over drive system

[old skool]

Hello,

There is a guy selling over drive systems for a stock model A on ebay for about $1650.00. You have to send him a good tube. Anyone out there using one? Are they any good? Any feedback?

Thanks,
Marty

[AL in NY]

Is this the unit you are referring to??????

[Herb Concord Ca]

If it looks like the one Al in NY's photo. That's a LayCock de Normanville overdrive, use in European cars before 5-speeds came into use.
It's a good unit, and IMHO it's the best way to go!
I have one, it's now in it's second model A, have used it for 10 years, currently in my S/W Town sedan.
It's operated by a toggle switch, no mechnical linkage to take up floor space!
Price seems a little high, but who knows.
Regards
herb

[b ramsey]

i have a volvo unit, and think its the greatest thing ever....

[pat in Santa Cruz]

easily as important as the type of overdrive, is the engineering behind the adaption and its execution. I've seen these with really crappy welding and poorly designed reinforcement, so that the torque tube sags and the drive line fails. I've also seen them done excellently from Rich Little.

Also, since these units are from used vehicles, is the OD rebuilt? What is the name of the seller and builder? I cannot tell any of that from this description. caveat emptor

[maximum od]

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Yes i rebuild them and i have a dyno setup to test them. GLENN

[old skool]

Hello,

Yes, the one in the photo is the one I am refering to. Looks like the maker has joined in.
I had some bad experiences on ebay and I am always a little "uneasy" about getting certain things on there (esp when it cost a good bit of money).

Marty

[maximum od]

yes, they are volvo,yes the tubes are machined before they are tig welded,No need to balance.Yes 6 month unlimited mileage warranty.
Ive got all the parts i need to rebuild them. GLENN

[maximum od]

Well ive been rebuilding GV units for years. and For the Hot rod guys with 800hp+, ive had alot of guys ask me to build custom one offs.So now
its time to help out the guys with the torque tubes.Ive got a web site but
im not sure i can post it here on the form. GLENN

[Jason in TX]

I can't speak for that seller, but I love my Volvo overdrive!

[John LaVoy]

I agree with Pat talk to someone who has one of the units they made, the Laycock is good, but the welding and fabrication has to be good too.

[Tom Wesenberg]

My friend just bought the same LayCock de Normanville overdrive to install in his 1929 Stutz. If I was going to install an overdrive that's the unit I'd like to use also.

My friend with the Stutz bought a set of 3.27 ring and pinion gears from Bert's for his 31 widebed, and I can't wait to drive it with them. Still waiting on the bodyman to finish painting the box for his widebed. The painter has only had it for 10 years!

[John LaVoy]

Tom,

The painter must be using the really slow drying paint! LOL

[maximum od]

Hi i think your reffering to my Overdrives on ebay,im the guy building them. GLENN

[pat in Santa Cruz]

I have a Laycock D'Normanville in my sedan, and it is my preferred OD. Maximum OD, could you show some detailed photos of the connection to the torque tube, please? I don't think there is a rule against posting the website, My guess is its here:

http://www.maximum--overdrive.com/products.html

[maximum od]

Pat
yes thats its the site. actually your in santa cruz,im very close,im in Aromas.but to answer your question,the first one i used a splined coupler
that i had made,but now im using a coupler with a 1 inch blind hole 1/4 keyway
and a 3/8 cross drilled hole and a hardened dowel pin.I will have to find the pictures.

[azmodela]

At that price why not go with the Mitchell for a few $$ more? It's new, it's fully mechanical, and parts/rebuild are available!

[maximum od]

yeap! a few hudred more.and when i rebuild them there like new .theres pro`s and cons for both. one of the best features about the Laycock is full power shifts you dont have to back off the gas at all

[pat in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by azmodela

At that price why not go with the Mitchell for a few $$ more? It's new, it's fully mechanical, and parts/rebuild are available!

well, yeah, that's the question a lot of folks will ask. Parts are available for Laycocks, unlike Borg Warners. I got my Laycock J series ( aka Volvo, but also MG, Jaguar, Austin Healy and others) about 8 years ago when they were selling for around 1200, pus another 100 for the oil sump. That was significantly less than the Mitchell, and at the time there was a long wait for a Mitchell. I have a Mitchell in one car, a Borg Warner in another. The simple flick of a switch used on the Laycock beats the others hands down. Its so easy to split a gear on an up or downshift... As Mike Meyers used to say, "its like buttah!!"

I gotta say, I love it and no extra gear shift lever in the front either.

[Jason in TX]

I usually push in the clutch when I shift mine. Is that not needed?