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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Ford based Type 9 and BGH Geartech

Just a quick info post to sing the praises of BGH Geartech who on Thursday built me a very special gearbox for my Sprite which I call the 'evolution box' to replace the previous very special gearbox that was in the car for the 340 mile trip to BGH and back and still is. So far no complaints from the neighbours about the 04.40 am A-series wake up call that morning.....

The evolution box has a slightly higher 1st and 2nd than the old box which were themselves close ratios as well as a tail housing with the lever further foward.

The evolution box will allow my Sprite (175/70 x 13 tyres with a 3.9 diff) to pull 38mph in first gear rather than 36 mph at 6K rpm but also be closer to second gear which itself will now acheive 60mph at 6.3K rpm rather than 6.5K. Second is also closer to third. So all round the car will accelerate even quicker than it does now with a lot of modern cars getting a surprise when I keep going while they grab 2nd!

In case none of that sounds like a big deal consider the standard 5 speed Sierra does just under 28mph at 6K and needs 7K to only just hit 60mph.

www.bghgeartech.co.uk

I'll post some other stuff as I get round to it and a final update once I've got the box in the car.


Daniel Stapleton

I'll second that.

My BGH Long First gearbox is great, it was good before but after the rebuild it was a massive improvement when changing from first to second. I had some oil flow mods done and a drain plug fitted at the same time. Very expensive but worth it for a competition car.

John Payne

Ill second (or third) that.
Have one too and with the K-series its also a great improvement, a long first gear!!
Arie de Best

yes I have one too, top gear box , the long 1st is very good , but going to 6 speed quaife sequential this winter hopefully make car quicker
Darren 2litre frogeye

Hi Darren,

I can't tell from the only photos I've found on the Quaife web site but suspect that you'll need to modify the bellhousing to accommodate the protrusion of the bearing stub, assuming it has one. Or you might be able to get a bellhousing that is already designed with that relief cut into it. I think you'll also need to make the tunnel section slightly higher from the remote section backwards. In any event I'd be interested to see photos since I expect you will be the first person to do this to a Spridget...
Daniel Stapleton

6 speed has been done but not sequential, I think a couple of years ago a guy had his Sprite featured in Classics Monthly ?? he had a big bore A series fitted with a 6 speed type 9 based box . As I see it the 6 speed is non overdrive as fitted to Caterham 7's.

Anybody got a photo of the BGH remote , is it modified standard tailshaft or a whole new unit?
R Mcknight

The BGH short remote was just a modified one when I asked when I was there a few years ago. They commented on mine and said it looked ok. I think it looks horrendous so there's probably isn't much better! As long as it works and doesn't break then it doesn't really matter.
John Payne

Hi Daniel , from all the bumf i've read about the 96G sequential , its a direct replacement for a type 9 , but im already using a ford type 9 bell housing , so fingers crossed , also my tunnel around the gear exetension is removable , so not to hard to adjust it , my plan is to speak to Quaife at the autosport show asking all these qestions ,and ask / try for a show price ?? , if you dont ask you never know ?
Darren 2litre frogeye

This thread was discussed between 12/10/2013 and 15/11/2013

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