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MG MGA - seirra 5 speed gearbox

I have a 57 coupe 1500.
and a seirra type 9, 5 speed gearbox.
what comes next?
Is there a kit from a uk supplier?
Is there other parts that I should source?
I have also been told that an early mgb rear axle 3.9/1 would be benificial, is this a straight swap/fit or are there, other modifications required?

thanks in anticipation Ross
R W McIntosh

Hi Ross, I have just got a sierra box off ebay - I will be ordering a Kit for my 1600 roadster from Hi Gear engineering in the New Year - Their phone number is 01332 514503 address - 82 Cheshunt Ave., Mickleover, Derby , DE9 5FS - I picked up their leaflet at Stoneleigh and since then my friend in West Lancs MG has fitted one to his TF -and another to his coupe works well cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

RW, I would not use a 3.9 with your car. I understand it would be under powered to the low HP of the 1500 engine. Unless your engine is overbored to get more HP the car will no have enought gitty up and go. Call Peter at Hi Gear and see what he has to say.
JEFF BECKER

Hi Ross,
beside MGOC that also offers 5 speed conversion, you can visit following UK workshops:
http://www.autogear.co.uk/
http://www.hi-gearengineering.co.uk/

toni
toni

Ross,

I've just purchased one from Bob West - very helpful and informative. He's based in Yorkshire, but will ship UK-wide at a reasonable rate.

www.bobwestclassiccars.co.uk

Good luck,

Grant :-)
G Hudson

Ross, don't use a 3.9 diff in your 1500, it will not pull 5th gear, the type 9 gearbox will transform your car. As mentioned give Hi-Gear a call.

Terry
Terry Drinkwater

Hi Ross, I think I got the Hi-gear post code wrong on my earlier reply - you can get the correct one from the link on Toni's reply - just had a look at the prices on Autogear's website - double that of Hi-gear's - what were Bob West's prices like Grant and who made his kit? cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

Ross

On the practical side, Do a gearbox oil change before you install it. There is no drain plug.

I am not sure whether you use your existing 1500 rear engine plate. My conversion kit bellhousing came with a high starter position. I do not know of they do one with the lower position. Someone else on this forum will be able to advise.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve - You can specify high or low starter position for the Hi Gear set up according to their brochure. I'd be interested to know if the MGB clutch fits the 1600 engine as well - cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

Or drill and tap the bottom of the box to fit a drain plug
dominic clancy

A MGB clutch will fit the trans. You need an adapter for the clutch fork and a MGB clutch fork. Contact Peter at Hi Gear as he should have all the parts you need for the convertion.
JEFF BECKER

Cam - Bob sells Hi-Gear kits, I don't who does his boxes, but they are reconditioned and already modified, I thought he sells the gearboxes for £300 ish but don't quote me on this. The 'B' clutch will fit with a different fork and bracket as mentioned, you will need to drill the flywheel and fit extra dowels to locate the MGB clutch cover.


Terry
Terry Drinkwater

Thanks Terry - Cheers cam
Cam Cunningham

Hi guys
many thanks for info and comments.
I think the way to go would be to try the gearbox first and leave the axle to see how it performs with existing ratio.
Quite a difference in price between autogear and hi-gearengineering, no info on Bob West site but Terry suggest he sells Hi-gear, so can't imagine he would be cheaper than Actual Hi-gear, but maybe worth a phone call.
As no drain plug I assume the seirra oil change is done at Kwik Fit or the likes where the oil is sucked out through the filler hole.
Is the filler hole accessable? after conversion.
Has anyone come up with a simple DIY oil changer, for this method other than swallowing mouth fulls.

thanks again Ross
R W McIntosh

It is a maintenance free sealed box. No oil change is ever needed.

Steve
Steve Meline

Right.
Del Rawlins

I've just got my Sierra box off ebay for £25 ( plus £20 shipping - I seem to remember a thread a while ago with the recommended Ford oil for it - but can't remember which one - anyone out there with a better memory than me (that means all of you as senior moments becoming more fequent!!) Cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

Cam

I think you will find its an SAE 75/90 oil. I also believe the archives have a bit about it.

Keep us up to speed with your progress.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Thanks Steve - yes I found your posting on a thread last June - 75W/90 is what you said then and another member suggested Ford's own gear oil - will look out for that - just got to clean up the box I now have and open it up to look at the cogs to check for wear - then see how much money left in New year for a Hi Gear kit - cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

This thread was discussed between 11/12/2006 and 15/12/2006

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