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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - T5 gear box with Rover V8

I have noticed a few T5 gearboxs for sale recently. Over here they tend to be put of Ford Cosworths.

Are there bell housings available to match these to the Rover V8?

Will they fit in the transmission tunnel of an MGB with or without modification?

Thanks

David
David Witham

David,

This should help. http://geoff.richmond.users.btopenworld.com/mgbv8/

Geoff
Geoff King

Thanks Geoff.

If I understand correctly, the TVR version of the T5 gives you the correct bell housing and the Cosworth version gives the correct tail casting.

This raises the question, if you get a Cosworth version how easy/expensive is it to get a suitable bell housing?

You say the fron tof the box has a Ford bolt pattern. Does this mean the same bolt pattern as a Type 9? There are bellhousings out there for type 9.

David
David Witham

Contact D & D Fabrications (www.aluminumv8.com) They have adapted quite a few T-5's to Rover V8's
Kurt Schley

http://www.v8tuner.com i think does them
J P Connor

sorry,

http://www.v8tuner.co.uk/product.php?id=196

there's the exact link

£275
J P Connor

The American Dollar is weak right now. It might advantage you to buy stateside and have it shipped to you.
Justin

David,

Sorry, I can't answer, I have a LT77 box in mine. That website I gave you is Geoff Richmond, you could contact him by email geoff.richmond@btinternet.com.

Geoff
Geoff King

Dellow automotive.
Peter

Thanks everyone, I have a much better idea of the practicality and costs now.

It was noticing that man of the more recent Rover V8s available for sale have auto boxes or no box on the back that got me thinking.

David
David witham

That same bellhousing to mate the rover block to a T5 is £139 on this side of the pond. I can't see shipping being another £136. Do you have to pay VAT on overseas products? I'm not sure how it works from your end.

Justin
Justin

David

If you do import a bellhousing and follow all the Customs & Excise rules it gets quite complex. I went through the process when I was thinking of buying an amplifier for my bass guitar from US as music equipment over there is also half UK prices. Assuming the rules are still the same, first there is import duty which is at a variable rate according to what you are importing, then you pay VAT at 17.5% on top of that (bit like paying VAT on the tax we pay for petrol!). Duty and VAT is collected by the carrier who will also add on a charge for acting as an agent for UK Customs & Excise! At the end of the day with all the extra hassle I was only going to save about £10 on the deal so I bought an ex-demo amp at an exhibition! If you ring your local Customs & Excise people they will give you the rate applicable to motor parts. HTH

Laurie Webb
L Webb

I imported some K&N air filters from the US because they SEEMED cheaper. In the end it did not save me much.

Buy local then you can take it back if it is duff.

David
David Witham

David, another good reason for you to pop along from Warwick to Stoneleigh on Feb 20th as I mentioned in your "Never mind the PO..." posting on MGB Technical board! You may find a bellhousing there at "Show Prices" or even a used one among the many stands.

Laurie Webb
L Webb

David

Just in case my use of a TVR T5 causes confusion - the Ford Sierra Cosworth T5 you mention is exactly the right T5 box for a V8 MGB - it has the gear change in the right place and the input shaft has the same size and splines to work with a Rover SD1 clutch. You will need a v8 to T5 bell-housing (TVR is probably not the cheapest source) - you should be able to find other choices as Rover v8 / T5 it is a fairly common combination in kit cars and racing.

If you have a rubber bumper MGB you may just get away without modifying the transmission tunnel. It depends on how low your engine mountings allow the engine to sit.

You will have to fabricate a rear gearbox crossmember - there is a pic example on my web site and I can email you some drawings with sizes if you need it. You will also need to get a sierra to MG propshaft made.

Regards

Geoff
Geoff Richmond

David,

If you know someone who can manufacture an adaptor plate then the following site <<http://freespace.virgin.net/bob.carter/Mazda_mx5_V8.htm>> may be of interest (read under "The Greasy Bits". In summary, this particular convertor describes the mating of a Sierra T5 box to a Rover bellhousing (adaptor in between). No doubt there would be plenty of autos available for this type of conversion. Just need the adaptor plate.

I have been searching for dimensional information on T5s. I haven't found any that would be useful for adaptor design yet but the following were of interest (please forgive me if I am repeating previous threads)

T5 ratios and dimensional data:
http://www.allfordmustangs.com/Detailed/349.shtml
http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2000/09/t5swap/index2.shtml

Further info on some Ford T5 options:
http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2002/09/transmissions/index.shtml

Further T5 box dimensions:
http://www.ddperformance.com/images/t5dia.jpg

Regards,
Dom

This thread was discussed between 10/02/2005 and 15/02/2005

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