Jerico 4 speed

Cobrafan1 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-03-2003, 12:30 PM

Can the Jerico 4 speed be used on the street? Pros and Cons? Does it require a different technique? Anyone out there using one? Seems like the ultimate Cobra tranny.

RICK LAKE · #2 (**permalink**) 09-03-2003, 12:39 PM

Cobrafan1 If you like the 4 spd why not go to the 5 spd and put a 307 gear in the rear and have a highway cruising car. I have a G-Force. works great, with or without the clutch. If you are still looking a Nash 6speed. You can drive a lenco on the street if it fits in the tunnel. Some trans may need a cooler added to protect them from the heat that the cobras make. Rick Lake ps you did not say which trans? clutch or clutchless.

Cobrafan1 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-03-2003, 05:40 PM

I wanted to keep the feel and theme of the original Cobra, although with better more up to date parts. The Jerico fits that. Its based on the original Top Loader but is much stronger and of much higher quality. I was thinking clutch type with the road race sliders so I can downshift. No cooler as I'm not convinced its necassary. Question is how streetable is it?

RICK LAKE · #4 (**permalink**) 09-04-2003, 07:51 AM

Cobrafan1 It is streetable I know a guy in Texas that has a T-Rex in his cobra for the last 10 years the car has a 427 TP motor and a 250 shot of NOS for drag racing the trans is still working. The car is driven on the road, roadracing for 20 minute heats, and driven to dinner, he has a trick clutch init that take the extra power off the trans and rear end to keep the abuse down to little as possible. The trans will out last a jag rear. He changes the fluid once a year. Thats the maintance. Gear ratio is very important, A 5 spd will fit in the tunnel and they make the curved shifter to keep the car look orginial. Look into it. I cruise in the 6 spd and race the 5spd. It's the best of both worlds. It's like 15" tires for street driven and 17" for roadracing. For the money differents between the 2 trans, the 5spd works out cheaper in the long run. keeps the car in the power band longer and rpm range, with the right gearing. The 5 spd was 5 grand not cheap but you can get every part and rebuilt it if needed yourself with basic tools. If set up right I have not heard of a G-Force trans breaking. Jerico has the same rep. The 5 spd has a special clamp setup inside the case that keeps the main shafts from seperating under hard loads. Get some info on these other trans and price them out. You may find a used one that is in good shape. Mine is used with 10 hours on it. Pulled the cases and it looked brand new inside, no metal on the plug, the oil was a touch dirty. got to go, Think about the long run if you are going to keep this car, forever. I'm not selling mine. Good luck

Rick Lake

Johan · #5 (**permalink**) 09-04-2003, 08:07 AM

The Jerico has noisy straight cut vs. helical gears and does not shift very smoothly until it is nice and warmed up. If you race, it is a good idea to have a Jerico in a street car so you can practice on the way to work. my Jerico shifts better without the clutch than with it. Beware, the average life of a Jerico in the hands of a novice is about 10 laps. You will have to learn to match revs.

sfry · #6 (**permalink**) 09-04-2003, 09:27 AM

Beware, the average life of a Jerico in the hands of a novice is about 10 laps. You will have to learn to match revs.

What does "match revs" mean??

Shannon

Cobrafan1 · #7 (**permalink**) 09-04-2003, 10:41 AM

Thats what I was concerned about. Since it doesnt have syncros, how bad is the backlash? Would I have to blip the throttle every time I shift? What about part throttle cruisin?

Johan · #8 (**permalink**) 09-04-2003, 12:55 PM

Race drivers were not born with three legs, soooo, when coming down the back straight wide open in 4th gear, the procedure would be to lift off the throttle, put left foot on brake and begin to push, shift to neutral, rev engine up to the rpm level that would match your speed in 3rd gear, then put transmission in third, then lift off the throttle. A good driver can make this look easy, and it is easy, with practice.
Shifting with the clutch still requires matching revs or the transmission "clunks" pretty bad. There are no synchros, just dog gears I believe, same as a Hewland.
If you want to be a race driver, get a Jerico and learn to use it. If you have no interest in track driving, get a street car transmission, in my humble opinion.

Cobrafan1 · #9 (**permalink**) 09-05-2003, 06:27 PM

Left foot brake? Or do you mean heel and toe with the right foot? Your method seems a little unatural?

coyled · #10 (**permalink**) 09-08-2003, 03:07 PM

I just ran at road america for 3 days with the jerrico for the first time. I did not clutch on upshifts but did stab at it on downshifts. The jerrico tranny is unbelievable in a road race application, smooth as silk. I will try and post a video and you can see how fast this tranny shifts up or down Scott.

flipper35 · #11 (**permalink**) 09-08-2003, 04:14 PM

It depends on your driving style and transmission. I heel and toe when driving my Cobra, but anything where I don't have to clutch I left foot brake. If you watch any racing on TV, some racers left foot brake and others right foot brake with similar setups. It is especially usefull to lfb with a front driver, and I hear in rally school they teach you to lfb.

Cobrafan1 · #12 (**permalink**) 09-08-2003, 08:47 PM

I'm beginning to wonder if the Jerico is worth it. I heard of to many stories of the tranny "banging" or "clunking" in gear. And yet others seem to have no problem at all. Mind you, she'll see 90% street, maybe 10% road race. I like the fact that the Jerico is bulletproof. Maybe its just simpler to go with a well built toploader?

coyled · #13 (**permalink**) 09-09-2003, 09:14 AM

The jerrico does not like part throttle operation and is very clunky on the street. If you are mostly street driving, go with a top loader or tremec. Scott

Ant · #14 (**permalink**) 02-07-2004, 04:33 PM

I am interested to know what ratios racers are using when they order their Jericos as I get confused at all the options, and like some of you I dont intend on changing ratios after purchase of transmission.

Any info gratefully appreciated.

coyled · #15 (**permalink**) 02-17-2004, 11:34 AM

Ant, I am running ratio's of 1.93, 1.53, 1.21. and 1.0 with a 3.89 rear gear. Firts gear is petty high to take off from a dead stop but is perfect for low speed corners. These ratio's are pretty close, designed as a road race set up. Scott

BevanWright · #16 (**permalink**) 02-17-2004, 05:54 PM

There are another couple of options, I use a SAENZ box which is similar to a Jerrico, 5 speed 1:1 top, dog/crash, straight cut. Very Noisy, very strong, and you do need to match the revs. My car is 90% race, and 10% street. (Ants used to own this car). The gear lever does look a bit weird, as it is a pivot on the top, and the changing is via a shaft at the rear of the box, so it confuses most people.

The other option is a Doug Nash, available in 5 speed, in either synchromesh or dog engaged. These are very strong as well, a friend of mine had a bolt ride through the gears, and the gearbox survived, the bolt didnt!

Ant · #17 (**permalink**) 02-17-2004, 08:20 PM

coyled,
Thanks for that, that ratio first etc with the final drive of 3.89 is to many revs for my application, but would be great for racing!
Probably keen on similar ratios to the new TKO-600 ratios of 2.87, 1.89, 1.28, 1.00, 0.82.

Bevan,
I have advertised for a Seanz box here in NZ, but nothing and cant really find anything on the net regarding these, would be very interested though if you can still get them new!

Ant · #18 (**permalink**) 02-25-2004, 08:22 PM

Bevan I have found a website on the Saenz transmissions, they are expensive at around US$5500 plus incentive price! Have replied to some ads on secondhand Saenz 910 trans.

http://www.saenzperformance.com/transmissions/index.asp

I do like the Jerico 4 speed with original style toploader alloy case!

Ant · #19 (**permalink**) 04-10-2005, 04:09 AM

Well all the procrastination is over I have ordered a Jerico Five speed transmission, paid the deposit, but havent sorted out the ratios yet, tentativley they are:

2.772
1.925
1.474
1.204
1.000
3.27 final drive ratio on 25.6" tires

Anthony · #20 (**permalink**) 04-10-2005, 05:58 AM

Just curious, what the tranny cost you, not including clutch/flywheel?