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MG MGA - MKI Gearbox to MK II Gearbox conversion

Hi All,

Has anyone taken the early rear gearbox casing with the sliding type tailshaft and converted it into the later type.

i.e. machined in the bearing and changed it over to the flange type.... ?

To fit on a later 66-67 MGB MKI gearbox.

Is this a simple job.
I know from looking at photos the later type seems to have additional bracing externally.

Many Thanks
Mark...
Mark Hester

If I read that right, it can't be done. The early tail housing has a small diameter at the rear, not large enouth to machine out to accept the large ball bearing.

To convert the early gearbox to later type you need to change the tail housing and the mainshaft, and all fittings on the mainshaft aft of the center main bearing. By the time you source all those parts separately, it is commonly easier and cheaper to buy a complete gearbox of the desired model.
Barney Gaylord

I'm planning to mate an early, low starter box and late housing into one for my '56. The early box is currently in my car. It's only fault(s) are the leakiness of its rear and noisy lay gear bearings. The later box appears intact except a suspiciously chipped lay gear.
Regards,
JoeM
'56 1500
JoeM

You can use the front housing from the early low starter gearbox, and the rear housing and mainshaft parts from the later box. Everything inside between the front and center main bearings is interchangeable.

Watch out for a difference between coarse or fine threads in some of the bolt holes, particularly for the shift extension housing mount bolts and starter mount bolts. I always drill out the starter mount holes and install fine thread Heliciols (ever since a stripped thread dropped a starter motor and broke a crankshaft with more expensive cinsequences).
Barney Gaylord

Barney,
Thanks for the clarification. I'm planning to do this task next month.
Cheers,
JoeM
JoeM

This thread was discussed between 02/03/2007 and 07/03/2007

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