| Author | Message | ||
     Jean-Pierre 'JP' Hilbert Frequent User Username: jphilbert Post Number: 51 Registered: 9-2013 |
Bob, thanks, I will do some reading about all that in order to get my ducks aligned. I'll overhaul my gearbox (90k miles and rough 1-2 shift) and thus this electrogear will come out with the g-box anyway. New issue of today: when going into reverse, then selecting D, the car will stay in reverse! Need go to I or L then back to D to be sure to have D engaged. Blimey!! Any thoughts? | ||
| Mark Aldridge Prolific User Username: mark_aldridge Post Number: 201 Registered: 10-2008 |
Has the car been driven in heavy rain or floodwater recently ? A friend of mine had his selector unit rebuilt twice as a result of rainwater ingress causing corrosion in the stepper motor and microswitches. Are you doing your own gearbox rebuild , if so can you update with progress and any problems, as I am coming up to time to do one and cannot decide whether to DIY or have it done profesionaly Mark | ||
| Jean-Pierre 'JP' Hilbert Frequent User Username: jphilbert Post Number: 52 Registered: 9-2013 |
Mark, nope, this is a dry-weather car ))) but I had this issue already a year ago and then it disappeared. I'm doing the gearbox myself. I got myself this clever book http://www.amazon.com/Rebuild-Modify-Transmissions-Design-Workbench/dp/1934709204/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427796104&sr=8-1&keywords=how+to+rebuild+the+TH400 and YouTube is full of TH400 rebuild videos. Sure, I'll keep you posted! Will start as soon as the rebuild kit arrives from the US! | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 1563 Registered: 4-2003 |
Jean-Pierre [and Mark as well], Which transmission is fitted to your car - the GM T400 3 speed torque convertor transmission or the later 4 speed 4L80E? If it is the 3 speed T400 unit, this is a relatively easy transmission to overhaul however you must be aware there is a special wave clutch plate fitted as the first plate in the clutch pack in the R-R version of this transmission. These wave plates are available from specialist GM auto transmission part suppliers BUT are not included in the overhaul kits from the US kit suppliers. I used a B&M kit from Summit Racing for DRH14434 and this kit included a comprehensive overhaul guide which I understand is no longer supplied with the kit presumably in response to the litigious US environment. You may view and download a copy of this guide using the following link [downloading the file and viewing in Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader gives best resolution of the images in the guide compared to the Google Drive Viewer] - note the various supplementary machining suggestions in the guide were incorporated as standard in the R-R T400 version. IMHO, this guide is easier to follow than the official detail in TSD2476: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz2EYc0pOpXkamxQVW0wR095YVk/view?usp=sharing See if you can get your local library to get the book below on an inter-library loan as it is now out-of-print but is the best book I have seen on overhauling the T400:  A transmission jack is a worthwhile investment for removing and replacing the transmission under the car body and a clear floor area to lay out the parts in order as you dismantle the transmission is a great help when re-assembling the transmission. Care, cleanliness and confidence will be your guide to a successful strip down and rebuild if you follow the B&M procedure. | ||
| Jean-Pierre 'JP' Hilbert Frequent User Username: jphilbert Post Number: 54 Registered: 9-2013 |
David, many thanks for the info! I have the easy 3-gear box. Yes, I'm aware of the wavy steel. A friend of mine, who is on the is forum too, recommended (and ordered))) the Transgo shift kit, dual separator plate together with a selective washer kit, all from Summit Racing. He has this one on his Mulsanne and is delighted! As a matter of fact, I had the book which you posted on order with Amazon, but they misdelivered (2 years back in time that was). The other one I got is maybe even superior due to the fact that it is a modern book with proper, nice photos. | ||
| Jean-Pierre 'JP' Hilbert Frequent User Username: jphilbert Post Number: 55 Registered: 9-2013 |
we're wandering off-topic, maybe start a new thread? | ||
| Mark Aldridge Prolific User Username: mark_aldridge Post Number: 203 Registered: 10-2008 |
Thanks David , I have the book,; just need to pluck up courage ! Box works perfectly as long as the ambient temperature is above 10c. Otherwise initial changes are very late until box is warm. Mark | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 1564 Registered: 4-2003 |
Jean-Pierre and Mark, The most difficult part of the overhaul is getting the transmission out of and back into the drive line when working under the vehicle. As an aside, the Corniche has an additional hindrance in the cruciform brace under the passenger compartment. This has to be removed to drop the transmission and there will be some body movement while the brace is absent which means the brace does not line up exactly when being reinstalled after the transmission is reinstalled. I solved this problem using a jack, a timber spreader bar and wooden blocks positioned under the body to gently lift the body until the brace and brackets realigned and the retaining bolts could be installed. Note I have opened a new thread for this topic. | ||
| Jean-Pierre 'JP' Hilbert Frequent User Username: jphilbert Post Number: 58 Registered: 9-2013 |
David, attached a pic of the underside of my 1985 Cornice, DAF-10195. I cannot make out the brace you describe, nor do I see any mounting points where it could have been sting in. Any thoughts? Then, the real good news with the Corniche is that gap between the firewall and the engine, which gives splendid access to the top gearbox mounting bolts. No weird tool constructions necessary )))  | ||
| gordon le feuvre Frequent User Username: triumph Post Number: 68 Registered: 7-2012 |
The brace is only on Corniche dropheads, NOT on fixed head. I do not have one on mine. The early dropheads and fixedheads had chassis prefix of "c" at some time (can't remember when, dropheads changed prefix to "d". i.e. Drophead | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 1566 Registered: 4-2003 |
Thanks Gordon for the confirmation - I had mentioned this possibility to J-P in a PM. I suspect the chassis prefix may have changed when the MPW designation was changed to Corniche. | ||
| Jean-Pierre 'JP' Hilbert Frequent User Username: jphilbert Post Number: 59 Registered: 9-2013 |
Gents, my car is a drop head, where's the brace? | ||
| gordon le feuvre Frequent User Username: triumph Post Number: 69 Registered: 7-2012 |
On page 35 of the Chassis Number Booklet found elsewhere on the RROC AU site reference is made to the "deletion of cruciform brackets" . This was at VIN 50608 (1980)? Mineral cars started at 50001. I cannot remember, but does this all mean that the body was strengthened and the cruciform deleted in the rework to accept Spirit model running gear? I know some one with an 1985 Corniche drophead. I will see if I can get look under car as I am intrigued! | ||
| Jean-Pierre 'JP' Hilbert Frequent User Username: jphilbert Post Number: 61 Registered: 9-2013 |
Gordon, if you look at photo 77 of this car advert, you can't see a brace either. This particular car is an 1986 one: http://www.beverlyhillscarclub.com//1986-rolls-royce-corniche-ii--c-3971.htm | ||
| David Gore Moderator Username: david_gore Post Number: 1567 Registered: 4-2003 |
Somewhere in my archives, I should have a copy of a Technical Session video taken at the 2002 Federal Rally at Coffs Harbour NSW where I did a front to back presentation of the Shadow under-body using DRH14434 as the demonstration vehicle. I did make a special reference to the cruciform brace being used on the drophead vehicles to control the body flex associated with the reduced chassis rigidity of convertible bodies. This type of brace had been used previously on the long wheelbase Phantom coach-built vehicles and earlier post-WW2 convertibles such as the Bentley Continental S2 and S3 for the same reason. My archives are currently in storage and it may take some time for me to find the video and extract the relevant section if anyone is interested. | ||
| bob uk Unregistered guest |
The original question was going into 1 or L before gearbox shifts out of reverse. The gearbox actuator or servo works like this. When reverse is selected the motor turns a cam which when it gets to reverse postion opems a switch which stops the motor. For the servo to move to N the column switch must contact the N contact. If the contact is dirty then the motor gets no power. Until a contact is made the servo will stay in reverse. The park contact is ok. To check remove column covers select reverse. Then select neutral. If the servo doesn't move, press moving contact of the column switch against the neutral contact. If the servo then shifts the contacts need cleaning with wet or dry. The servo can be heard working so the engine doesn't need to be running. Safer not to run engine. Note my car is a Shadow not a SZ. (Message approved by david_gore) | ||
| gordon le feuvre Frequent User Username: triumph Post Number: 70 Registered: 7-2012 |
I know this has drifted from original question, according to Malcolm Bobbit's book on the Shadow the cruciform was deleted in 1976 except for South Africa? | ||
| Jean-Pierre 'JP' Hilbert Frequent User Username: jphilbert Post Number: 64 Registered: 9-2013 |
I will investigate and see whether the cruciform brace is retrofittable. The Corniche, or at least my car, won't allow you to open the doors once raised on a 4-post lift. That's how much this thing twists like an over ripe banana. | ||
| Richard Treacy Grand Master Username: richard_treacy Post Number: 3187 Registered: 4-2003 |
Jean-Pierre, if you find an elegant solution do let us know. The original type of cruciform is basically useless. Even a Corniche Drophead with an original cruciform frame has more scuttle shake than a Triumph TR6 or Saab 900 S (NG) Convertible. That's really bad. RT. | ||
| Jean-Pierre 'JP' Hilbert Frequent User Username: jphilbert Post Number: 65 Registered: 9-2013 |
When I had the interior out I thought of ways on how to camouflage a non-intrusive roll cage. There are ways of installing reinforcing lateral bars under the rear seats and behind the rear seat back. Modification of the upholstery would be necessary. Those bars would connect to longitudinal bars running inside the car on top of the door sills, but still inside the car. They can be camouflaged via thick sheepskins. To the front, the whole dashboard can be loaded with reinforcement tubing duplicated inside the engine bay between the engine and the firewall, on top of the gearbox. Quite some space there. Also, a brace between the shock absorber turret would be an easy design and installation. 20 years ago, at engineering class, I was reasonably fluent at designing 3-D models and analyse bending modes, will look into modern ways of doing this the day I have strictly nothing else to bother about ))) Sill, I can easily forgive body flex on an old Corniche, but then on a modern Azure, you'd be ashamed in front of your passengers. | ||
| bob uk Unregistered guest |
The more modern 3D stress analyse soft ware is easier and more intuitive than 20 years ago. I used to use AutoCad. I think designing a roll bar is easy but making look nice is differcult. Imagine the side of the as a bridge support by the wheels. On a drop head the depth of sill is like having a thin bridge and a saloon with its roof a thick bridge, the distance from the roof to the floor is maybe 10 times the depth of Also because of the folding roof maybe make a pattern out of wood too see where the main sail sets (Message approved by david_gore) | ||
| gordon le feuvre Frequent User Username: triumph Post Number: 71 Registered: 7-2012 |
JEAN-PIERRE, IS THE SCUTTLE SHAKE THAT YOU ARE NOT HAPPY WITH OR THE FACT YOU CANNOT OPEN DOORS ON LIFT. OVER 50 YEARS I HAVE HAD LOTS OF CARS ON 2 POST RAMPS AND CAN NEVER REMEMBER ANY OF THEM NOT HAVING DOOR CLOSE PROBLEM. IT DOES VARY, BUT THEY ALL HAD IT. WE WERE R-R/BENTLEY, JAGUAR, ASTON MARTIN, RANGE ROVER, ROOTES GROUP AND TRIUMPH, SO QUITE A SPREAD.} | ||
| bob uk Unregistered guest |
The worse car I have seen for shake was the Triumph herald convertible. (Message approved by david_gore) |
