and experiences as im looking to use the car more for touring and travelling country roads etc with odd track day
Thanks
Hi, I wish I still had a six speed box car. Fantastic for driving on the twisty roads of Scotland. No issues with driving to Spain several times with the six speed with lots of motorway cruising, no issues with the engine revving higher than with my current car with a five speed type 9. Current car feels a tad flat with the standard type 9 ratios in my current car. Type 9 with other ratios may be a different story. I'd recomend sticking with the six. Feels a much nicer gear change too.
Regards,
Nigel Simpson
07484 173733
Sixth in the six speed box is direct. Fifth in the five speed box is an overdrive.
Many people find cruising with the six speed box to be uncomfortable.
The simplest modification might be a longer final drive ratio. Let's work out what you've got... what size are your tyres?
Jonathan
My car has a 6. It isn't a good long distance cruiser though bearable IMO. 70 is about 3800 rpm.
Having driven a few 5 speed though, I wouldn't want to change. I love the 'One first and five second gears feel and find it massively better on a track. I too found the 5 speed a little 'flat'.
For long distance cruising, which I don't do in the 7, I'm sure the 5 would be better
From the OP description a change of final drive might help.
Mine is a 1.8K supersport with a 6 speed and 3.9 diff. Sounds like what you probably have as it cruises at about 5 something at 70 odd. A 3.6 diff should help but will dull the acceleration a little.
I've driven it to France a couple of times and didn't find it an issue, earplugs in obviously but then I always use them.
I've not been bothered by the 6 speeder in cruising mode. (tongue a bit in cheek) there are two simple steps to remedy it.
Step 1, you need ear protection anyway in a 7, so get good hearing protection and you won't notice any excess engine noise.
Step 2, put some tape over the tacho so you aren't bothered by the readout.
Seriously, if you need to change, you should change the diff ratio to 3.6, but I'm not sure I'd bother as the 6 speed box is fabulous in my view (YMMV).
Thanks everyone for the comments - really helpful and i'm deaf since birth so the noise isnt an issue really , other than it was a bit buzzy after doing 450 miles in it this weekend , but once got used the the gears and now that i understand it a bit better - ill enjoy it and I have another S7( for sale ) a 5 speed x flow which does seem flat but a completely different character in terms of pace and acceleration, and equally just as much fun too. Fantastic forum community this club has!
Nick Navas MRICS MCIOB
I'm very happy with 5 speed boxes in both my Crossflow engined Seven and the K Series in the 21. For long journeys the 0.85 (?) ratio in top is welcome.
Stephen
Democratic dissent is not disloyalty, it is a positive civic duty
I think that the most common overdrive fifth in the factory Ford Type 9 gearbox was 0.82.
Jonathan
PS: It could be changed, for example to 0.87, unlike sixth in the six speed box. But the change (!) that interests me in my 1800 K would be a higher first...
I had a 6sp in my old 1.8K SS-R and I have one in my R400D. Wonderful in both cars. Ideal on track and perfect for making progress on the roads (UK and France).
The Ford Type 9 5-speed gearbox is much nicer for road touring. 4000rpm in ours gives 80mph. The 6 speed gives 80mph at 5000rpm in 6th, which is a real pain on a long journey.