Classic
Ford Type E “Rocket” and Type 9 gearbox rebuild
The Type E, universally called the Rocket box, is the single-rail four-speed Ford built for the higher-output cars, and it’s the classic Ford box we see most. The Type 9 is its five-speed successor and the most widely used gearbox conversion in Britain. We rebuild both.
12 month warranty
Ford Type E “Rocket”
Ford introduced the Type E to take more torque than the Type 3 it replaced. Most UK cars got a removable bellhousing; later Sierra units have it cast in. The input shaft is 23 spline, one inch in diameter, and oil capacity is around 1.5 litres. Cast iron main case, alloy tailhousing.
Strictly speaking, “Rocket” was the name of the close-ratio competition gear set Ford developed for the Type E, and the name has since stuck to the whole family. If someone tells you they’ve got a Rocket box, they almost certainly mean a standard Type E. Worth knowing when you’re buying one secondhand.
It’s a good box. Straightforward to rebuild, parts are available, and it responds well to uprating. It’s also the default donor for close-ratio and dog-engagement motorsport builds, which is why so many have been apart before and put back together badly.
Type E applications
| Vehicle | Variant | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Escort Mk1 | RS2000 | Removable bellhousing |
| Ford Escort Mk2 | RS2000, RS Mexico | Removable bellhousing |
| Ford Cortina Mk3 | 2.0 | |
| Ford Cortina Mk4 / Mk5 | 1.6 GT, 2.0, 2.3 | |
| Ford Capri | 1.6 / 2.0, 1982 on | |
| Ford Sierra | 1.6 / 2.0 | Integral bellhousing on later units |
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Ford Type 9
The five-speed that replaced the Type E in the Sierra and Capri, and by a distance the most common five-speed conversion in the UK. None of these cars had one as standard, but the Type 9 gets fitted to MGBs, Midgets and Sprites, Morgans, TVRs, Land Rovers, Lotus Sevens and most of the kit car market, because it’s compact, plentiful and there is a bellhousing adaptor for nearly everything.
Two things matter when you’re buying one. Ratios vary considerably between applications, so a 2.8i Capri box is not the same as a 1.6 Sierra box. And the standard Type 9 fifth gear is a known weak point under sustained load. We fit uprated fifth gear sets as a matter of course on conversion builds.
Type 9 applications
| Vehicle | Variant | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Sierra | 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.8i, XR4i | Ratio varies by engine |
| Ford Capri | 2.0, 2.8i | Sought after |
| Ford Granada | 2.0, 2.8 | |
| Ford Transit | Various | Long input shaft variants |
| Conversions | MG, Morgan, TVR, Land Rover, kit cars | Adaptor and clutch required |
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Common faults
| Symptom | Cause | Our fix |
|---|---|---|
| Crunches into second, especially when cold | Worn second-gear synchro ring and hub | New baulk rings and synchro hub, selector fork checked for wear |
| Jumps out of second or third on the overrun | Worn selector fork, weak detent springs, rounded dog teeth | Selector forks, detent springs and balls; gear replaced if dog teeth are worn |
| Rumble in neutral, quietens with the clutch down | Input (first motion) shaft bearing | Full bearing set, spigot bearing checked |
| Whine that changes with road speed | Layshaft bearings, laygear thrust washer wear opening up endfloat | New thrust washers, endfloat set to specification |
| Sloppy, imprecise gearchange | Worn remote housing bushes and gear lever ball seat | Remote overhauled, bushes and nylon seat replaced |
| Oil on the driveshaft or at the tailhousing | Rear extension oil seal, worn tailhousing bush | Seal and bush replaced |
| Type 9 only: whine or failure in fifth | Known weak point under sustained load | Uprated fifth gear set fitted |
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
What a rebuild includes
Complete strip and clean. Case crack tested. All bearings, bushes, oil seals and gaskets replaced. Baulk rings and synchro hubs assessed and renewed as needed. Laygear thrust washers renewed and endfloat set. Selector forks and detent mechanism checked. Reassembled, shifted through every gear on the bench, warranted for 12 months.
Uprated and competition builds
Straight-cut close-ratio gear sets, dog engagement, alloy top covers and main cases, heavy-duty operating blocks, and alternative input shaft lengths for engine conversions. Tell us the power figure and the discipline and we’ll spec it.
Five-speed conversions
If you’re putting a Type 9 into something that never had one, we can supply the box built to the right ratios with the correct input shaft length, and advise on bellhousing adaptor, clutch, propshaft and gear lever position.
What will it cost?
We price a Type E or Type 9 rebuild once we know which unit you have and what it is doing. Send us the gearbox number and the symptoms and you will have an answer the same working day, with an indicative price wherever we can give one.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Rocket box the same as a Type E?
In practice, yes. Strictly, “Rocket” was the close-ratio competition gear set Ford developed for the Type E, and the name has stuck to the whole family.
Can you rebuild a box that’s already been apart?
Yes, and we’d rather see it than a “good used” one of unknown history.
Will a Type E take more power?
Standard, comfortably to around 150 to 160 bhp on the road. Beyond that we’d talk about an uprated build.
Which Type 9 should I buy for a conversion?
It depends on the engine and the final drive. Send us the details before you buy.
Do you supply exchange units?
Yes, subject to availability.
Can I send just the gearbox?
Yes. Crate it and we’ll collect.
Related
How it works
Sending us a unit
You don’t need to bring the car. Most of what we do arrives on a pallet.
- Drain it. Couriers won’t take a unit full of oil, and it’ll leak.
- Crate or pallet it. A gearbox needs to be strapped to a pallet or in a stout crate. A cardboard box won’t survive.
- Label it. Put your name, telephone number and the vehicle inside the packaging as well as on it. Labels come off in transit.
- Tell us it’s coming. Send the enquiry form first so we know what to expect and can book it in.
We can arrange collection anywhere in mainland UK. Ask when you enquire.
What happens next
- 01You send the enquiry.
- 02We come back the same working day with an initial view and, where we can, an indicative price.
- 03If it needs looking at, we book it in or arrange collection.
- 04We strip and assess, then ring you with a firm price before any work goes ahead.
- 05Rebuilt, tested, returned, warranted for 12 months.
No work happens without your say-so, and there are no surprises on the invoice.
Same working day
Send us the number and what it’s doing
The gearbox number, the vehicle and the symptoms. That is usually enough for a straight answer, and photographs are welcome.