How tough is the Citroen Transaxle??

[f1karting]

Looking for feedback on the durability of the Citroen box.

What sort of problems have people had? What can one expect?

I have heard that you best have a supply of spare CWP if you have anything near 270hp, (unless it is driven VERY conservatively), and that anything over 300hp, one is pretty much guarateed it will eventually self destruct. Jan

[dodgy]

My CWP went on me 4 weeks ago! and i havn't made any mods, its only running 210bhp !

If your running any extra i sugest you keep a FEW spare sets

Dave

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

I have heard mixed responses...

Garry Kemp bascially says they are pushed to their limit as-is on the Turbo cars and woe betide anyone who dares to go much further!

I spoke to someone in California in that Citroen SM specialists who made one of their SM's do 200+ mph by only changing one small thing in the gearbox and that he believed they were fairly durable as long as you were sympathetic to them (I guess he meant at the very least no mad standing starts?)

If he also meant, never really using the torque and just using the bhp peak, then imo in our cars it pretty much defeats the point

[madmezza]

Looking for feedback on the durability of the Citroen box. 

What sort of problems have people had? What can one expect?

I have heard that you best have a supply of spare CWP if you have anything near 270hp, (unless it is driven VERY conservatively), and that anything over 300hp, one is pretty much guarateed it will eventually self destruct.  Jan

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Excuse my ignoriance, but whats a CWP?

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Crown Wheel and Pinion which is reportedly the weakest link in our gearboxes. Don't ask me what it actually IS tho or why it breaks?!! Or why it costs about

[Guest teigan]

the citroen transaxle is tough. tough to replace i should say. i've been shopping for a spare, and can't seem to get a price that wouldn't justify buying a spare esprit instead.

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

To be perfectly honest, considering the cost and availability of a Citroen tranny, I would be more inclined to put that money towards a rear end replacement with a Renault and the back end from a later car and be done with it. Would also give you the freedom to start to get the most out of the engine

[madmezza]

Sounds promising - what's the cost? (didn't realise the citroen was difficult to get, but anythign that prolongs the life (i.e. swapping for renault) is good)

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Cost - No idea... *IF* I ever get around to doing it (no way it will be before this time next year at the earliest) I will be one of the first few people to have done so...

You really do have to replace the entire rear end! (Which also requires sourcing all the necessary parts from a front ended, dead S-Car!!)

[madmezza]

Are there any chassis changes? I thought the Renault box used outboard brakes (where the citroen has inboard)? Sounds like a fun task anyway!

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Yes it does. Hence the "Changing the entire rear end" thing I have now mentioned for a third time!!!

You will need brakes, the suspension, the tranny itself, dampers struts - the ENTIRE rear end!!

BIIIIG Job - hence no idea how much it would cost and why you would ideally need a front ended donor S-car (S'orrite - noone will miss it! )

I have no idea if anyone has even attempted it before either!

I IMAGINE it's doable but will be a lot of work and need a lot of parts and a very creative / confident mechanic!

[Guest teigan]

i hope you don't mean seaming two cut frames together. sure the welds would be strong, but every angle on that frame was very meticulously engineered for optimum torsion and flex. i wouldn't attempt it without full data on the originals. you'd be cutting up the best part of the car.

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

I don't *believe* cutting / welding should be necessary - not beyond some mount points for the tranny. It does require swapping over large metal parts that I have absolutely no idea what their names are! lol

Pretty much anything that unbolts from the bell housing backwards!

[AJay]

I don't *believe* cutting / welding should be necessary - not beyond some mount points for the tranny. It does require swapping over large metal parts that I have absolutely no idea what their names are! lol

Pretty much anything that unbolts from the bell housing backwards!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The last of the G cars was fitted with a renault rear end.

The car was an HC and it was in ice blue.

Read a write up in some mag some where about it.

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Some lucky bugger will have that then! (apart from the colour!! :P )