Holloway Performance

[gmendoza]

I just finished rebuilding/installing my geabox. I installed a new Quaife diff, new crownwheel and pinion, new syncros and the Holloway UN1 upgrade plus a new spigot bearing on the flywheel. I haven't driven the car hard yet because I'm still breaking in the CW & P but so far I'm very pleased.

The kit consists of a one piece, strengthened primary shaft, First gear (3.00 to 1), Second gear (1.94 to 1), Fifth gear synchro hub, Fifth gear sleeve and thrust washer, strengthened front roller bearing, strengthened rear taper roller bearing, misc. circlips, washers, and primary shaft nut. It definitely looks like a quality kit. Only first and reverse are straight cut, not second. Also, the dog teeth on 1st and 2nd are about 50% larger than stock. The gearbox doesn't require any modification either. The kit just just drops in.

After driving the car for a few days, I noticed the new ratios suit the V8 way better than stock. 1st is much more useable than before. I haven't tried any quick upshifts into second yet so I can't comment on that but the downshift from 3rd to 2nd is way quicker than before. Also, gear whine is almost none but then again my exhaust is pretty loud. And the little whine there is, is only in 1st. No issues getting in & out of gear; the gearbox just feels great.

So as of now, I'm very satisfied. I'll report again once it's broken-in and I run the car through its paces.

Edited October 3, 2009 by gmendoza

[aerobat]

That's encouraging - I'm doing mine over this winter!

Thanks for your input, and I hope it continues to give you the benefit we're looking for!

[shawty_82]

Just out of interest, how much has this upgrade cost you?

[fmxa]

You did this all yourself? I'm impressed!!!!

[gmendoza]

Total on parts was about $9k.

Thanks Paul, yeah I did this all in my garage.

[Rgardner01]

Great to hear! I am currently upgrading my box with the same kit so your remarks make me feel more confortable. How is the standing start pulling away casually? With the reduced first is noticable? Where did you source your new syncros? My second / 1st gear has a little wear so I figure i might as well replace it now. I was about to order one from Delorean.

[gmendoza]

Casual standing starts feel almost like stock, very little difference. A little update on while, like I mentioned earlier, it's almost not noticeable driving around. The only time you notice it is driving around in first in a parking lot as the sound echoes of other cars.

Also, I would be very cautions of Delorean syncros. I tried aftermarket syncros and they did not work well for me. Now I have OEM syncros and it's much better.

[WEllison]

Has anybody ever measured the runout on the Lotus crankshaft centerline relative to the recess lip which centers the transmission on the adapter (bell housing). I am very interseted in the Holloway upgrade, but am concerned about the runout with the solid one piece primary shaft. When adapting different transmissions to U.S. big V8's I have had to modify the dowel pin locating holes in the adapter (bell housing) to achecive less that .003 runout with a short 7" input shaft. Anybody who is about to do this upgrade, it would be very heplful to measure the runout and post it, even if that is just a one of one reading. Holloway has no information on this.

Wayne

[gmendoza]

More miles on the car, and everything is great now. Here are a few vids from yesterday.

Here's a rolling start. Part throttle in 1st due to wheel spin, WOT the rest.

Here's a standing start. Part throttle in 1st again to avoid wheel spin, WOT the rest.

On the subject of synchros, I did not have good luck with aftermarket synchros. 5th gear synchro never right from mile 1 so I replaced it right away with a used OEM and everything was well. 1st-4th worked fine while I was breaking in but failed once I started driving the car hard. So I split the case again to replace the synchros. I could not find any new OEM syncros in the states and I really wanted to drive the car so I put in my good used OEMs. It's all good now.

When I split the case, this is what I found:

The friction face of the 1st-2nd aftermarket synchro looked fine but the biggest differences I found were matterial does not seem the same as OEM and the ridge where the synchro spring rides on on the back is not as defined as the OEM. The aftermarket one just has a cast round shoulder as opposed to a defined edge on the OEM.

Aftermarket:

OEM

The 3-5 synchros have a coating on the friction face of the synchro. The coating on the aftermarket ones looks almost like paint compare to the OEMs. The coating on the OEMs seems thicker and is textured.

Here's 3rd. notice the coating after only break in miles:

Here's 4th, the coating was beginning to fail too:

So beware of cheap synchros.

Has anybody ever measured the runout on the Lotus crankshaft centerline relative to the recess lip which centers the transmission on the adapter (bell housing). I am very interseted in the Holloway upgrade, but am concerned about the runout with the solid one piece primary shaft. When adapting different transmissions to U.S. big V8's I have had to modify the dowel pin locating holes in the adapter (bell housing) to achecive less that .003 runout with a short 7" input shaft. Anybody who is about to do this upgrade, it would be very heplful to measure the runout and post it, even if that is just a one of one reading. Holloway has no information on this.

Wayne

Sorry Wayne, I don't have that info but I was curious too. When I replaced the 5th gear syncro I spun the primary shaft with the trans in place and clutch disingaged. The shaft spun just as easy as it did with the box out of the car. So since there's no binding or additional drag, I feel the alignment is close to spot on.

[WEllison]

Thanks for the input;

Yes, that test would certainly indicate no side load or "tip" of the primary input shaft. Mike Sekinger is taking one apart and he is also going to actually measure the run out for me.

Wayne

[lightcore]

hello, i tried contanting halloway via email no response yet, also tried to call, but the number seems to be disconnected. does anyone know if the kits are still available or a good contact number?

thanks

[WEllison]

I last contacted Craig in December at: Holloway Performance [[email protected]]

[jamie101010]

Hi - New poster here. I'm interested in carying the hollaway upgrade to my 2000 V8. My box has not gone, but want the peice of mind.

gmendoza - can you give a cost breakdown on you 9k build? 5k for the kit, but interested to know where the other 4k went?

[gmendoza]

Sorry for the late reply. The 9k was for the following

5k for the Holloway kit

~1.5k for a new crown wheel & pinion

~2k for a quaife limited slip

~0.5k for seals and misc things