petrolhead Posted May 18, 2008 Report Posted May 18, 2008 This is one of those situations where you come across a spot of luck but it leaves you with a difficult choice: I brought my gearbox in to a transmission specialist for a light rebuild. I told him on the phone I thought it was a RS1800 4 speed as fitted to the road going Rs1800 cars. I bought it years ago from a Ford parts specialist. Anyway, Mr Gearbox man scoffs a bit over the phone and says it is very unlikely, it is probably just a RS2000 box. He has never seen a RS1800 box in 38years of business and he specialises in Ford gearboxes. So he replaces the bearings, gives it an overhaul and it turns out it is in very good condition and it is in fact a genuine RS1800 gearbox. I've been into old Fords for 14years and I've never seen or even heard of another one for sale. He reckons it should fetch over £1k on ebay. So should I sell it and replace it with: RS2000 4 speed (2nd hand £60) OR rebuilt RS2 £350 OR go straight cut RS2 (are these really hard to live with everyday?)
Admin Vista Posted May 18, 2008 Admin Report Posted May 18, 2008 Yes straight cut gearboxes are hard to live with every day as they are very noisy. What should you do? I guess it depends what you want and how much you need the money. What I know about the RS1800 box you're referring too could be written on the back of a fag packet, but I'm going to assume it's highly desirable because it's very strong and/or it has excellent ratios. So if you have a big power engine and don't need the cash then I'd fit it. If you don't need the extra strength and the money could be put to better use somewhere else then I'd flog it and be glad of the unexpected windfall, you can then either fit a recon RS box or an uprated type 9 with modified ratios.
petrolhead Posted May 19, 2008 Author Report Posted May 19, 2008 wise advice Vista Gaz, lol, I don't think mine would do too well with a standard type9 ratios. As I understand it the RS1800 box is virtually identical in design to the RS2000 box. However, it has strenthened internals and unique ratios. 1st gear is 3.36:1 rather than the RS2000 3.6:1 so it is closer ratio and will pull higher speeds in first gear. As with everything OSF these days, if it's rare and RS then it's worth a bit. I'll put it on ebay and see just what the market thinks it is worth.
Rick Posted May 19, 2008 Report Posted May 19, 2008 at least the bloke was honest, he could have tried to get it off you claiming it was fooked. dont meet many honest people these days. ebay it mate
lotusless Posted May 19, 2008 Report Posted May 19, 2008 get a rebuilt rs2 box + stick it on the bay it will prob make 2k on there
V8ian Posted May 19, 2008 Report Posted May 19, 2008 Ive got a BRAND NEW 1600E gearbox in the garage, Never been fitted to a car or even had gear oil in it, wonder what its worth????
richyc Posted May 19, 2008 Report Posted May 19, 2008 i run a straight cut box in my road rs 2000 mk1 and love it!!! it just brings a big grin when flat out ,the whine sounds ace then when on long runs 4th is 1/1 and goes all quiet so its not that bad.
tim Posted May 19, 2008 Report Posted May 19, 2008 where did he get that 1k price from,there the same as 2k box just differernt ratios (same as 2.8 box just with out the 5th cog) there also a very limited market with so few rs1800 about and most if uprated have quaife etc boxs
petrolhead Posted May 19, 2008 Author Report Posted May 19, 2008 Admittedly the £1k price is speculation, I'll put it on ebay, with Lotus Cortina steering wheels going for £1500 anything is possible. But I would have to disagree with you on the limited market as you don't have to have an RS1800 to use or desire it. How many RS1800's were built? less than 200 I'm guessing. How many road going ones survive? I'm guessing it is probably less than 50. True, a lot of those gearboxes would have been converted to straight cut but that just means original ones are all the more rarer. Ebay is unpredictable, there might be one bloke who is vaguely interested in it and will get a bargain OR there might be two blokes each restoring genuine RS1800's and this would be the final piece to their puzzle. If that was the case the pric would easily go above £1k IMO.
tim Posted May 19, 2008 Report Posted May 19, 2008 but its just a rebuilt RS2000 box with different ratios,if its was a competition ZF box then youd get your 1k there was 109 rs1800 built think about 70 are known with only a hand full seein the road
petrolhead Posted May 19, 2008 Author Report Posted May 19, 2008 If it was a ZF competition box I'd get a lot more than £1k but I see what you mean. Some people would view it as just another 4speed box, others would see it as an ultra-rare genuine RS part and pay accordingly. But as I said, it is speculation. If it doesn't sell I'll be quite happy refitting it and knowing that there is no other car quite like mine on the road. If it does sell I might be able to take a small chunk out of my fooking huge overdraft
alladdin Posted May 19, 2008 Report Posted May 19, 2008 but its just a rebuilt RS2000 box with different ratios,if its was a competition ZF box then youd get your 1k there was 109 rs1800 built think about 70 are known with only a hand full seein the road i would think the main question is " can you get a box build with these ratios for less than 1k " the sort of person that builds a no cost concours rs1800 will want it, cost no issue ................ unless he can get one built cheaper.
petrolhead Posted May 20, 2008 Author Report Posted May 20, 2008 fair point, i've put it on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :IT&ih=008 I'm in a win win situation. If it doesn't sell I have a cracking gearbox to fit back to my Escort
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