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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 - Toyota T50 5 speed into TD/TF

Toyota T50 3t 5 speed gearbox into TD/TF Part 1

I did not enjoy the original gearbox experience in TF 2071. Even after the attention of a local ‘expert’ it jumps out of third, second synchro is painfully slow and my feet seem just too big to double de-clutch smoothly. I like a project and arranging a 5 speed transplant with full synchro seemed like a logical thing to do. At this stage the car had been assembled from a pile of bits to make sure of the fit and to give the mechanicals a test before taking it back apart to paint.
I’m reasonably mechanically competent and have very competent friends and neighbours so the slightly greater challenge of the Dellow conversion over the Hi-Gear, along with a significant cost advantage, made the decision easier. Other options were either considerably more complicated or parts were no longer available.

Parts needed:
A second hand Toyota T50 2t or 3t split case gearbox from either a Celica or an ae86 Corolla. Not in good supply as they are apparently popular upgrades for other cars but no harder to find in Aus than a good Ford T9. The 2t has two lever positions, I think the 19” (standard on the 3t) option is to be preferred as the final gear knob position is very close to the original, the shorter position will require the gear lever to be bent.

The Dellow bellhousing is made to order in Sydney. When ordering one needs to specify the clutch and the clutch actuating shaft diameters.

Clutch plate either from Dellows or locally sourced. There are different spline count and diameters on the 2t and 3t input shafts so there would be 4 different clutch plate options. The rest of the clutch mechanism is retained but will need adjusting.

Dellows can supply a spigot bush to suite the input shaft as the Toyota one is too short and smaller than the original. It is a steel cylinder approx 2” diameter and 1/2” thick with a bronze centre and has a back and a front. It is a tight fit in the flywheel recess and I had to deburr the edges of the hole to get it started, it took some force to drift it fully into position.

Modified prop shaft. Dellows stock a yoke to fit the Toyota output shaft but I sourced one locally and had it grafted and balanced onto the original shaft.

Dellows can also supply a speedo cable with the correct Toyota/MG ends.

Part 2 will outline the fitting and crossmember modifications.



C I Twidle

Looking good-
Don't know if this will help but--
On the later Supera type Toyota boxes there were two or three different length gear lever mounting housings and they would bolt on either way round giving quite a range of lever positions
IF the 2t has on offset bolton housing could you turn it around to get the lever back a bit--or maybe it doesn't work like that on the splitcase, can't remember
willy
William Revit

This thread was discussed between 04/04/2020 and 05/04/2020

MG TD TF 1500 index

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