Reputation of BW65 auto?

Oldskoolrob

Oldskoolrob

Active Member
Hi guys,
Selecting an auto for my conversion of a 3.5 into Mk2 Cortina. I was thinking of using the original Borg Warner 65 I got with my SDI engine. The massive bellhousig is an issue. What is their reputation as a box? I'm considering possibly converting to a smaller box (holden trimatic) if it's a dog, or I'll engineer around the bulk if it's pretty good. The box will have to be rebuilt - what is your advice?
 
The 65 is a pretty reliable box, far more so than the 35. The bellhousing will be thae same sort of size on any auto behind a RV8.
If you're worried about the BW65 taking the load behind the RV8, personally I'd say don't. You could always uprate to BW66 spec. The only real problem is they're only a 3 speed.
 
Thanks.
Yes an overdrive would be nice but I'll just gear the diff to suit :)
I thought they'd be ok, but I''m new to Rover gear.
 
I would go with the ZF 4HP22, built much stronger than the BW65, lock up in 3rd and 4th, overdrive and extremely reliable.

Graeme
 
A friend of mine had his 65 rebuilt by a business in Sydney last year. Cost the best part of $3000 :shock: :shock: which seemed pretty excessive. The box had not travelled that far at all since the previous rebuild, probably only a few thousand miles, but it had taken many years to arrive there. Apparently everything inside was pretty well stuffed.

From my experience, based on having 5 transmission rebuilds over the years with my Rover, how reliable the box is tends to be a function of how well the person carrying out the rebuild did their job.

Ron.
 
If i was putting a rv8 into another car i'd be wondering about an LT77 or T5 rather than a slushbox... For the power you'd get a manual 2.0 pinto is going to win against an rv8 with a BW box. The zf box will have lockup on the top 2 gears which would be a good halfway house....


Time to go play top trumps with engine transplants and gearboxes!

RIch
 
rockdemon said:
If i was putting a rv8 into another car i'd be wondering about an LT77 or T5 rather than a slushbox... For the power you'd get a manual 2.0 pinto is going to win against an rv8 with a BW box. The zf box will have lockup on the top 2 gears which would be a good halfway house....


Time to go play top trumps with engine transplants and gearboxes!

RIch
Click to expand...

Rich the ZF only has lockup in 4th, and depends on how your driving it at the time will determine when it engages.
It will also dissengage soon as the throttle is blipped and will drop back into 4th.
Good box though.
 
eightofthem said:
rockdemon said:
If i was putting a rv8 into another car i'd be wondering about an LT77 or T5 rather than a slushbox... For the power you'd get a manual 2.0 pinto is going to win against an rv8 with a BW box. The zf box will have lockup on the top 2 gears which would be a good halfway house....


Time to go play top trumps with engine transplants and gearboxes!

RIch
Click to expand...

Rich the ZF only has lockup in 4th, and depends on how your driving it at the time will determine when it engages.
It will also dissengage soon as the throttle is blipped and will drop back into 4th.
Good box though.
Click to expand...


Hi Andy, it was my understanding that the electric ZF's were lock up in 3 and 4 and that the mechanical were in 4th only?


Graeme
 
For the power you'd get a manual 2.0 pinto is going to win against an rv8 with a BW box

100% agree.
Dollar for dollar a 4 speed auto or 5 speed overdrive is far more preferable. Otherwise performance will be barely adequate.
 
ghce said:
eightofthem said:
rockdemon said:
If i was putting a rv8 into another car i'd be wondering about an LT77 or T5 rather than a slushbox... For the power you'd get a manual 2.0 pinto is going to win against an rv8 with a BW box. The zf box will have lockup on the top 2 gears which would be a good halfway house....


Time to go play top trumps with engine transplants and gearboxes!

RIch
Click to expand...

Rich the ZF only has lockup in 4th, and depends on how your driving it at the time will determine when it engages.
It will also dissengage soon as the throttle is blipped and will drop back into 4th.
Good box though.
Click to expand...


Hi Andy, it was my understanding that the electric ZF's were lock up in 3 and 4 and that the mechanical were in 4th only?


Graeme
Click to expand...

Apologies to Rich if you meant the 24 EH version, I thought you were referring to the 22 H version.

Graeme, the 24 EH are lock up 2nd 3rd and 4th, brave man if you intend to fit one, far too much electrickery for me.
 
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