Moss Gear box

[Gus Meyjes]

Can anyone shed any light on the availability of internals or even a replacement gear box? Was this Moss gear box used in the same form on other British cars of the day? I have some issues with the 2 nd gear synchro not working at all times.
   
   Thanks,
   
   Gus

[Robin A Woolmer]

Gus
   Have a look at PVT forum where similar questions have been answered, same basic box is used on PVT & Post War 2-litres also 'E' type & MK2 Jags but some had remote shifts & overdrives & maybe differant ratio's.
   The Moss box is renound for poor syncro?
   
   If you want to spend the $'s then there are people fitting complete new modern internals & 5- gears!
   
   Robin

[Gus Meyjes]

Thanks Robin,
   
   i will check it out. I believe XK unlimited here in the US does the rebuilds with the 5 speeds. Sounds appealing, knowing it would make zipping at 70Mph better than 3000 Rpm! I actually like the non synchro 1st gear. I just want to make sure I can get it rebuilt if the need arises, especially the 2nd gear synchro.If i want to drive a car with modern shifting, I'll just get into my Audi A4! Do you or anyone have any suggestions on who has these rebuild parts? Or maybe I should just check out AC engine project, right?!
   
   Take care,
   
   Gus

[Robin A Woolmer]

Gus
   Try ' www.enquiries@scparts.co.uk ' they have some Moss Gearbox parts & would be a good start for parts or should direct you to a site, there should be sombody in USA servicing the box with all the Jag's there.
   The issue is the bulk rings are part of the gear so if they wear you have to replace both, most other gearboxes have separate rings which are replaceable!
   Do not forget that the AC Crankshaft is the male part fitting into the Gearbox driven shaft which has a bushing, so if you consider a Jag Box you will need to modify the Driven shaft to suit!
   This also gives you problems fitting other boxes where the same mod is required, a good option is the Ford Type 9 box form Ford Essex & Kent engined cars but you have some very good gearboxes in US.
   Do not know if they would be acceptable for historic racing though?
   
   Robin

[Robert Wilder]

I'm getting in this post quite late. I don't ahve this 2nd gear synchro problem with my A C Bristol (BEX 490) but I definitely ahve it with my A C 2.6 (RSX 5018).
   
   Are all thegearboxes in the 2.6 cars the same (in theory) or did they use differe=nt boxes in different czars. They arte clearly different than the geqr box in BEX 490.

[bex316]

The clear difference in gearbox between Bristol engined cars on one hand and AC and Ford Zephyr engined cars on the other is caused by the first having Bristol's own gearbox and the other two having the Moss 'box. I don't know if there are variations in the Moss one as far as used in Aces and Acecas.
   Only a few late AC engined cars have the AC lightweight gearbox casing with TR3 internals.
   
   Jerry

[GaryC]

Could someone give me their ideas of the best stateside gearbox to mate with a Zephyr 2.6 going into my Aceca???  The rocket or bullet box was suggested but the tail is too long, the short tail rare (here at least) and parts stateside are unknown.  The Moss is correct but has weaknesses and expensive parts. I have the Zephyr bell housing, flywheel, clutch (bearing and arm).  Quaife has a short tail...expensive....then I don't know the expediant solution to mate any of the above with the Ford bell housing.  I was told Volvo is a stout match.  Does anyone have an adaptor plate for one of these options??  I may be doing AEX595 after all.  Thanks for any help!  Gary Cox

[Kiwi 2Litre]

I do not know about Stateside boxes but a company I used to work for shipped several Toyota Supra five speed box conversions to the States and Australia for AC's and Bristols. I remember machining the bellhousing casting to adapt the Supra to a Ford Zephyr 2.6 in an Ace. Have a look at www.conversioncomp.com The advantage they have when shipping from New Zealand is tha $1 NZ only equates to about 55c US so even with the shipping the cost is not too bad. Hope this helps, Ian.

[Kiwi 2Litre]

Further to my previous post the other alternative I would suggest is the Toyota Celica five speed. I am currently fitting one of these to a Ford to put in to my 2 Litre saloon. They are a bit cheaper to buy than the Supra and a bit smaller but still plenty strong enough to take the power of a six cylinder. I am doing this one with an adaptor to an original Ford bellhousing. Cheers, Ian.

[Robert Wilder]

My very limited understanding from a conversation I had today with Nigel Winchester is that the Volvo M41 4 speed with electric overdrive is the most appropriate solution to replace a Moss Gearbox in my A C 2.6 (RSX 5018). Assuming I understood Nigel's explanation, to install an M 41,  one needs only a custom input shaft adapter and a sligt modification to the bell housing. However, usintg a Toyota or Ford transmission requires some major surgery to the transmission tunnel as well as possibly the chassis. Is this a uiversal view? If so, the M 41 Volvo transmission seems the correct ( and easiest) solution. It also seems that rebuilding the Moss gear box with Moss parts is not the way to go. Any thoughts or coets?

[AC Ace Bristol]

Robert
   
   The Moss Box is a strong box but very slow,  you tend to Count
   One..... Two............ Three between shifts.
   
   Most Ace & Aceca owners who have 2.6 engines, and those who are not too worried regards authenticity on AC engined variants often upgrade to a Volvo Amazon Box. A very good conversion and economical on the finances.
   
   As you state and have been informed by Nigel....  easy conversion  very strong with or without OD unit, for long touring trips,         5 speed  or 4 plus OD is the way to go.
   
   For those who want to retain origonality,  visit your local XK 120/140/150 specialist and there are various permutations open to you, or they should be able to rebuild your box. Beleive Jaguar used  different gear ratios but looking at XK Workshop manual very little difference internally.
   
   Good Luck.
   
   Keith