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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 TD TF 1500 - Mazda 5 Speed Gearbox

Just out of interest since I no longer own the TF what is the current situation with 5 Speed conversions. I fitted a Ford Type 9 to the TF about 7 years ago. The box cost £100 but they are now over one thousand. I have been considering converting my Sprite to 5 speeds and ones from a Mazda MX5 or a Susuki Justy have been used by others. These need major mods to the linkage and body so at the moment the project is on the back burner. Wondered what is happening with T Series.

Jan T
J Targosz

Jan,

I've had a long, hard look at the various options.

There are two major problems that I see (not including chassis modifications).

1 A special or modified bellhousing will be needed to adapt the Aisin (Mazda, Suzuki and many others) gearbox.

2 Most clutches these days, are hydraulic, and adapting a mechanical linkage to a hydraulic one, or vice-versa, is also a problem.

In seeking out a used gearbox, you will need one with a remote gear change, and not the direct-in types, that are (typically) found in light trucks. In this case, the gear change becomes located too far forward and will interfere with the dash in the T-Series.


Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gord Clark

Hi Gord,

Check out the Barratt Engineering Web site. They sell the Suzuki kit for a Sprdget. Lots of mods are required but the leaver position on the Justy box can be moved. The problem with the Mazda box is its length. Also you need an early one with the tube remote shifter and they are now possibly high mileage. One option used on A series engines is to fabricate a new engine back plate out of aluminium which means no hybrid bell housing. Have you considered a Spitfire box plus overdrive. That will give you a helical, synchronised first and six gears.

Cheers

Jan
J Targosz

For a number of years the go to 5 speed for Spridgets here in the States has been the same Datsun unit I have in my TF. The supply of these gearboxes has pretty well dried up but if you can source a good box then it might be an option using this kit.

http://www.rivergate5speed.com/


It looks like Moss is also selling the Ford T-9 kit and I imagine it would be a good deal less money sourced directly from High Gear.
L E D LaVerne

A friend of mine has a number of T9 5 gear.
I guess he will be prepared to sell them cleaned, examined and painted for around EUR 900.

Times back I made a bellhousing 10 mm. shorter then the Moss type and turned the shaft to fit existing bearing in the flywheel. Thus the engine did not have to be moved forward. Details can be found in the registry I guess

I have also converted a BMW gearbox, but universal joint not fixed yet and an electronic speedo is required or a GPS type. If interested please give an offer.

YS Strom

Just put a High Gear T-9 5 speed in my 55 TF, my cost directly from High Gear was $4500. I love it! Shifting is smooth through all gears, shifting up or down is a breeze! My XPEG engine has had a couple upgrades along with a Crane cam and running a 4.1 rear, it will keep up with the best of them! PJ
PJ Jennings

BMW conversion
Joint not installed and there is no connection for mechanical speedo.


YS Strom

YS Strom,

Please contact me off line about your BMW gearbox conversion.
Many thanks,

Terry Peddicord

tpeddicord(at)yahoo dot com
T A Peddicord

I have now purchased a Suzuki Jimney 5 speed gearbox to do a conversion on my 1275cc Sprite.

I don't think the Suzuki box could be fitted to a T Series. The case is split horizontally, even through the non detachable bell housing. This makes rebuilding the box easy but you are stuck with the bell hosing. The 1275 midget/Sprite has a detachable engine back plate which can be redrilled to suit a different gear box. The T Series doesn't. The Suzuki box will fit into a Spridget without any body mods.

It's a pitty since the Suzuki box is quite short with a detachable gear shift which can easilly be shortened. It is also a modern design with Japanese quality.

Vitesse Engineering sell a kit to convert a Mazda MX5 box to fit the MG A/B but this includes a new, cast gearbox case with a bell housing to suit the B Series engine. It's a pitty they didn't design a case with a removable bell housing since this could have been adapted to an EXPAG

Jan T


J Targosz

This thread was discussed between 21/11/2022 and 21/12/2022

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.