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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Anyone tried a Datsun 5 speed '63' in a Sridget?

I know the 63 is a bit larger than the 60, but has anyone tried it yet or know anyone who has?
There are a lot of them out there and the prices are low compared to the 60 unit specified by Rivergate.
Rick Bastedo

(you really can't do anything about spelling mistakes here can you...)
Rick Bastedo

If I remember correctly the 63 unit your talking about is the one that goes to the datsun 240-280 rx7 series, ...yeah to big, but not sure exactly how, I know they have a rivergate kit that fits this tranny but I cant remember if its for the midget 1500 (75-80) or the MGB

Prop
Prop***The End in 2012

Have you considard going to quantum mech. In S.C. (i think) for a type 9 kit, includes even a freash rebuilt tranny...a little more work, but pretty much the same price tag at completion as the datsun if you had the datsun tranny completely rebuilt also.

Prop
Prop***The End in 2012

I have the Datsun / Nissan A15 (1500) motor with Datsun 4 speed in my 78 right now. So any 5 speed that bolts to the back of my motor and fits in my car would be great!

The thing is bolted to the back of the Datsun A14 motor right now, and the two motors are the same with respect to the transmission connections.
Rick Bastedo

Thats right rick!,(suprised reaction)

I forgot about your set up, what did you ever do with the carb poking thur the Bonnet...(hood).

That is something well worth looking into...I dont know much about jap engines...Id find out what motor you have and go to the nissan dealership and see what 5 speeds where attached to it, if not there Id do a wiki search, and it will tell you what cars and drive train set-ups the engine was used for and the various years they did differant things, then its a matter of tracking down the correct transmission and whola!!!...talk about direct bolt on, then all you woud have to do is line it up and secure it in the tranny tunnel...and your driving.

But No I do not think a rivergate kit would fit your situation, the engines may look similar and be based off each other, but Id imagine a JAP A-15 is far differant then a lucas BMC engine...I dont know that for a fact, but I have never seen any discussion for cross breeding these engines, If that is the case, Id certianly be in the market for a common and popular ford 8 port crossflow head to fit om my 1275 BMC engine.

If your engine make ever had the datsun 63 series tranny bolted to it as a production vehical, then yes you can MAKE it fit the midgeet, with a little creativity.

Prop
Prop***The End in 2012

Yes Prop, that's the point. It does bolt right onto my engine, that's the part I am sure about.

The part I am not sure about is whether or not it will fit into the tunnel...
Rick Bastedo

Ahhhhhhhh!!

I dont think anyone here can really help, your the only one I Know with that set-up, Id say take a tape measure compare the new tranny to the current tranny, Id measure shifter differances, bolt down comparisons, and the length of the tail section. you will certianly need the rear yoke section also...it will certianly be a fun exercise of your engineering abilitys


Can a 600lb woman really fit into a size 4 shoe....yeah Id love to watch to see what happens also.

you might check with the type 9 tranny guys (did I really say that...haha) I know they have to cut out there tunnels to get the type 9 tranny to fit then they replace the old tunnel with a special fiberglass tunnel...Id say that would be a great idea, to make everything a easier/better fit.

Prop
Prop***The End in 2012

In a nut shell, Do I think it would fit? YES!!,

After all, I have actully seen in real life and seen photos and heard of people that have stuffed V-8s, V-6s, Rover monsters, and all sorts of 4 bangers into these little cars, So I cant imagine this tranny being that huge....is it going to take some whittlings, grinding, cutting, welding, blood donations, and a new book of never before heard of curse words....yes, Im sure it will, its a midget after all, your not getting off that easy, but still what a cool project that will be, and one Im certian you will be vary proud of.

Prop
Prop***The End in 2012

Rick, How big of a hammer do you have?
Trevor Jessie

HAMMER??

Huh, Im thinking he may need something like this....LOL

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44900


Prop
Prop***The End in 2012

Well I have heard of others doing that kind of thing, I guess there's only so far you can go as you still need seats in the car!

If this works I can see the possibility of a whole lot more transmissions becoming available for us. My friend Bill M. is planning on taking all the measurements to fab up an adapter for the LBC motor so that lots of people could use these.

So we will get the motor and transmission and then see what we have to do. I need to find out if it's the same length as the trans I have now, if it's longer then I may have to take my driveline in to have it shortened.

I think one way or another I'm going to get a 5 speed this spring!
Rick Bastedo

Rick, I think the major physical difference would be in shifter location and overall length. Of course the ratios would probably be a little higher because the box was used with larger displacement engines. If the basic case is much longer then you'll probably have to make some extensive changes to the tunnel to get things to fit. That's not a stopper by any means, but it does take is out of the "bolt in" area. I was able to fit a T5 into my car, (V6 engine) but the tunnel had to be widened a bit and raised almost 2" as well as the shifter position moved back about 3.5"


Bill Young

There is a guy.... David Riker maybe? That has one in his midget... I think.
Trevor Jessie

Try this:
http://tinyurl.com/9uln3
Trevor Jessie

Thanks guys, and I'm going to email Mr. Riker right now!
Rick Bastedo

Neither of the email addresses on his site are working.
"User Unknown"

Anyone know how to contact David Riker?
Rick Bastedo

severa; other things you will need to look into for connecting the B210 tranny box the BMC engine is the clutch spline counnt and the tranny spline count, and the amount of travel of the trowout bearing, and the diameter of the piolet bushing, no doulbt you will need a differant slave clutch if the slave cly. is to large you will need to beef up the clutch master slave some how. Also you will have to work outthe depth and position of the starter position

probable the best idea is make a cast mould of the existing ribcase tranny bell housing, so it can be bolted on the B210 tranny. That wouldd solve alot of head aches....also you will need to come up with a new cross member, as Im sure the old one will need cutting out and a new design made up to install, you will also have to devolpe a new front U-Joint to connect the the B210 tranny to the midget drive shaft

Wow, the list just goes on and on and on!!!....we havent even gotten to fluid in and out holes, proper speedo drive gears


Sorry
prop
Prop***The End in 2012

Let's wait and see what Mr. Riker has to say.
Trevor Jessie

Here is a really cool idea,

Being that we are talking somewhere around 3 grand to do the above tranny swap.

Why not come up with a kit to transplant a mazda miatia engine/tranny swap....you can get a 1.6 liter mazda engine/tranny off ebay for $500-$1000, they are vary high performance, well built....dont leak oil, can get with 6speed manual tranny and even bigger engines..

all you would have to do is figure out the engine monuting, engine position, the rear Ujoint and a maybe a DANA60rear end to handle all the power...and just the hook ups for water and electrical, Im not sure if they have a dist. but you could dump most of the engine junk(efi,emission,hoop las,computer..ect.) strap on 4 webbers 1 for each intake, recurve the dist. or get a mega jolt system to run a "ford edis system", beef up the front suspension and front brakes and whola!!!! for the same 3 grand you can have a vary nice engine set up in a midget

If you dont like that set-up, I can tell you from having seen one, the rotory 13B mazda engine set up is vary cool also.

This may sound extreme but you should see the honda set up they are doing with the old mini coopers at mini mania...talk about WOW.

Prop
Prop***The End in 2012

Prop,
The beauty of the adapter plate on every Spridget that came out of the factory is that it CAN adapt various bellhousings to various engines. Hence the fact that the most critical part of the Rivergate kit is the adapter plate. No need for an expensive casting for a substitute bellhousing.

Having benchpressed a couple of Miata transmissions into place, I really do not believe they would fit in the tunnel of a Spridget. I also have no idea WHY you would want to put Webers (or any other carb) onto an engine already optimized for EFI. Go with the MegaSquirt and do ignition AND EFI. However, I am afraid that you will find that, although the Miata drivetrain works nicely with an MGA, it would be a little tall for a Spridget.
David "the wet blanket" Lieb
David Lieb

Prop, very few modern inline engine tranny combos will fit in a spridget without MAJOR modifications.
Trevor Jessie

I understand you when talking about adapting it to an MG engine, since I already have Nissan engine & trans in my car I think it might be a bit easier for me.
Rick Bastedo

Oh absolutly rick,

I think you will have great sucsess, after all your mating an engine thats already been mated to that tranny, its just a matter of traking down the parts, Its already been done and been in production, just find the car it was produced in and you will know what parts you need,,,your 75% of the way there its a matter of getting it to fit the car as to the issues that bill young made mention of, but the piolet bushing, throwout bearing, ect. ect and everything I raised as a possiable issue for mating the B210 to the BMC engine has already been solved, like I said find the car that had your set-up and your there. Plus a lttle creativity

Prop

Trevor

If Bill young can shove a V6 in. Im guessing the odds are good a miata engine can fit...LOL Granted Im just guessing, but looking how big miata cars are, Id think sheeding a large chunk of engine junk, It would have a decent chance of a good fit. Id rather try that then the project bill young took on, talk about a master piece of patiance and imagination, his car still makes me go WoW.

.
Prop***The End in 2012

Have you looked here lately:

http://www.britishv8.org/Photos-Austin-Healey-Conversions.htm
Trevor Jessie


Quantum Mechanics Ltd
www.quantumechanics.com

505 Wheeler Rd
Monroe, CT 06468 USA
(203) 459-9612
John is a great guy to deal with. Have known him for years. Check out his web site.
J Bubela

This thread was discussed between 17/02/2009 and 20/02/2009

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