Gearboxes

Now that you’ve got a few extra kilowatts pumping out of the ol’ SR, or whatever heart you may have switched it for, choosing a gearbox behind it that can handle the jandal will involve a decision that either makes you smile or leaves you with a pile of munched gears — especially when you’re looking to cut laps with any kind of haste.

Upgrading to the likes of a sequential box is a popular option, not only for the ease of shifting but also for the strength it provides. We looked to local manufacturer TT Industries (TTi) to find out exactly how its upgrade is done, and what benefits you’ll see from doing it.

Bruce Verdon told us: “We offer a ‘generic’ sequential box that can be fitted into many chassis through the use of adaptors and bellhousings. For example, for an SR20 conversion, we use the original bellhousing, clutch, and throw-out bearing, with an adaptor to bolt everything to the TTi gearbox. However, the driveshaft and gearbox mounts will need to be modified to suit the new gearbox. It can be supplied with a linkage kit, which allows the gear levers to be mounted to where the drivers want them, where it is comfortable position for them to shift from, and then the levers engage the levers on the gearbox itself.

“Sequential boxes are much quicker, and changing gears often gives you around a two-second lap advantage on most circuits. They’re also much stronger, constructed from imported German steel and utilizing straight-cut gears that are designed with large teeth to be as strong as possible, meaning better reliability. If you use the gearbox properly, it is so much quicker. It’s an absolute dream to drive a sequential.” TT Industries // 03 547 1517 // ttindustries.com