Cresta PB's - Info Needed (FAO Alistair?)

Wouldn't the overdrive be re-buildable? Can't be sure, but it is probably a laycock overdrive. Used in one form or another by loads of different manufacturers, so there must be specialists about who can repair it?

Pimp? Certainly not. Thats classy.

I'm not 100% sure that the 4 speed overdrive box was standard fit on the PB series. I have a feeling that its a later box out of a Ventora or PC series. No matter, just a thought and I could be wrong (it happens occasionally, but I usually kill any witnesses so word doesn't spread)

Anyway. The large imperial Vauxhall bellhousing pattern used here is not the same as the Opel derived one used on the CIH engines etc. You need a box off a straight 6 or slant 4. The only 5 speeder is the Getag box, not sure how much these go for now but they were hairy expensive 10 years ago and rare as anything. And not sure you'd want one on a six anyway.

The 4 speed box with OD is fairly rare. I may have one available later if you want to bag one as a spare.

The OD unit is the Laycock De Normanville Model J. A rebuilt exchange OD unit is about £500 from the last specialist I asked. Can't recall their name, they are in Sheffield.

The most common faults with the Laycock OD on the Vauxes are:

Unit will not engange at all:
1. wiring fault - bad earth, loose power connector
2. the inhibitor switch has failed meaning the unit will not engage
3. servo is completely shot

unit is slow to engage and or slips while doing so
1. servo is faulty
2. transmission oil level is low
3. transmission oil needs changing

if the inhibitor fails and someone just wired past it and then engages the OD from standstill in first (or worse yet - in reverse) then damage can occur to the unit internally.

So long as the car still drives in top OK with the OD off its not a bigggie to discover whats up and sort it all out.

Worst case is you swap in a used box and OD unit complete. While they are rare they are also pretty worthless so its more the case of finding one than finding the money to pay for it.

Thanks for the info

I've kind of put off the idea now, I'd end up killing it!

PM coming your way

I was kinda joking about the number. If you're going to get one get a good oen and they are rare now. Looks liek a good one to me.

Reversing with the OD on will total the overdrive anyway, so it'll need replacing regardless