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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 MG Y Type - Cruising Comfortably

I've owned my YT for a while now & its been on the road again for a bit over 10 years after restoration. If you look elsewhere on this site you will see my car in Tony Slattery's Picture of the month from the Australian MG National meeting in 2011 (mine is the green car). I've driven quite a few miles (it's our second car & my daily transport) including a few longer trips (an 1800 mile round trip to Adelaide being the furthest).
I am contemplating another long trip next year & was thinking again about making the YT a more relaxed cruiser. I have already modified the diff & changed the centre to a Morris Minor 4.5:1 unit. This gives me about an extra 5 mph which is helpful on long highways. Others have fitted Japanese 5 speed gearboxes, but I have always wondered has anyone ever tried to fit an overdrive unit out of an MG B to a Y type? There seems to be something more "proper" about using British built bits to improve the breed. Any thoughts?
E J Burns

Hello Elliot,
As you know, our YT has the 4.55 MM conversion too, and I am starting to do the planning to drive to Perth next year for the MG National Meeting.

From my home it's 4,800km each way - around 50 hours behind the wheel. I am sure the car can do it - not so sure I can though (I am getting older).

I am thinking 3 days driving, then a rest day, followed by anther 3 or 4 days, arriving in Perth late on the Wednesday before Easter to allow another rest day prior to the Nat Meet activities.

I will likely stay over for the post Nat Meet Tour, before turning east for home.

I am making a list of work that needs to be done on the YT pre-trip, and a list of spares to take. I will be towing a small teardrop trailer to spread the load.

I'm sure I won't be the only traveller from the east coast to the west, but likely the only Y-Type ?. Anyone else up for the challenge in a Y-Type ?.

I will be working on a YA tomorrow that has a Ford 5-speed gearbox - that's British !.

I'm sure you could fit an MGB box with overdrive, but they are getting rare and expensive too.

Tony Slattery

A L SLATTERY

That sounds like a whole heap of fun guys!

There is a great book - MG Odyssey by Ken McKimmie, a fellow countryman of yours, who did the same trip only West to East in an MG Magnette ZA! If you can get a hold of a copy I would strongly urge you to do so and read it as it is a great read. ISBN is 0 646 03455 3. I really enjoyed it but it will be much more relevant to you!

Maybe you could, if you went together, put something down and make it into another episode of the Antipodean Adventures Series - albeit by a different author. Indeed you can read about Richard Prior and crew's experience East to West Australia in http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/imgytr/newsupdates/antipadv4.shtml.

Have fun and be safe out there everyone.

Paul
Paul Barrow

A copy of this may be available from Dave and Liz Richmond as I see they had one recently on eBay that did not sell - contact them and see if it is still available - http://www.ebay.com/itm/MG-ODYSSEY-KEN-McKIMMIE-MG-Z-TYPE-MAGNETTE-ZA-TRAVELS-ACROSS-AUSTRALIA-RARE-BOOK-/261818155888.

Or you could try http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/6962703?q&versionId=8015111

Paul
Paul Barrow

Paul,
The route that Ken took in the Magnette was a little more "off the beaten track" than I am considering - all bitumen roads for me. My sense of adventure does not extend to clouds of dust or getting bogged !.

I also prefer a motel bed each night - not a swag on the ground - yeah, call me soft.

I recall going to a personal presentation by Ken soon after his "adventure" - it was certainly an epic trip and he was certainly braver than I.

Tony
A L SLATTERY

Hi Elliot, I don't think fitting and MGB OD to a the back of Y G/box would be an easy task. The B G/box has an extended shaft that goes into the OD unit and the unit shares the oil in the G/box and the shaft also drives a small hydraulic pump to operate the cone clutch. You could consider attaching a complete B OD gearbox to the XPAG engine but it is a large bulky unit plus you would need to fabricate an adapter. You could also consider installing a B engine and G/box as I have done see YT3208 in YTs on Parade. I think a 5 speed is a better option if you want to retain the original engine. The Ford Sierra T9 G/box is a common mod but also a Y owner here in WA is investigating, I think, a Suzuki Sierra G/box because they are very compact. Anther option is fitting a YB or TD/F rear axle then you can fit an early MGB 3.9 crown wheel and pinion. I have done this to our TD and MGA and it makes a big improvement in reducing revs. Only problem is the wheel stud pattern is different to a Y. If you have fitted a MM 4.5 then you might be able to source a higher ratio.
Cheers Richard Prior YT3208
R A Prior

This thread was discussed between 12/04/2015 and 13/06/2015

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