Ebay: 240Z/260Z Option 1 Gearbox

[C.A.R.]

Item number: 320319009509

 

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Datsun-240Z-260Z-1600-510-Option-1-gearbox_W0QQitemZ320319009509QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Car_Parts_Accessories?hash=item320319009509&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

 

Not Cheap. Not that strong. But if your after a "period" gearbox...

[Zedman240®]

Hmmm..if I bid could you bring it over for me?? 

[C.A.R.]

I don't see why not mate

[gav240z]

Hmmm..if I bid could you bring it over for me?? 

 

When you upgrade to an RB again, I'll buy this off you lol.

 

Is this box worth the asking price? Not being cynical just wondering what an option 1 L-series box is worth.

[RBZ 260]

hmm 2.5k. period or not i can think of 3 better things to upgrade that gearbox with. plus with the money u have left over u get the motor as well 

[Scando]

I think these are worth money because of their ratios not their strength.  Can probably buy a new close ratio gear set for that price though?

[C.A.R.]

Yeah, 'Albins Off Road Gear' do gearsets.

You can pick certain ratios too...

[bluerat]

Sorry to drag this up again.....does anybody know what it sold for??

 

Where are they weak Lunch? Syncros? or the gears them selves?? would you say a 240K/260Z box is stronger?

 

I've just done a price up on Albins 3 speed gear set, and by the time you buy a box (I've got a 240K box in the shed), get the gears done, new barings and syncros etc and paying someone to build it, guess what..over $2500.

 

Sorry if this is the wrong bit of the forum to ask silly questions....

[Zedman240®]

The gearbox sold for $2950. My max bid was around $2700 but luckily I missed it! Been told by a good source that the problem with the "option" gearboxes is when and not if they go "bang", replacement parts are impossible to find. You are better off buying replacement gearsets like those Albins ones and rebuilding your own box. Then you will have a fresh gearbox with new gears that should be strong enough. Imagine you paid $3000 all up for that gearbox then the damage happens? End up paying 5k to fix.

[C.A.R.]

Bluerat, how much was the Albins gearset by itself?

[260Coupe]

Dimitri

 

Tom Cantwell blew the shift fork in his Opt 1 box (Neil cartledges old 240 race car) and Lou Mondello recently had one custom made from a mob in the US for around $450.....a work of art .

Parts are very scarce but if you have the $$$ to spend you can get stuff custom manufactured.

 

Alan

[Zedman240®]

To me, and I'm sure everyone agrees here, Custom = $$$. Would've been good to win that gearbox but when Stan told me what can go wrong with them, it did put me off. I would rather spend the $$$ on an original 260 gearbox, sourcing close ratio gearsets and making it bullet proof. I'm sure you could do it to that option 1 gearbox but with a lot more cash! Plus you would need an engine that could take advantage of the close ratio gearset.

[bluerat]

Lurch, I was firstly told around $800 a gear, but it's really $660 a gear (or was?) plus postage to and from...so $1920ish for a three gear set plus postage etc, etc, etc.

 

So can anyone tell me why the Option1 is weaker than a 260zed box??? What did Stan say Zedman? I've had one in my 1600 for 8 years with no problems, the 240Z I have has had one in it from the mid 80's and done thousands of compition km's, including years of Tas rally champs, rounds of the ARC,Targa Tas and Rally Tas, behind a very strong L28...no problems. This box was sold before I got the car, so do I put the Option1 from the 1600 in it or build a Zed box up? The reality is a modded zed box, Overdrive 5th is a great thing when your changing diff ratio's for every event...and a big torquey six shouldn't need one (unless it's on the Gravel, or a megabalisic cam)....well at least I have the 'Option'...Oh yeah, they are a magic thing.

[C.A.R.]

Thanks - that gives me a rough pricing guide.

 

With regards to the Option box's, I never said they are weak, Bluerat.

And I never said they were weaker than a 260Z box. I think you need to re-read my comments...

I was merely comparing them to other gearbox options that are around.

They are - so I'm lead to believe - only marginally stronger then a Zed box, though.

 

Put a Option box behind a turbo L28 or a tits-out stroker and THEN see how long it'll last...

Remember: Torque breaks drivelines, NOT HP.

 

I'm sorry, but I just don't believe they are as good as they're hyped up to be.

[Zedman240®]

Bluerat, What Stan told me was that a 38 year old gearbox for that kind of money to buy isn't worth it. The 5th ratio is a 1:1 so on a road going car that's used more for the road than club events or serious racing is annoying. I wouldn't like driving on a highway stuck in fourth! He believed $2K spent on a good 260 box (by changing 1st, 2nd and 3rd ratios) would be the best alternative. You get the bonus of a new gears and the luxury of an overdrive for 5th. He didn't say they are crap or to avoid it like the plague, but just spend the money a little wiser.

[NZeder]

A club racer here in NZ had one and it was very strong but that was due to the holenger dog engagement setup ie very $ box. For the money I would have one of the following

 

1. B box (be it a 260z or 280zx) and install a gearset. Why have a 260z box over a 280zx box if you are replacing the ratios anyway?

2. C box from a skyline and gearset to fix the ratios

 

I would go for 2 as the C box selector ie much nicer and the gears are stronger and that is just what I had for my L6. I even managed to find a rare L series C box from the last of the LD28. But this was after I had an L series bellhousing modified to fit the RB box.

[bluerat]

Your spot on Zedman, 1:1 5th with a low diff ratio is a pain on the road, and your right about the age thing, a good low km one is hard to get. The 280zx option sounds smart NZeder, I wasn't aware of the better shifter etc on the RB box, all sound's good. Look's like I'm a bit late to ask Santa for one?? Lurch they are fantasic on gravel rally's (and hillclimbs) where top speed is not so important as punch out of corners, horses for courses.