GearBox confusion!

[kgb123]

Evening gents
I'm going to need some help in sorting out whether or not a gearbox with a Laycock Type A Compact Overdrive, that I bought some time ago from a jaguar breakers yard, is going to work on my 4.2 engine.
I dug the gearbox out of storage this evening having never really looked at in detail. When i search on here using Laycock there is a lot of info as there is when I punch in the various numbers I have off the box into google. Bottom line is I think I've a hotch potch of bits on this box!

This is the number on the top cover of the box:

The number on the top left corner of the iron box itself is different. It is KFN12323
The other numbers on the box are:

The compact drive details are:

Is there a jaguar resource where you can track down spec info on a gearbox based on any details above?

My options are, If this box/combo is a goer anyone know what I could expect to pay for the gearbox and overdrive to be serviced/repaired/reconditioned?
I've still got my original 4 speed box, it would need looking at as getting into 2nd gear was an acquired skill when the car was running.
Take a look at a 5 speed box, though my sense is that this is not as popular as it was a while ago.

Thanks as always for your advice.

Kev

[mgcjag]

Kfn is a 4 syncro box from an xj6 the compact A is correct for this...KCN(top cover) is I think from a 240...not sure it will position the gear lever in the correct E type position....refurb I would thing £1-1.5k but call around for quotes

[angelw]

Hello Kevin,
As per Steve, the Gearbox is out of an XJ6, most probably a 2.8lt engine car, and is correct for the Overdrive. The only difference between the with and without Overdrive gearbox is the Main Shaft.

I think the gear lever positioning of a 240 will be correct. Post a picture of the Top Cover, showing the position of the Gear Lever. You can tell at a glance whether it is correct for the correct positioning of the gear lever for an E Type.

Regards,

Bill

[MarekH]

Since you have the original manual gearbox, you will be able to see what the correct original top cover looks like. It also means you can swap them over if the overdrive box has the longer sedan fitting top cover.

If need be, you can convert one to the other as I did:-
https://www.jag-lovers.org/snaps/snap_v ... 1170885932
That was back in 2007.

The KFN and KPN 1st gear was a different ratio, to let the relatively underpowered saloon get away cleanly when compared to the other compact type-A's. This means you can use it with a 2.88 diff and have the optimal spread of usable gears. You also probably have the two bossses on the right hand side of the box for a v12 clutch slave and this means your box ought to be more sought after than a bog standard compact type-A as those have a less usable 1st gear if the diff has been swapped out and are mostly not v12 compatible.

There will be plenty of information on jag-lovers.com The late Dick Vandermeyden (sp?) documented a lot of this back in the day and an archive search ought to yield plenty of hits for this drop-in replacement.

kind regards
Marek

[Jack the lad]

You could always give Overdrive Services in the outskirts of Sheffield a ring. When Laycocks closed down this company bought all the spares and tooling for the overdrive units and as ex-Laycock workers they know everything about them. I have used them in the past and they are very helpful and carry full stocks of spares.

[kgb123]

Thanks you for the replies gents.

Comparison with my existing box top cover confirms to my uneducated eye that they are the same..some pics below

OD Box top cover:


Original box top cover:


I've seen reference to the firm in Sheffield in lot of threads and links I've been reading. I'll give them a call.

Going to do a bit more reading up on all things Gearbox and I'll likely be back with some more questions

[kgb123]

oooppppss Wrong Image link

see if this one works for original box top cover:

[kgb123]

ok Imgur problem or laptop problem...Links I copy are different and images I get links from are different but same image sent! Its an omen....clearly my gearbox knowledge and my PC/IT knowledge are a bit iffy

[kgb123]

Taken a look and sorted it. Imgur has dumped a series of images against that link. Scrol;l through any of the above to seeold box and snaps of my oerhauled Diff as a bonus