P5 1961 borg warner DG Automatic Gearbox

[frans]

Hi everyone,

I am new in the forum and have just bought a P5 1961 Automatic. The car is at the a Rover specialist to get prepared for the German TÜV.  The gearbox is operating very smoothly and according to the Rover P5 Specialist too smooth and in his experience an indication that gearbox may have a problem soon. Normally the gearshift should be more noticable and he recommends to overhaul the gearbox soon.

Does anyone have an opinion on this or experience?

Many thanks for any advice
Frans

[johnwp5bcoupe]

I would be happy with a "smooth shift" gearbox with no slipping! I cant remember how my 3lt shifted its far too "long ago"!! does the expert want a lumpy gear shift?

[frans]

What do you exactly mean with "slipping"? May be this is what he describes as too smoothly!

[johnwp5bcoupe]

Slipping :- Going into gear and not being able to accelerate in the normal way under load

If you have driven the car Frans do you feel the engine is reving and the car is not moving very well?

I know it is difficult to explain due to some language differences

[frans]

I think I do understand what you mean. I drove the car only briefly, so I cannot judge whether it slipped, but I can imagine that the guy describes this slipping as being too soft or too smooth. 

I have heard that there is a company in the UK specialised in overhauling BW gearboxes. Do you know such company and can recommend?

Frans

[johnwp5bcoupe]

Sept 4, 2015 14:32:05 GMT frans said:

I think I do understand what you mean. I drove the car only briefly, so I cannot judge whether it slipped, but I can imagine that the guy describes this slipping as being too soft or too smooth. 

I have heard that there is a company in the UK specialised in overhauling BW gearboxes. Do you know such company and can recommend?

Frans

Frans there are guys on here with the same gearbox I will let them reply to your post

If it were me I would give the car a good run where there are some hills etc also drive it hard on a good road before making my mind up!

[harvey]

If it's really smooth with upshifts that are at very low roadspeeds then that can be that the kickdown rod has been fitted into the wrong hole on the lever on the box. It should be fitted in the hole that's closest to the shaft, not the one that's furthest away. It often gets fitted incorrectly because it's a lot easier to fit it there than where it should be.

[johnwp5bcoupe]

Sept 4, 2015 15:08:35 GMT harvey said:

If it's really smooth with upshifts that are at very low roadspeeds then that can be that the kickdown rod has been fitted into the wrong hole on the lever on the box. It should be fitted in the hole that's closest to the shaft, not the one that's furthest away. It often gets fitted incorrectly because it's a lot easier to fit it there than where it should be.

Sorry Harvey I didn't forget you I thought it was the wrong vintage for you! you being a young chap "a guru all the same"

[harvey]

The above is just about the sum total of my knowledge of those, so don't feel bad. The good thing is it's easy to look at and see whether it's right or wrong without getting in too deep.

[davewright]

Frans

I have used STS in Southampton (http://specialisedtransmissions.co.uk/) to rebuild my BW35 gearbox and they did a brilliant job. They were recommended by our local P5 Club rep who has used them a few times. I don't know if they do your model gearbox so you would have to ask them.

[johnwp5bcoupe]

Sept 4, 2015 16:02:10 GMT davewright said:

Frans

I have used STS in Southampton (http://specialisedtransmissions.co.uk/) to rebuild my BW35 gearbox and they did a brilliant job. They were recommended by our local P5 Club rep who has used them a few times. I don't know if they do your model gearbox so you would have to ask them.

When it come to the BW series you wont get anybody better than Harvey

[frans]

Many thanks all! I will do the hill-test and then decide. In the meantime I will get quotes from the recommended gearbox rebuilder. In 1967 at age of 20 years i had a Rover P5 1960 manual Gearbox with overdrive ( every now and then I had to go under the car and solder the overdrive wire underneath the Gearbox). In 1970 I was travelling in Germany with the Rover for business and the Gearbox got stuck in first gear. I drive home in the first from Hamburg to Hannover at a speed of 80km/h and then I donated the Rover to a kinder garden of their playground. Now I wish to own a Rover again - that's why..... Keep helping me to solve the Gearbox issue!!! Thanks all and regards Fransjj

[aussieal]

I currently have my 59 Mk1 with the DG box apart to repair the rear welch plug (see a separate thread). If removing the box from the do not follow the instructions in the Rover Workshop Manual which requires you to remove the box from the Torque Converter and then remove the torque converter. If you do you will have real hassles putting it back together. I consulted a local DG expert last week and he advises remove the box and converter as a single unit as you would for more modern units.

BUT before you go that far, try adding a gearbox oil conditioner to the box and see how it performs. My car had been off the road for 15 years and the box was "slipping" but after adding conditioner and running it for a couple of weeks, it worked fine. The conditioner is available in 710ml bottles from your local car parts specialist (I think they are called auto factors in your part of the world). The conditioner I used is made in USA and is Lucas Transmission Fix which claims to "Stops Slip, cleans and lubricates sticking valves for proper shifting, polymetric film renews worn bands to stop slipping"