Best value 5 speed

[Edward.21]

Hi all I have just bought a van in need of some (ok a fair bit) of restoration and my traveller does a lot of motorway miles which she manages but she does get a bit hot so I need to get a five speed for the van. Being an plumbing apprentice I'm not exactly flush (bu dum tiss) with cash so what is the best value (not nesseseraly the cheapest) way of getting a five speed for a moggy
TIA p.s. I'll post a topic in restoration forum as soon as I have my computer back from the repair shop

[chrisryder]

Someone on here ages ago said that toyota ones feel nicest, but personally i've only driven a ford one, so i can't compare.

Note sure if anyone still does the bits for converting to a toyota box.

If you can cope with the reduced acceleration, a lower ratio diff could help with cruising. do you know what diff is in there now?

[MarkyB]

What speed are you doing on the motorway?
Most Minors will cope quite happily with 60 - 65 mph, constantly doing 70mph or more counts as thrashing your grandmother.
Motorways weren't even invented when most of them were new.

[Edward.21]

She will do 65-70 but I like to keep her down to 50-55 because any more than that and she strains a bit so I think a five speed would make it easier as I have driven one with a five speed and it was much happier
I don't know how to find out the diff ratio but I would imagine that it was original as it has been stored for 19 Years and everything else is original. If annyone knows about diffs I would love a quick crash course
Thanks

[Matt Tomkins]

have you go her carb tuned/ ignition timed correctly?
a good service and tune up worked wonders with mine, and she happily cruised 150 miles at 75 until my bodge on the vacuum advance started to leak :p
that dropped my top end performance, so check that's all in good order

[Edward.21]

Ok thanks but I'd still like any info on the five speed
Thanks

[bmcecosse]

Unless very lucky - you need DEEP pockets for a 5 speed.

[picky]

Changing the differential will make all your gear ratios slightly different, so if you choose a lower ratio diff then 4th gear will be nearer to driving in 5th gear. Maybe some other members can give an example of before/after speeds and revs. The downside to a lower ratio diff is your acceleration will be less in all gears also. Well worth considering, less than an hour to change the diff, and they can be found on ebay occasionally. The 5 speed conversion is a big expense, even if you find the box second hand.

[bmcecosse]

My warmed up 1098 copes extremely well with it's 3.7 final drive. Can easily hold a genuine 70 up M/way hills if I am determined. For decent M/way cruising you need POWER more than any gear ratio worries.

[MarkyB]

Take the wooden floor out of the back, clean the muck of the diff casing and see what numbers are stamped (not cast) into it.
I can't remember the ratio but van diffs suit around town and heavy carrying, not motorway cruising.
A saloon diff, 4.22 will be a better bet and vastly cheaper than a 5 speed conversion.