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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Datsun tranny question.

I am just about ready to try and install my Datsun tranny. And from all the chatter about the close fit when it is installed I was wondering if someone can identify the little pipe that is pressed into the top of the tranny; do I need it or can I remove it to give me a little more room. The tranny is going into my Bugeye. Please see the attached photo.

Thanks,

Joe Shaw


Joe Shaw

That pipe is a vent. I left mine, but some people remove it and stuff a course Brillow pad bit in there.

You may want to install the tranny, and then the motor. It can be done as a single unit, but it requires "massaging" the heat tray.
Trevor Jessie

Wrong Transmission...sorry,

Do you have a pic of the entire tranny, Hopefully its been modified or something...Any chance its a dog leg tranny....R is 1st, 1st is 2nd, 2nd is 3rd...5th is where reverse normally is...Im not sure if they had a vent/oil cooler or not.

Btw....Im no tranny expert but that gap needs a gasket

Prop
Prop

There is a vent????

Really????, Are you sure? REALLY???? I sure dont remember one, esp. on top, I got to have a look tomarrow.


Sorry about that Joe, I have to defer to treavor, he certianly knows his stuff. If treavor says there is aa vent. Then *******


Prop
Prop

I agree with Trevor; it is a vent. It is not in the way. That is not the part of the tranny that will get hung up on you. Leave it alone. Of course, after too much fluid leaks out over the winter and you cook the bearings on the 100-mile trip home from where you stored it and you break the vent off in the process of replacing the bearings; that is a whole nother story.

I do not see any gap there, Prop, just a shadow from the flash angle.

Joe,
The trans mounts are likely to be your biggest problem.
David "attach speedo cable after installation of trans" Lieb
David Lieb

I may not remember a vent pipe, but Im pretty sure thats a seperation or Gap of some type right below the vent tube on the side

Joe, expect some bloody hands and wrist, there wont be much skin left on the ol digits when your done, I installed mine engine and tranny togather, this next time Im going to try it seprated....Just make sure there are no nun or children in the area when you do install, caue you WILL use ever word you have ever heard or thought you heard, getting it in

I found a Jar of vasline was good for slaping a wad into an open cut while working to avoid getting grease into the wound....

(What did you think I was going to say)...lol

Prop
Prop

Prop,

That "gap" is the shadow from the flash being to the right of the joint. The right plate is slightly larger than the left one giving the impression of a gap.

Joe,

When I installed mine in my Bugeye, I left the pipe on. And I didn't get bloody knuckles while installing them as a unit. Just take your time and work it in slowly. Before you let it settle off of the hoist, start the trans mount bolts making sure that the mount is properly seated (I don't have the bolts that come up from the bottom). And mount the clutch slave cylinder BEFORE you have it finally located. I have mine bled before I put everything together so that I can attach it as the trans is about to slide into its final resting place. Same goes for the speedo cable. Otherwise you can't get either one hooked up. Good luck and let us know how it went.

Martin
Martin Washington

Joe,

Its simple,

Put jack stands under the front of the footwel instead of the front chassisrail. Put no oil in the engine and gearbox and leave the sump off. That way on a bugeye there is no need to batter the heatershelf. If still tight you can leave the frontpulley off as well.

Bas
Bas Timmermans

Joe,
Don't let them scare you. It really was no big deal on mine. Just pay close attention as to how the rear trans mount should be assembled and bring an abundant supply of patience. I did not find it significantly more difficult than the stock drivetrain. But then I do have a crane and multiple floor jacks.
David "or just ship it all to me and I will find it another home..." Lieb
David Lieb

Thanks to all of you for clearing a few things up for me. I think when I am ready to install the tranny I will remove the pan and the front pully as suggested. If any of you can think of anything further that might be of use to me please please let me know. My email is jjshaw@frontiernet.net

Hope you all have a safe Memorial Day.

Joe
Joe Shaw

Maybe I'm missing something here. IMO it is easier to install the motor and tranny separate than mess with reinstalling the pan and front pulley.
Trevor Jessie

AFAIK the engine fitted with Datsun tranny cant be installed as seperate units.

Bas
Bas Timmermans

Might depend on the adapter kit, but I can say with 100% certainty that you can install the transmission and then the engine with the rivergate kit .

Trevor Jessie

I have all ways fitted my Datsun gearbox separately from the engine.
d cusworth

Joe, you may have the tranny in by now, but one suggestion given to me might be helpful. If you put the engine and tranny in as a unit (I didn't know you could do it separately. That's nice to know, as I guess that means you can take them out separately?!), you have to tilt the unit quite a bit to slide it in. Seems like I left the front of the car on the ground, and put the rear up on jackstands. This "tilted" the car and I didn't have to tilt the unit so much. I think this helped, even though I had one of the adjustable pieces on the engine hoist that let me turn a crank and tilt the unit. It will seem like you can't get the unit past either the heater shelf or the crossmember in front, but with a little jiggling and patience, it all of a sudden drops in! This is all referring to a Rivergate kit in a '74 midget, not a bug/frogeye, if there is a difference. Good luck!
Jack
Jack Orkin

This thread was discussed between 20/05/2009 and 27/05/2009

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