(REPOST FROM A DSM FACEBOOK GROUP, NOT MY INFORMATION)
“New product proposal for W5M33 owners:
I (Sam)'ve been playing with a design idea I've had for a while for the Early Evo 1-3, Galant VR4, DSM, Lancer GSR etc etc W5M33 platform.
My design is a real kind of ground up approach to what I see as the major problem with this box.
The major problem with the platform is 4th gear. There are a fair few associated problems around that, but 4th is the core problem. It's thin, and undercut for bearing fitment on the intermediate shaft. They tend to explode at anything over 220wkw.
The problem is compounded with a lack of parts availability for more modernised gears with better synchros and better ratios (i.e. Evo 2/3 with triple synchro 3rd and 4th and better ratios).
A lot of guys who are just weekending their car, or street driving, don't really want the dog boxes or straight cut gears that are on offer. Those products are suited for a purpose, and definitely have a place on the market.
Some other products I've seen weld a gear onto the intermediate shaft etc. Not exactly a desirable idea.
My design permits a ~35% wider 4th gear, and a ~25% wider 3rd gear; it incorporates a better (billet) bearing support housing, a billet fork with an adaptable rail; and a centre diff housing that is already machined for 4-spiders and an upgraded cross pin. It would also come with carbon lined 3-piece synchros and a matching hub and sleeve, to name a few.
The gears would be helical, lower helix angle and similar or same ratio to Evo 3 (25:29 3rd, 29:25 4th). They'd be profile ground so of a very high finish quality. The gears would be removable off of the intermediate shaft, and potentially have removable dog rings, too. 4th would go from being the weakest part of the box, to the strongest.
I can list out a full list of the 20-odd parts that would come in the kit in detail if there is enough interest for this idea.
I've designed, drawn and 3d printed the concept to make sure everything will work and fit. It does. The kit will fit any W5M33.
To get the project off the ground at a reasonable price, we would need about 30 people to commit by paying for the set up front. It will take around 6 months to produce. If we can't get the product off the ground, or there's not enough buy in, the money will be refunded in full.
We'd be working with suppliers around the world that I've worked with already - Of course here in Adelaide and Australia, but also Taiwan, India and Italy to make sure we can get the best product at the best price. This would all take some time. I'd keep you informed on major milestones and delays, but 6 months seems realistic.
From costing estimates I've received, We would need to retail the set at AUD 5500 + GST. To entice 30 up-front commitments though, the absolute best price we can offer it at to get it off the ground would be AUD 4500 + GST. For our friends from around the world, that is about USD 2900 ; EUR 2750 ; GBP 2400 ; JPY 430,000, or NZD 4800 depending on the exchange rate.
What I'm going to do is ask if anyone is interested, to write "interested" below. To be clear, this is not a commitment to pay yet, it's just a general interest if you'd like to know more.
If it looks like this will garner enough interest, I will start a new Facebook group and add you in where we can discuss details of the set, and how the pre-production order would work etc.
To be clear: This is a set that includes a wider and stronger 3rd and 4th gear, a centre diff housing and cross pin, billet bearing housing, billet 3-4 fork and shift rail, carbon 3rd and 4th synchro, hub and sleeve, and associated components to make it all work. It runs with your standard 1st, 2nd and 5th gears - those parts wouldn't be included in the set.
Let me know what you think below.”
~Sam at Neat Gearboxes
“New product proposal for W5M33 owners:
I (Sam)'ve been playing with a design idea I've had for a while for the Early Evo 1-3, Galant VR4, DSM, Lancer GSR etc etc W5M33 platform.
My design is a real kind of ground up approach to what I see as the major problem with this box.
The major problem with the platform is 4th gear. There are a fair few associated problems around that, but 4th is the core problem. It's thin, and undercut for bearing fitment on the intermediate shaft. They tend to explode at anything over 220wkw.
The problem is compounded with a lack of parts availability for more modernised gears with better synchros and better ratios (i.e. Evo 2/3 with triple synchro 3rd and 4th and better ratios).
A lot of guys who are just weekending their car, or street driving, don't really want the dog boxes or straight cut gears that are on offer. Those products are suited for a purpose, and definitely have a place on the market.
Some other products I've seen weld a gear onto the intermediate shaft etc. Not exactly a desirable idea.
My design permits a ~35% wider 4th gear, and a ~25% wider 3rd gear; it incorporates a better (billet) bearing support housing, a billet fork with an adaptable rail; and a centre diff housing that is already machined for 4-spiders and an upgraded cross pin. It would also come with carbon lined 3-piece synchros and a matching hub and sleeve, to name a few.
The gears would be helical, lower helix angle and similar or same ratio to Evo 3 (25:29 3rd, 29:25 4th). They'd be profile ground so of a very high finish quality. The gears would be removable off of the intermediate shaft, and potentially have removable dog rings, too. 4th would go from being the weakest part of the box, to the strongest.
I can list out a full list of the 20-odd parts that would come in the kit in detail if there is enough interest for this idea.
I've designed, drawn and 3d printed the concept to make sure everything will work and fit. It does. The kit will fit any W5M33.
To get the project off the ground at a reasonable price, we would need about 30 people to commit by paying for the set up front. It will take around 6 months to produce. If we can't get the product off the ground, or there's not enough buy in, the money will be refunded in full.
We'd be working with suppliers around the world that I've worked with already - Of course here in Adelaide and Australia, but also Taiwan, India and Italy to make sure we can get the best product at the best price. This would all take some time. I'd keep you informed on major milestones and delays, but 6 months seems realistic.
From costing estimates I've received, We would need to retail the set at AUD 5500 + GST. To entice 30 up-front commitments though, the absolute best price we can offer it at to get it off the ground would be AUD 4500 + GST. For our friends from around the world, that is about USD 2900 ; EUR 2750 ; GBP 2400 ; JPY 430,000, or NZD 4800 depending on the exchange rate.
What I'm going to do is ask if anyone is interested, to write "interested" below. To be clear, this is not a commitment to pay yet, it's just a general interest if you'd like to know more.
If it looks like this will garner enough interest, I will start a new Facebook group and add you in where we can discuss details of the set, and how the pre-production order would work etc.
To be clear: This is a set that includes a wider and stronger 3rd and 4th gear, a centre diff housing and cross pin, billet bearing housing, billet 3-4 fork and shift rail, carbon 3rd and 4th synchro, hub and sleeve, and associated components to make it all work. It runs with your standard 1st, 2nd and 5th gears - those parts wouldn't be included in the set.
Let me know what you think below.”
~Sam at Neat Gearboxes
