GUESSWORKS

The 2026 stand goes out for its first full setup. Doing away with the ubiquitous 3x3 and opting for the more European style market stall. Come see us and say hello at the CMC Riviera Run

Sometimes you get an email which makes you wonder if you're in the wrong business or there's something wrong with your business model.

As some may know we have a little 'side project' on the go with an Austin Ambassador Engine. It came to us partially dismantled and require the crank to be removed so a repair could be fashioned to the front seal journal...

With this work successfully carried out we then started to reassemble the remaining engine, only to find out that said previous dismantler had also removed the sump from the automatic transmission and attempted to remove the valve block and a number of later to be found in a box of bits, pipes and brackets.

This is a Borgwarner transmission but like a mini, sits under the engine in a transverse configuration. I have no experience with this type of transmission, other than recognising the intended function of particular parts, so after some 'extensive research' on google could find no schematics or drawings of said unit, other than inline models which are significantly different.

The owner of the engine had kindly sent us some workshop manuals so we could effect the original repair, but these were too lacking a concise description of the valve block arrangement.

During said "extensive research" I became aware of a company which specialises in this make of transmission, so I contacted them. The reply I got was short and sweet...

"look on the internet, or if you need it reconditioning contact us"

Ok fair do's didn't need to read too closely between the lines to understand that...

Now here's the the bit which made my jaw drop this morning when reading another email from said specialist.

Independently my customer had also contacted the Specialist and advised me that I should contact them, again. I did this on Friday...

This is what I read this morning...

"Thanks for the email and apologies for the delayed response - I have been trawling through previous jobs and photos to see if we can help.

The good news is we have located a photo we took of another job we did and can see the valve body tube that's missing along with the supporting metal plate. I have highlighted on the attached photo to show you where they live.

There is a bolt which holds down the metal clip - I should be able to supply if this has been lost.

Copying your customer for information. I would be grateful if you could pay £150 for our time researching and troubleshooting your problem. "

Bank details followed !

Back in stock, Laygear thrust shims...

These are steel shims which are placed over the layshaft between the large laygear thrust and the gearbox case to take up any excessive end float in the laygear. Originally this was done with alternate sizes of the little thrust (4 synchro) and the large thrust (3 synchro), but over time these have become scarce and now obsolete.

They are available individually in two sizes 0.003" and 0.005" and used in combination can cure any end float issues. Also available as a "Trade" pack, containing 4 of each size.

https://guess-works.square.site/shop/upgrades-performance-parts/18

Good News !

I've found the important parts of the tooling to make the laygear shims.

Both 0.003" and 0.005" shims should be back in stock by the end of the month ( March 2026 )

GW-LGTTP - Laygear thrust shim - Trade/Multi Pack (PRE-ORDER) | GUESSWORKS GUESSWORKS own laygear thrust shim. As the larger sizes of the laygear thrusts for A series and A+ 4 synchro boxes reduces, a solution is to put a shim between the larger laygear thrust 22G860 and the case.This is a trade or Multi pack which contains 5 of each 0.003" (0.075mm) and 0.005" (0....