Everyone here knows how much I love a good bevel box thread...it's a distraction from the timing belt threads. Therefore, the saga continues....
In June 2014, I started trying to source parts to get my M3W sorted. I had already done the Empire steering kit and it transformed the drive to enjoyable status. Now, I needed it to go better or more reliably than before. I had a noisy compensator that I didn't want to put a Band-Aid on (hole saw and grease zerk) and a "black goo/snake oil" bevel box that was running hotter than the bottom-end of the engine and getting noisy although flushed dozens of times.
Best answer I could see was get a Centa compensator and a new bevel box for a fresh start. It took the dealership quite a while to put together all the individual components for the compensator and the parts were dribbled in to them over several months. Though I did get feed-back on the status of the compensator, I couldn't seem to get any on the bevel box.
In August, I received the Centa "kit" at which time I called to check on the status of the bevel box, again. They said they were still checking on it. I reminded them that it was going to be out of my pocket because I wasn't bringing the car in and therefore, no warranty (over 3,000 miles of towing to & from twice, plus fuel, hotels not to mention the wait). I followed up on the bevel box again in early September...early November and mid December...they were still checking on it! On January 22nd, I got an email out of the clear blue saying the bevel box would be in the States soon. On January 29th, I got a call from the dealership indicating they had it in their hands and shipping soon. Today...February 4th, I have it in my hands.
Opened the box......after nine months of hassling with the "ordering process" (for the lack of a better description) and it appears I purchased a brand-new
refurbished bevel box.


It's obviously been mounted before.


...and I think it's pretty safe to say the sprocket has been run before, as well.

Refurbished....No wonder it was such a bargain at $3,000 USD! To be honest, that's an hysterical exaggeration...it was actually only $2,990.80).
That makes $6,000+ USD I have spent (with me providing the labor) to try to get this thing road worthy and mechanically sound since I purchased it. The way I see it, I ought to be able to finally break the 4,000 mile mark soon without spending too many thousands more...but I could be wrong. My cost have moved from the base-model Corvette up to the Jaguar F-Type arena...and I still have all the wrenching to look forward to. I put more miles on my new Corvette in 5 days than I've been able to put on the Morgan in 1.5 years.
I almost get the feeling that someone doesn't want me driving a M3W. God, I only hope Quaife did the refurbishing. Now, I don't know whether to be happy I received a bevel box finally....or disappointed about what I got for my money. I can only imagine what an actual "new" bevel box cost. Maybe I should have ordered a refurbished box...increasing my odds of getting a new one instead of a "new-to-me" one.
I can hardly wait to tear the old one down and see what the mode(s)of failure is and hope the gear set can be salvaged. It is my intent to rebuild the old box to put on the shelf as I have a feeling this is going to be a re-occurring thing.
This M3W "hobby" is turning into a sadomasochistic sickness. Beat me, slap me, make me do mechanic things...take my money and kick me in the lug nuts...again. I guess as long as I can get a drive or three squeezed in between mechanical episodes, I'll just let the monkey continue to ride on my back. So far, this thing has cost me around $17.50/mile not including fuel, expendables, tags or insurance. Got to love them....because love is blind.
Z