MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Type 9 gearbox. Alternatives?

Hi all, further to recent posts I am getting together my plans to upgrade my MK3 midget keeping the A series motor. Looking at the type 9 gearbox option, it seems a very expensive choice, 1500 gbp plus from Frontline etc. Has anyone tried the Mazda MX5 box ? These are very cheap from MX5 breakers in UK, 50-100pounds max. Ratios should be ok as its from a sports car, quality seems beyond question having just driven a friends MX5 with 110,000 miles on clock, box was superb. Any views appreciated. regards Beegee
B Gore

Frontline aren't the only providers! You can get the gearbox alone for iro £120 but there are the other options of Toyota and, if you can get them, datsun. These are also alot lighter and fit better than the type 9
rachmacb

A recent copy of MASCot gave outline details of fitting a BMW gearbox. It looked really neat and the authors (in Germany I think) could supply the adaptors needed. Would require some work but as far as I recall the estimated costs were a lot less than £1500 - if that is what Frontline charge! I did my Type 9 for £220 total cost but that was a few years ago!
Guy

There is an update in this month's Mascot and I'd tell you what it is if I could remember. I will post the details up here for everyone, once I've got permission from the author.
Gary & Gaps

When my hard drive decided to stop talking to me I lost all the pictures I took of my experimental BMW box fitting session.

But as it was my own work, and people here knew about it I can tell you that you'd need a redrilled flywheel to fit the proper sized clutch cover and plate. This was where I missed out.

You need a new engine backplate (I had mine plasma cut from ¼" steel plate) to match the new box to the lump

As I used the first Beeming box I came to it was off a slanty fitted E30 so I had to cutaway a small section of bell housing to make room for the Midget's starter

It was certainly smaller than the Ford box, if it hadn't been stolen off my drive one day by thieving pikies it would be in Lara now.

I would love to do another, getrag gearbox, can't be bad huh?
Bill 1

According to what I'm printing in Mascot, all Getrag gearboxes are 8cm too long. the one to get is the ZF S 5-16 box which I'm informed also has a smaller bellhousing than the Getrag. This is all 2nd hand information so please forgive me if it's incorrect.
Gary & Gaps

I did this to counteract the length of the box Gary

I modified the drive adapter from the Getrag's output flange to take the standard flange that fits the 1500 Midget

Our own Will came across from Cambridgeshire-ish to drop off a spare 1500 prop shaft which I was going to use

The biggest problem I foresaw was the lack of a mechanical speedo drive, you've seen how I overcame that.

I think I could have had it working, but I may also look for the one you say.

I dont think there wold have been a problem with the bell housing, mine wasnt very different to the A series one in overall dimensions, the engine backplate was similar in size to the Midget one


Bill 1

The Frontline kit is expensive but includes a recon type 9 box now with a shortened remote.
I have two Sprites fitted with type 9's one with shortened remote and one without. I would not bother with a shortened remote again but that comes down to personal preference.
Morris Minor Centre (Birmingham) Ltd sell all the parts for the conversion differing, apparently, only in the chassis brace. I started off doing conversions with the MMC brace but latterly make my own. The parts for a basic conversion should amount to about £500 then you just have to find a second hand box usually for less than £100.
Alan
A Anstead

Alan. That's about what mine amounted to, except that my 'box was only £70. I remember getting some advice from your good self regarding beefing up the MMC cross member and a 20mm spacer to level up the engine. All OK so far two years on.

Bernie.
b higginson

But if i'd ever want a 5speed I would not want to make any mods to the body.
So crossmember stays and gearstick stays in the old hole.

So is there any alternative for this?
I googled the zf box but i think the numbers are wrong
Onno Könemann

Onno,
to keep the body all original, the Datsun 210 5 spd is what is used in the US.

The Ford Type 9 is a great transmission, but it just doesn't fit into a Midget as easily as the Datsun one does.

Unfortunately for you, there are way more Type 9s in Europe than there are 210s (and, fortunately for folks over here, vice versa in the states).


Norm
Norm Kerr

when I had my previous Spridget in the early '90s Toyota boxes were popular and IIRC the same Toyota boxes were even used for V8 conversions on Bs
N Atkins

With the three Datsun gearbox conversions that I did I did make a small cut into the heater / battery tray
to give clearance to the top of the gearbox.I fabricated a fillet to restore the heater ducting.I believe most others either dont find clearance a problem or just make a modification with a hammer.
I gave the cutting of the chassis, for the type 9 conversion, a lot of thought before doing so but am happy with the results. There have been no problems experience with the many conversions (948/1098/1275/1500)that I have now done, or assisted with, for myself or friends.
Likewise before cutting the spaceframe on an IOW Frogeye, to fit a type 9, I gave a lot of thought before proceeding.
A lot depends on what use your car is put to, and what roads you may travel. For continental journeys a 5 speed is great. I have just returned from a 2250 mile tour thru' France, Italy, & Switzerland on a tour I organised for club members. I have done similar mileages abroad many times over the years with a std 4 speed box but perhaps I am just getting old
Alan

Bernie.I am happy to have been of assistance.
Alan
A Anstead

Nigel

They come from the land down under, he just smiled and gave me a veggimite sandwich

Men at work .. Was there ever a better early 80s rock group song

My understanding is the toyota box is only found in OZ, might give a mark T a buzz ... Im sure he can find several
Prop

Prop,
the Greek parliment is looking for a guy like yourself

I'm (fairly) sure the Toyota boxes were also used over here

and

Down Under was by Men at Work not Adam Ant who wasn't really rock and as much late '70s as early '80s

but as I usually suffer from a bad memory, I feel for you and you would fit in with our pub quiz team (me & the mrs, only here for the beer)
N Atkins

The problem is the datsun and toyota gearboxes ar hard to find and parts ar a bit of a pain.

I drive a lot and long distances with the ribcase and love it but sometimes i'd like to be able to cruise at 3500rpm on the highway.

But as long as it does not meet my wishes (no body cutting cheap box and parts available) I'll happily keep my ribcase
Onno Könemann

Hey onno

The good thing about the datsun and the toyota box is they are bulit proof... These boxes can hit 300,000 with out ever so much as a cold... I mine they thought it had around 130,000... I changed out a bearing and 2 seals before install and never been rebuilt...jap box are the best

So personally i wouldnt put alot of consideration on box parts...it most likely will be your great grandchildren facing that issue

Nigel
....opps your slow with the thumbs today...hahaha i realized my error and corrected before you could spank me ...haha

Yeah i wasnt for sure if you had the toy boxes over there but i did know they where in OZ... I want 2 say the box is called a T2 or maybe its a T3...used on the starlet

I really like the idea of the bmw box, i remember bill working on thqt several years ago, i think he was just down to figuring out the clutch plate

Prop
Prop

You're confusing a couple of different gearboxes there Prop! There is the 2T/3T boxes collectively known as T50 gearboxes. These are popular in Aus, have a very nice shift, and definitely require cutting the crossmember (trust me, I've got one in my car) though you can get away with not cutting back the floor at all. These come from Corollas and Celicas.

Then there is the rwd Starlet gearbox (known as a K50 gearbox I think), which is NOT available in Aus, but is available in the UK and NZ. I am led to believe these can be fitted without any cutting.
Andrew Fraser

Andrew,

Thank you... Your post cleared the cobwebs from the hat mush...but yes your correct

Thanks for the refinement...but you know i wont remember that in 6 months

Prop
Prop

wow Prop you're internet magician you went back in time and removed the 'Adam ant' bit from your post

or my internet connection left me with a past picture of the post - ghost in the machinery

I'm having your Lottery win converted to Drachma by Anonymous just in case you are messing with computer clocks and with your big win sabotage our British atomic clock
N Atkins

ATOMIC CLOCK
Now prop will want to install one in his dash!
Gary & Gaps

only if he can cash in his win and it's now in Drachma anyway :)

but it was a close scare there, He'll be cutting the back board ready for it
N Atkins

Hahaha...naw i was just faster with the thumbs when i realiseed my error

Atomic clock ... I got an App for that

Prop
Prop

Have you found the app for the oil pressure it's great.
Gary & Gaps

This thread was discussed between 02/11/2011 and 04/11/2011

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.