Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

A mate of mine has a mark 2 rs2000 that he's spent months preparing for this Sundays RWYB at Santa pod but today his gearbox locked up in neutral

He had a standard 4 speed box fitted but would if possible like to upgrade to a 5 speed but time isn't on his side

Does anyone know how easily a 5 speed will fit?

I've just been over to passionford and there's a thread there already but the only person to reply doesn't really know

If anyone has a box that'll fit please please let me know and I'll pass the details on to him.

Thanks in advance

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Anyone know anything about these?

Big Lee

The Sierra 5 speed box will fit but needs a little work regarding brackets etc, it`s got a very long 5th gear for the RS though but IIRC the first 4 are the same. Try looking on the RSOC website as loads of those guys will have done it, I kept the 4 speeder in mine though.

Good luck

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

I didn't realise that there was much needed but knew that you'd need a different prop. What are the differences with the brackets then? Does the gearlever hole still come up in the same place?

Didn't know the RSOC site still existed

Big Lee

A mate of mine put a 5 speed in his RS2000 about 10 years ago & IIRC he needed some sort of spacer blocks for the `box as the bell housing was a bit bigger, the gearlever does come out of the same hole though! It might be quicker just to get the 4 speeder fixed than faff round getting a totally different box. Either way it looks bad

As for the RSOC site I didn`t know it had problems?

Big Lee

http://bbs.rsownersclub.co.uk/forumd...c&daysprune=-1

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

The RSOC site went slow and everyone went over to passionford I thought I thought it had replaced the RSOC board

Can't you change the bellhousings? He is looking for a 4 speed as we speak but a 5 speed if it can be fitted in time would be nicer. Either way I think it'll end up as a 5 speed in the future but sticking another 4 speed in might be quicker and easier.

Thanks

Big Lee

TBH I can`t remember all the details as it was a long time ago!
I left my 4 speed in as for the time, hassle & work involved putting a 5 speed in you just don`t get any benefits IMO

Hope you get something sorted

"MADDOG"

iTrader: (3)

Give Andy Burton a call of "Burton Engineering" he can tell you all about fitting these gear box's to a MK11 0208 518 9120

regards "MADDOG"

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Just chucked a post up there too I've been putting posts all over the shop trying to get a resolution for Sunday because he's spent months getting the car ready

5cby

to fit a 5sp box in a mk2 escort u will need the alloy bellhousing from a rs2000(or bash the bulkhead with a big hammer)
and the spacer blocks for the gearbox mounting
done it years back with my mk2
also the gearstick hole might need moving back if using a different bellhousing IIRC
steve

malhpm

long time since that question came up ,from what i can remember if u use a sierra gearbox the gearstick sits further back so u need to modify the transmission tunnel also move the handbrake back a bit and then shorten the prop ,im not sure if the escort bell housing came off the gearbox from memory im sure they where all one piece but sierra type 9 boxes u could change the bell housing but u would still have to get the conversion part if still available that is , try www.burtonpower.com

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

So does the capri one go straight on? I remember a mate years ago changing a 4 speed to 5 speed 'box on his capri and it was straight forward

weasel_uk

ALL your answers here :

http://www.classicrsfords.co.uk/5speed_conversion.htm

Dave

Chelspeed

Loads of confusing contradictory info here. Lots of the info above is about fitting a 5 speed to the cooking Escort, the RS2000 has a different 4 speeder as standard which is much nearer to the 5 speed so less mods needed.

So if it's an RS2000 then the 5 speed Sierra box from a pinto engined Sierra (but not one from a V6 engined sierra) fits with the same bellhousing, clutch, propshaft and gearlever hole.

The things that need changing are the gearbox mounts on the floorpan, they need to go back 80mm, you can either drill them out and move them, add some new ones or make some spacers that bolt to the exisitng, run back and then have another set of holes 80mm back. The gearbox mount is also 10mm lower so you need an extra spacer between the new mounts and the alloy blocks which space the gearbox mount down and a little bit back on the RS2000. You need a longer speedo cable as the connection is further back on the box. You need the gearlever from the Sierra as it bolts on rather than screws in (or preferably a rose jointed one from Quaife).

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

link there above

The escort is an rs2000 custom so that should make things a bit simpler. The advice above actually sounds like what my mate did with his capri now you mention it. I didn't realise you could use the sierra prop though The floor pan shouldn't be a problem because if anything needs welding in the boy is a **** hot welder I'll pass this information on to him in the morning because it seems he's asleep now.

Thanks

CrisPDuk

Paul, IIRC TAS used to do a kit for the very conversion described above by Chelspeed, they might be worth a call.

You might want to tell him that the 5 speed is no where near as nice a box to use as the 4 speed but that's just my opinion

RB5320

I agree with Mr Duk above, on my old RS X-Pack with Sierra 5 speed box, the ratios werent quite right - the gap between first and second was too big and the engine wasnt quite on cam (it did have a ridiculously peaky cam fitted mind ). Maybe different models had better ratios.
Slightly ot Paul, but in my mum's garage I have a never fitted steering rack from Burtons. It is about 10 years old but if its any good to your mate you can have it.

Steve

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

That's a good point Steve I remember having a 2.0 sierra a few years ago (briefly) and the ratios were well out. Looks like the Capri box or replacement 4 speed might be the best idea

I have no idea what his steering rack is like Is that a standard one or quick rack?

Any pictures of the x-pack?

Thanks

RB5320

It's a quick rack (2.4 lock to lock sounds familiar, but it was a while ago!).
I will dig out some piccies of the old RS at some point. It was quite a beast! The chav car of its day

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Look forward to photos of that. Was it a white one? They normally were.

lol @ chav car of the time

RB5320

it was signal yellow. Looked very parked in the drive next to my vista orange mk1 RS2000. Stupidest thing I ever did was to sell the mk1 for about a tenth of what it would be worth today. Ho hum.

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Not seen a yellow one The orange mark 1s were the best colour Wish I would have bought the mark2 harrier I was offered quite a few years ago when I bought my mark 3 escort

**Update**

He has found a 4 speed gearbox from a capri at his local scrappy but gone to fit it but the propshaft end of the gearbox has different splines His car is still fitted with the 2 piece propshaft. That suprised me

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

It's running he went to a local salvage specialist and the guy there knew what he was talking about and sold him a sierra 5 speed. It fitted easily and only needed the mounting bracket moving as said before and aparently it's even quicker now Best thing of all is that he's working today and tomorrow so I get use of it all day tomorrow if I sort the tracking out for him

Huxley

Opps bit late on this one Paul,got a 4 speed rocket box and some blocks in the garage left over bits from the rally build, have fitted a new Tran-X straight cut,4.44 quailfe LSD

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Never mind it's all sorted now I spent today driving it and it was loads of fun. Had a nice moment over a roundabout earlier they really do need an lsd though

perky555

iTrader: (1)

stick with the four speed box, i put a 5sp in my rallycar (waste of time crap ratios). so i got a 4sp straight cut 2000E box.
[URL=http://www.theimagehosting.com][/URL

Paulo P

iTrader: (42)

Drove it earlier for about 40 miles across country, round town & dual carriageway and the ratios were really good actually. I believe it's a sierra box of some sort but it really was spot on I never got caught in the wrong gear once so can't understand those comments His is pushing out 130bhp at the back wheels which must be 150-155 at the fly wouldn't it? Would that make much difference? They were only 110 as standard.

perky555

iTrader: (1)

i suppose it depends on what model sierra you take it from. i think the 1.6 had better ratio's for acceleration. I cant remember what model i got mine from but it was to flat in 1st and 2nd for rallying. The rocket box had much better ratios.

Poor Guy

rs engine and 2000E box Whoooh



great for those pesty traffic light Scooby owners.