Getrag 265 5 Speed for V12

[Nick V12 e type]

Hello,
I want to switch from auto to manual and have an option on a Getrag 265 5 speed manual from an XJS for a fair price. Planning to use the ‘super performance’ adaptor kit to make it fit.

The only down side I can see is that it’s a 1990 box and therefore does not have the mechanical speedo drive.

I’m thinking that I may be able to have my standard speedo innards changed to an electronic version with a pick up somewhere?

My diff is 3.54 I believe, further this is the same on the XJS 3.6 manual so should work well as Jaguar intended.

I would welcome your feedback on my approach prior to doing the deal to buy the box

1 My choice of gear box, any known downsides?
2 Any guidance on resolving the speedo issue would be welcome

Many thanks as always

Nick

[hazzardv12]

Be aware the 265 is very difficult to work on and virtually obsolete for parts. Make sure it's the overdrive box (265/6)and not the 265/5 direct drive top

[Red Kite]

Be aware the 265 is very difficult to work on and virtually obsolete for parts. Make sure it's the overdrive box (265/6)and not the 265/5 direct drive top

Had mine overhauled here..... http://www.all-gears.co.uk/

[Red Kite]

Hello,
I want to switch from auto to manual and have an option on a Getrag 265 5 speed manual from an XJS for a fair price. Planning to use the ‘super performance’ adaptor kit to make it fit.

The only down side I can see is that it’s a 1990 box and therefore does not have the mechanical speedo drive.

I’m thinking that I may be able to have my standard speedo innards changed to an electronic version with a pick up somewhere?

My diff is 3.54 I believe, further this is the same on the XJS 3.6 manual so should work well as Jaguar intended.

I would welcome your feedback on my approach prior to doing the deal to buy the box

1 My choice of gear box, any known downsides?
2 Any guidance on resolving the speedo issue would be welcome

Many thanks as always

Nick

http://www.topcateng.co.uk/Garage/Instr ... speedo.htm

[hazzardv12]

Be aware the 265 is very difficult to work on and virtually obsolete for parts. Make sure it's the overdrive box (265/6)and not the 265/5 direct drive top

Had mine overhauled here..... http://www.all-gears.co.uk/

That's useful to know

[Nick V12 e type]

Gents thank you for your replies, very much appreciated, I haven’t picked up the gear box yet so will fully investigate Speedo drive options. I came across a US supplier who offers a gps box that powers via an electric motor the mechanical speedo cable. Much more confident that there will be a good solution.

Thanks again

Nick

[PeterCrespin]

1990 was changeover year for Jaguar Getrags. Is it the 265 or 290? 265 has a detachable bell and can be mated to a standard Jag flywheel/bell housing, starter and clutch release mech, which is generally preferable. I still have a couple of the adaptors for that job from when I fitted one to my E. They are small and cheap and let you use the 265 from a BMW, which is more common than a Jag Getrag and therefore cheaper and easier to find with mechanical speedo.

For the electric speedo version you could use the contemporary XJS speedo sender bits, but that involves swapping diff parts, which may be more work and expense than you want. How are you going to reposition the gear lever? The Jag Getrag used a very heavy stitched leather over metal gear knob. It’s the size of a satsuma and feels like it’s made of depleted uranium but it helps smooth out a fairly dodgy gearchange ‘feel’. I think I have a couple of new Getrag slave cylinders somewhere.

[hazzardv12]

The 265/6 is getting hard to find and not cheap, rarely available at less than a grand

[AussieEtype]

I believe vee12eman has one of these boxes in his V12 Etype so maybe seek his advice on using this gearbox.

Garry

[vee12eman]

Hi Nick, Garry, Pete and all.

I do indeed have a long tail Getrag gearbox in my Series 3 V12 FHC. It fits with no metalwork modifications, except to the removable cover, which in my case was an automatic box cover with no hole for the lever. I made a home made linkage for a homemade gear lever, which has an original style gear knob with the correct Getrag gear pattern on it and emerges in the correct location. The gear knob is heavy, as Pete advises and available still from SNG. My conversion has no adapter plate, rather it has a special bell housing. The rear mount is part standard, part a heavy gauge folded unit also from SNG but no longer available I believe.

Try searching “Getrag” on the SNG website and you’ll find a few items available which will help, for instance C23007G is the aforementioned gear knob, pricey but helps with gear change and looks stock. There are other items too, some left over from a long ago dropped conversion they used to sell.

Send a pm if you want more info, I have a few photos of the conversion. They used to be on here until Photobucket had a fit and all my images disappeared. I have never been bothered to try and find/upload all my missing images, even if I still have them.

Regards,

Simon

[hazzardv12]

[hazzardv12]

This is my Getrag 265/6 going into my Coupe replacing the auto

[Nick V12 e type]

Gentleman,
Thank you all for your shared experience and comments. It will be a while before I’m fitting the box so expect me to return to the subject again and no doubt draw on your invaluable experience.

Very much appreciated

Nick

[abowie]

If you're going to go to all the trouble of doing a 5 speed conversion why use an elderly gearbox with dubious parts availability when you could use something more modern and better?

These guys make a bunch of bell housings and other bits to allow you to attach various gearboxes to a V12.

https://dellowconversions.com.au

I have one of their conversions in my XJS race car mated to a Supra box.

Just my 2c worth.

[AussieEtype]

Hi Andrew but aren't their bellhousings too long for an e-type as they were designed for V12s in the XJS and XJ12 - this results in the gearlever being too far back in the e-type and because the gearbox is further back in the car other mods are needed.

Garry

[abowie]

I don't know to be honest. I've only just discovered them having bought a car with one in it.

[AussieEtype]

I have a almost new Getrag out of a VT Commodore V8 in my E-type - not sure what model Getrag they are but I do know they are marginal for the old 5 Litre V8 and am looking at something else.

I was going to go up to see Mal Woods in Qld and put together a "T5 package" - he is making his own rear casing for the T5 to make it fit the V12 and also his own top mount so the gear lever is in the right spot but he was also not sure about the dellow bell housing.

I believe but cannot confirm it, that Mal Woods makes the overpriced kit that Spiteri in Melbourne sells for the 6 cylinder e-types. My neighbour put one in his 4.2 series 1 coupe and it was OK but backup service was not good.

Mal however does have a great reputation and he thinks a 6 speed T56 out of a big V8 Commodore could fit in a LWB e-type.

Garry