The 'E' Type Forum

Hi gents,
Was the gearbox breather introduced with the all synchro box? I can’t find a reference for it on a 3.8. My car has one fitted (all synchro box). Should it be chrome plated? Mine appeared to be gold zinc with blisters all over it and upon rubbing it with steel wool chrome plate was revealed with a lot of pitting presumably causing the blistering on whatever treatment was applied over the top.
My intention was to etch prime and paint it with Eastwood’s cadmium coloured paint.

Pete

From the 3.8 Parts manual.

Looks like the hole is there on the Moss box but early on no breather was fitted. I can't tell you when the change was made.

Finish is Cd/bright Zinc plated. I've not seen a chromed one.

Bummer, should’ve sent it off for cad with my other parts. Thanks Andrew.

This makes me wonder if my all synchro box, installed after overhaul in an XK 150, has a clogged breather which causes the box to leak quite badly.

It’s certainly worth checking. Mine was a little mangled possibly from being squashed during a previous engine removal. I took it off prior to removing my engine recently.