[VintageLambo] Re: Second Gear

Hi Fred (& John), Just to balance the impressions on Espada gearboxes I am happy to say that my 1972 S2 Espada has what I would characterize as very good synchros on all 5 gears. It (and the rest of the transmission) has also shown to be able to handle an occasional 100HP nitrous boost. From day one (= 1986) I have babied it though, with double clutching whenever possible. The shifting is certainly not as "butter-smooth" as a newer Toyota or Porsche and does have a bit of truck-like, direct mechanical character, but as a whole I am quite satisfied with it and get my right arm exercised in the process. Also, I have never opened the gearbox, but recall Jeff LeBlond saying that the synchros were made of steel and not brass or bronze as they typically are. That means (and I also seem to recall Jeff LeBlond say) that the gearwheel will wear as mush as the synchro, meaning that both the gearwheel and the synchro has to be changed when the synchromesh fails. I also recall him telling us (at Furnace Creek, CA) that this was an expensive proposition (~$2k?). Best regards, Laust --- In VintageLambo@yahoogroups.com, "lamboguy " wrote: > Hi John, > > I had my 400gt gearbox "professionally rebuilt" by Lamborghini North > America back in 1983.All syncros replaced, etc.And I basically > had all those same problems from the start, once the car was back up > and running again.I used to drive a lot of different sports cars > when I worked at Ferrari and British Motors in Monterey in the early > 70s.I don"t really remember anything that shifted very well. > Certainly not anything Italian.;^D > > I think, as AR pointed out, 1960s synchro technology wasn"t that > advanced, and certainly nothing like today"s.Our Lambos > used "porsche-designed" synchros, and as my buddy Steve (a porsche > nut) points out, even porsche doesn"t use their own design any more. > > I can"t remember any car from the 60s shifting anywhere near as > reliably as my 1984 toyota supra does, and it has 240k+ miles on it. > It"s just a whole "nuther era, and technology has marched on from the > mid-60s. > > FWIW, I don"t think Lamborghini was any worse than the others, and > probably better than most.Be curious to see what others say... > > Best, > > Fred