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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 - Low cost 5 speed conversion

To reduce the mental suffering from not only too little power, but also often wrong rev, I installed a T9 gearbox (with fifth gear ratio 0.82 - 1) in addition to a supercharger, in my TD 52. More about the supercharger in an earlier thread. This made driving so much more enjoyable, both in jams and at higher speed.

I made the bellhousing in steel and by some interesting modifications inside, the combined length of the gearbox and bellhousing made it possible to fit it without relocating the engine. The cover in steel will also stiffen the chassis compared to plastic covers, thus no support brackets will be required for the floor.

As I in the process found two 5 speed T9 gearboxes, I am now finalizing an additional kit that will be up for sale. If you are interested, feel free to contact me for further information. yngve(at)powermaxmotor.se

Yngve
YS Strom

YNGVE,
can you post some pic's of your work ???
Steve Wincze

You mean bellhousing cover, right? The part that the carpeting sits on?

....
MAndrus

How much? Where in Sweden?
efh Haskell


Sorry, but I have no image of the shortened version.
It will take a couple of weeks before I get an opportunity to produce some, as it is already installed.

Correct, with cover I meant transmission cover, made in steel plate.

For the conversion kit including gearbox and clutch plate, I expect USD 2 300 excl. drive shaft that I believe you can get made for a reasonable price where you are, bearing in mind the shipping cost. The transmission cover is included. It is not for immediate delivery though, as I am in the process of redesigning the rear support.

I live in Taby near Stockholm. You are welcome for a test drive, but I guess you find it a bit too far off.

I always drive my 5 speed conversion with a smile on my lips. It is such a difference.

The Swedish MG section will enter an article on my conversion in the next edition of their bulletin.

Yngve
YS Strom

Yngve,
I will actually be in Stockholm for a very short time next month. If you wish to show it off email me at efhask99 at gmail.com. I cannot say my schedule for sure yet however.
Ed
efh Haskell

Ed
You are welcome and I will mail you my adress.
Regards
Yngve
YS Strom

Andy King at mgsparesandrestorations.com sells aluminium MG to Ford bell housings for just over £300. I have converted my TF, and a friend his TD, using these. They only connection I have with Andy is a very satisfied customer. The casting and machining of the bell housings is excellent and only someone familiar with a T series would know they are not original. The only other items that need to be bought in are a propshaft, speedo cable, Ford Cortina gear box mount, a Morris Marina clutch plate and of course the Type 9 gear box. The propshaft cost me about £100 to be custom made but would have been slightly more if I hadn't had the Ford yolk/spline (if buying a gear box make certain it's included). The Ford to MG speedo cable was £30 from Speedy Cables and the gear box mount and clutch plate £5 each from eBay. Everything else I, and my friend, needed we made up in our home workshops. There is more work involved than changing a set of plugs but the conversion is easily within the scope of anyone with good practical skills. One last point about the gearbox. If you can find someone who reconditions modern 'boxes but who has been in business for some years, try them rather than a classic gearbox specialist. I found a guy in Paisley, close to where I live, who repairs modern 'boxes but had done many Type 9s in the past. He still had a few Type 9 repair kits left over from years ago and I don't recall the cost to fit new bearings, synchros and seals but it wasn't much.

Jan T
J Targosz

Hello Jan

Fully agree that that buying a bellhosing saves a lot of work. I just made it as challenge. However, the second one is an easy job compared to the first one. It needs not a trained eye to see it is not original bellhousing, but one who is so interested that he will creep under the car will certainly see that it is not the original gearbox either, so I don't care too much about that.

The T9 gearboxes here are generally fitted with three armed adapters for rubber discs. These cannot be used and the yolkes required are rather expensive, even used ones.

Is relocation of the engine required using Andy's bellhousing?

Can he even supply transmission covers in steel and if so, what is the price?

The speedometer cable was interesting. Can the meter be adjusted to give the correct reading? My meter is of an early type that cannot be calibrated. The TF might be different?

Have just bought another 5 speed gearbox. It is a rather modern type with a ratio for fifth gear very near the T9 and with a much better reputation than the T9 gearboxes. It looks possible to install it without relocating the engine, but making a conversion kit for a T9 is a simple job compared to this. It will be very interesting to see if it will work. One problem is that it can only be used with electronic meter. If you have a good and not a too expensive solution to this, I am very interested.

Yngve
YS Strom

Hi Yngve,

I don't know if Andy sells the gearbox cover. I considered sectioning my original and welding in new steel but I wanted to keep all the original bits so cast new one in glass fibre ( being a Lotus Elan owner helps!). See attached photo of car part way through restoration. I did move the engine slightly to the front and also to the left to give more air cleaner space. I made up a new front engine bracket so that again I could keep the original. My friend however has simply redrilled holes in the original. I know speedos can be recalibrated or conversion gear boxes purchased to fit under the dash board but I simply drove up the road and marked the speedo glass with small dots at 10/20/30 --- mph. I used an app on my iPhone to note the correct speeds. Just a point is your car marked in kmph with it being an export model.

J Targosz

As I believe the cover gives some support to the chassis and floor, I made it in steel. I might exaggerate the problem and a structure in glass fiber might also do the job. Picture enclosed. Holes for shift and some bolts not yet made.

The meter is actually in miles, as the car comes from Ohio. That appears to be a rough place as it had a bullet hole in the original transmission cover, but the car has been very well restored in US and there are no signs at all of rust or rust repairs.

Interestin to see your restoration.

Yngve



YS Strom

This thread was discussed between 07/05/2015 and 10/05/2015

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