Experience with Guard or Albins gear

[Yan2947]

Does anyone have experience with a tall Guard or Albins 5th gear set? I can't seem to find any info on noise that they produce as compared to a stock Porsche gear. I don't see any youtube videos or info anywhere which may give me insight onto how loud they may be. My other option is a tall G5050 5th but I was looking for something taller for highway rpm drop in my G50/01.

thanks!

[G450X]

I am interested as well. I have both Guard and Albins gears (2nd, 3rd, 4th, & 5th) to install in my 915 to make a close ratio box. The machine work on both gear sets appears excellent. I made the decision to buy new gears instead of sourcing OEM used due to advancements in machining and/or metallurgy.

I believe Matt Monson once stated that they were both made in the same Australian facility, but with different levels of treatments & finishing. I'm going from memory here, so I hope I am not mis-representing what Matt said.

I have heard of no complaints on either gear set, but I know Guard Transmission has an outstanding reputation for all of their products.

I should have saved up the funds to have JW in Seattle build my 915 early next year, so I may be able to provide feedback next year (on 915 gears anyway).

[Matt Monson]

Can you hear the gears over the engine?
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-UQ-Psx0ZgU

Just a point of accuracy, but Paul Guard fired Albins over a decade ago when they violated his exclusive agreement and started selling gears to Chris Fisher at Powerhaus II (currently doing business as Vista Grande and selling gears through Ben Kirchner at Retrosport in Berkeley, CA.).
That said, I have sold a bunch of Albins gears in the last 15 years. They are decent gears. However, the factory that I use today is miles ahead of Albins in their gear designs and manufacturing. I will link a thread in the Engine Rebuilding forum when I am not on a phone. The pictures will tell you what you need to know with respect to gear design.

As for the original question? Yes, my gears make more noise than stock. I have NOS .75 turbo 5th gears on my shelf. I also have taller gears (the .667 ratio I suspect Roger at CMS quoted you) but they do make more noise than a factory gear. We focus on strength and durability, not NVH, like the factory does.

Regards,

Matt Monson
Owner, Guard Transmission LLC.

[Matt Monson]

Ps. Pat Williams uses nothing but our gears in his builds. That is a video of what our gears sound like.

[Yan2947]

Matt, do you also carry tall ring an pinion sets? 3.10 ish I am still deciding what route to go:

1. expensive - ring and pinion and tall 5th gear like .667 or stock .75

or

2. less expensive - tall 5th gear .667 ish

Your video doesn't seem to dissuade me for the non Porsche gear. My application is for my LS conversion with an overall goal to keep rpm's down. Noise is an issue but from what people had told me it would be a very pronounced noise. Doesn't seem that way with your video.

[NOPDK]

I have guard close ratio 2-5 gears in my 915 transmission. IMO the gears are great. They do have a whine to them which I happen to like. Sounds somewhat like the whine you get from a porsche Cup car. I have a very modified 73 street car with minimal sound insulation so over all of the other noise the whine is of little concern. When cruising in 5th gear the gear sound is definitely there. For me it is a sound I actually like and it adds to the mechanical nature of enjoying this car. My engine builder who is around vintage porsche racecars on a daily basis finds the gear whine a bit annoying so beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[Yan2947]

NOPDK, thanks for that info. I think you explained it well and I have a feeling I might enjoy it also. The car is already quite rumbly to begin with. Do you use any dyno mat above your tranny or is it just stock? thanks!

[Matt Monson]

We do not make tall ring and pinions. That's something that only Albins is doing. The market isn't big enough for me to invest 6 figures in a part that will only sell 4-5 a year.

[NOPDK]

Originally Posted by Yan2947

NOPDK, thanks for that info. I think you explained it well and I have a feeling I might enjoy it also. The car is already quite rumbly to begin with. Do you use any dyno mat above your tranny or is it just stock? thanks!

no dynomat. I have a basic black engine pad in the engine compartment. Perlon lightweight carpets. No sounds insulation. Twin plug motor with 2 in 2 out M&K exhaust. Car rumbles. In a fully stock car I could see the gear whine being out of place and becoming annoying. In a hot rod to my ear it's a sound that belongs there. I was being totally serious when I said that I really like the sound of the gears working. Modern cars are so isolating from everything that I wan't all of the sounds and sensations in my 73 to be raw and unfiltered.

I also had Guard do a LSD for me and I've been happy with the quality of everything I sourced from them. Matt was helpful figuring out gear ratio's for my build and I'm happy with the selections he spec'ed out for me.

[Yan2947]

Just ordered a Guard .667

thanks for the input!