Beta gearboxes

[mangocrazy]

I was wondering what differences exist between different generations of Beta gearboxes, and which one might suit a mildly tuned 2 litre motor. At present my Beta Spider S2FL has a standard engine and gearbox, but I'm intending to uprate it some time in the not too distant future with a ported head, DCOE 45 carbs and Kent FT10 cams (plus rebore, new pistons and GC doing his stuff on the crank). I'm hoping it will make close to 160bhp with that little lot.

I also have a 2000 i.e. engine and gearbox, so was wondering if the ratios in the i.e. box might be an improvement over the current one. Ideally I'd like a slightly higher final drive ratio for relaxed cruising without affecting acceleration too much. Or am I barking up the wrong tree and all Beta gearboxes are the same?

[HFStuart]

The VX box is longer geared but to be honest I have a standard carb 2000 box in mine and it's not a hardship. Cruising at 80 is just over 4000rpm and you use so little throttle to do that the engine isn't very intrusive - I can listen to the cricket for instance (with the roof up at least!)

[Neil-yaj396]

People building track cars sometimes fit the pre-facelift 1300 box, but that is lower geared, so not what you're after. Otherwise I think the ratios of all the facelift 1 boxes are the same.

[lukasdeopalenica]

The gears ratios are the same but the final drive ratio varies and depends on the engine version. The higher engine max torque the longer final ratio.

[peteracs]

Hi All

Lifted this from Lancisti.com thread, so US oriented, but may give some useful info....

(See http://www.lancisti.net/forum/showthread.php?3261-Beta-Gears&highlight=beta+gearbox+ratios)

These are the gear ratios:

76-78 Beta Coupe   
1st   3.500   
2nd   2.235   
3rd   1.522   
4th   1.152   
5th   0.925   
Rev   3.071   
F- 4.214   


79 Beta Coupe   
1st   3.500   
2nd   2.235   
3rd   1.522   
4th   1.152   
5th   0.860   
Rev   3.071   
F- 4.214   


81-82 Beta Coupe   
1st   3.500   
2nd   2.235   
3rd   1.522   
4th   1.152   
5th   0.925   
Rev   3.071   
F- 3.929

Volumex has a different final drive:

1st   3.750      
2nd   2.235   
3rd   1.522   
4th   1.152   
5th   0.925   
Rev   3.071   
F- 3.263   

The '79 5th gear is the hot setup. Works great in a Scorpion too!

Peter

[mangocrazy]

Cheers Peter - very interesting. I have an engine/gearbox that came out of a Beta Coupe, but I have no idea regarding year of manufacture. Any way of telling the vintage/type from any external identifying marks? Do gearboxes have any kind of serial number stamped on them (he said, clutching at straws)...?

[peteracs]

Hi

I thought there should be a number on the gearbox which defines what model it is?

Peter

[rossocorsa]

They all look pretty much the same outside, I think some might have a paint stamp on them somewhere but in most cases this has disappeared.

[mangocrazy]

I'll check next time I'm back in Stafford (where the engines/gearboxes are) and report back. One other thought - is the final drive ratio interchangeable without affecting the rest of the gearbox? (Pardon my ignorance...)

[lukasdeopalenica]

According to literature the final drive ratio also varied between markets. For example models exported to the UK had different values than those sold in Germany  (with the same gear ratios). 

I have four boxes and none of them has any markings, unfortunatelly. Their housings are the same so I am pretty sure that interchanging of the final drive is possible but requires at least partial stripping of the boxes. Additionally the final drive main bearings are factory preloaded by shims so readjusting will be essential.

[mangocrazy]

Cheers, Lukas. It definitely looks like I will need to open up at least one of the gearboxes I have and look inside. I've never done any work on any car gearbox (done quite a bit on combined motorcycle engine and gearbox, though). Is it something best left to the experts, or can it be done by one of moderate mechanical ability?

[lukasdeopalenica]

I do not think it is a really complicated task. Try

[dougdee123]

A little while ago I considered one of these. This is a fifth Gear upgrade suitable (as I understand) for all the gearboxes that you may already have.

It is from the Monte Hospital. The big snag is the price. £599.00.

http://montehospital.net/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15&products_id=1124

There are fitting instructions that you can have a look at before you buy.

It may not be a surprise that I decided not to go ahead.

Doug

[peteracs]

Hi Doug

This was manufactured by a guy in the US if I remember correctly. There is a thread on lancisti.net which discusses it which I will try to find. As you say not inexpensive, but does give a reduced cruising Rev speed for those engines with improved torque etc.

Peter

[rossocorsa]

this modification has the advantage of retaining the standard lower 4 ratios probably preferable in most specs to fitting a vx box as the higher gearing of a vx box will blunt low end performance a bit