1850 1 rail or 3 rail gearbox (?)

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MAD micks

1850 1 rail or 3 rail gearbox (?)

#1 Post by MAD micks »

Hi all,

How do you tell the difference between a 1 rail and 3 rail gearbox...?

I have an 1850 'N' reg (1975) and need to know what I've got (searching for a replacement gearbox)...

Thanks!
Carledo
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Re: 1850 1 rail or 3 rail gearbox (?)

#2 Post by Carledo »

Your car is pre facelift so SHOULD have a 3 rail box however in view of the chequered past and later upgrades applied to some cars, the easy way to tell is to look at the gearshift extension, if it bolts to the top of the main gearbox casing with 4x1/2 steds and nuts, its a 3 rail, if the top of the main case has a flat plate covering it and the gearlever extension protrudes from the back of it , its a single rail. Hope this helps!

Steve
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Jon Tilson
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Re: 1850 1 rail or 3 rail gearbox (?)

#3 Post by Jon Tilson »

Or...
reverse position on single rail is next to 3rd and on a single rail its next to 1st.....

Its a useful anti theft device to fit the wrong o.d gearstick cap....haha....

Jonners
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Carledo
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Re: 1850 1 rail or 3 rail gearbox (?)

#4 Post by Carledo »

Jon Tilson wrote:Or...
reverse position on single rail is next to 3rd and on a single rail its next to 1st.....

Its a useful anti theft device to fit the wrong o.d gearstick cap....haha....

Jonners
Good point Jon but on a 3 rail its next to first! Not what you said!

Steve
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.
MAD micks

Re: 1850 1 rail or 3 rail gearbox (?)

#5 Post by MAD micks »

Carledo wrote:
Jon Tilson wrote:Or...
reverse position on single rail is next to 3rd and on a single rail its next to 1st.....

Its a useful anti theft device to fit the wrong o.d gearstick cap....haha....

Jonners
Good point Jon but on a 3 rail its next to first! Not what you said!

Steve
You're heroes!! So. It's a 1st rail if reverse is next to 3rd (as mine is)...?!
Carledo
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Re: 1850 1 rail or 3 rail gearbox (?)

#6 Post by Carledo »

YES!

Steve
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.
Jon Tilson
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Re: 1850 1 rail or 3 rail gearbox (?)

#7 Post by Jon Tilson »

Note to self....proof read post again before hitting the submit button....

Sorry about that. I maust be getting senile...

Single rail next to 3rd and three rail next to first. Also the gearbox tunnel tray is a bit deeper at the back like 6 inches or so on a 3 rail and only a couple of inches on a single rail.

Thanks Steve...

Jonners
Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.
Hoops

Re: 1850 1 rail or 3 rail gearbox (?)

#8 Post by Hoops »

Can the single rail and 3-rail gearboxes be easily switched (with overdrive)?
I have a mediocre single rail that may need replacing.
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Re: 1850 1 rail or 3 rail gearbox (?)

#9 Post by MIG Wielder »

The clutch driven plate is different. The 3-rail box coarse splines, the single rail box has more , finer splines. I think the coin tray may be different as well. Jonners will be around later I imagine to give the word on propshafts etc.
Cheers for now,
Tony.
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Re: 1850 1 rail or 3 rail gearbox (?)

#10 Post by Jon Tilson »

I think the props and mountings are the same....but I have to confess to never swicthing one type for another.
The tunnnels and trays are a different shape and in the o-d case the single rail o-d has a different rear case to hold the single rail remote...
so you can use a single rail o-d on either type, but you cant use a 3 rail o-d on a single rail box.

Jonners
Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.
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Re: 1850 1 rail or 3 rail gearbox (?)

#11 Post by Toledo Man »

I've swapped between 3 rail and singe rail on my Toledo. All I can remember is that the clutch is different and the propshaft might have to be changed. Other than that I didn't need to change anything else.
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