19-05-2018, 11:14 AM
The Ulster ratios affect both 1st and 2nd gear and would normally be used with a low axle ratio. With a 4.9 back axle and especially if it's a saloon body it means 1st gear that may be much too high. That would make steep hills where 1st is needed and also starting off on a gradient problematic.
I have Andrew Bird's 'Andes' gears with a higher ratio 2nd in my RK saloon which work very well here in the Scottish Borders and allow 40mph in 2nd gear. Excellent in traffic and on the long but not very steep hills of the Borders. However where the hills are steeper there is a wider gap between 1st & 2nd which means that on steeper hills 1st is needed much sooner. This affects the car on the steep hills in the Yorkshire Dales on Malcolm Parker's outings. I spent more time going slowly in 1st where cars with standard ratios would be going faster in 2nd. In The Borders I find I can climb hills at 30mph that would reduce the standard gearbox to 20-25mph.
Another advantage of the Andes gears is that the dog for top is modified to make changes into top much faster, also very useful on hills.
I have Andrew Bird's 'Andes' gears with a higher ratio 2nd in my RK saloon which work very well here in the Scottish Borders and allow 40mph in 2nd gear. Excellent in traffic and on the long but not very steep hills of the Borders. However where the hills are steeper there is a wider gap between 1st & 2nd which means that on steeper hills 1st is needed much sooner. This affects the car on the steep hills in the Yorkshire Dales on Malcolm Parker's outings. I spent more time going slowly in 1st where cars with standard ratios would be going faster in 2nd. In The Borders I find I can climb hills at 30mph that would reduce the standard gearbox to 20-25mph.
Another advantage of the Andes gears is that the dog for top is modified to make changes into top much faster, also very useful on hills.
Jim