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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - WANTED: Type 9 Gearbox

Hi everyone,

Apologies if this isn't allowed/appreciated, I'm getting desperate!

I'm after the typical Type 9 gearbox for a 5-speed conversion, and I'm at a bit of a loss as to where to find one.

No scrapyards that I've tried (40+) have any, and all the second hand ones have been refurbed which puts them out of my price range.

So. Does anyone have any leads/ideas? If not, does anyone hVe any knocking about in their garage?!

All the best,

Josh
Josh Spooner

Josh,
as well as this thread/post you need to widen your potential by also putting an advert in the Parts Wanted in the Classifieds here and elsewhere

you could also look at asking in the MGB and conversion forums on here and elsewhere - perhaps also Ford and kit car owner sites

depends on what space you have available and what you're prepared to do but it might be easier to buy an original car with a type 9 box fitted, scrap/for parts/unfinished (or unstarted) project - can often be less expensive to buy the whole car than a part from it

then you either sell the car on minus box or break it down to sell as parts and you'll probably get more than your money back
Nigel Atkins

eBay?

There are a few on there at the mo, a lot of money though. The one I had in my shed sold for £160 2 years ago so I guess they are going for quite a bit more now.

I don't think there will be many people that don't know they are worth a lot of money so you'll probably have to bite the bullet!
john payne

Same thing happened with the datsun 5 speed...I was very luckey lucky to get mine for $650

I looked a couple years ago and they where between $850 and $1000

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Try searching for the cars as a whole item, it brings up adverts for people breaking cars and you will find one that way.
dominic clancy

Try searching for the cars as a whole item, it brings up adverts for people breaking cars and you will find one that way.
dominic clancy

Omg... I just checked ebay, they got 2

1 is very high milage wornout with a starting bid of $500 reserve not met

2nd is a good one but starting bid of just under $1500 ...reserve not met

Soooo who wants to buy mine....$4800 gets the entire kit, (tranny and rivergate kit)....now thats what I call a retirement plan....hahaha

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Try this beauty.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Sierra-1-8-LX-ideal-banger-or-drift-track-car/281358840940?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D23777%26meid%3D8081897110736771398%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D10165%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D281372768449&rt=nc

Only 60k and the 86 bhp 1.8 can't have strained the box much!
john payne

as per John's and Dom's posts

that blue car might even be a genuine 60k-miles by the look of the interior, no tow bar too, still 21 years old so perhaps at least a change of g/box oil might be called for
Nigel Atkins

Not to mention perhaps a differant gearbox for the blue car and put it back on the road ... its a great price but hate to see it junked with it being such good condition...even converting to an autobox would be better then trashing it
Or maybe even drop the engine into the midget also, 1.8L... that would have some zip

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Prop, that 'donk' from the Sierra would be more like an anchor for a Spridget. I think the Pinto engine (not to be confused with the USA 'crash and burn' Pinto car from the 70's!) is one of the heaviest blocks going for its size and 86 bhp from a 1.8 is getting back to the days when the Mustang '2' 302 v8 was pumping out about 140hp from 5 liters!

Scrap cars in the UK are worth about £150 - £200 if you deliver to the scrappies so something like that Sierra might be a good idea. Would give a chance to test the box out as well.
john payne

Thanks john,

I was free thinking... I wasnt aware of the history and technical nature of the car...so id say thats a good car to get a hold of for a low milage 5 speed gear box.... and like you said, you can drive it before hand, huge advantage

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

There's probably enough kit cars around still using sierra suspension that you could probably flog that aswell separately.
Dean Smith ('73 RWA)

This one's in kent. Starting bid 99p.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Type-9-5-Speed-Gearbox-/131233380841?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1e8e1e79e9

And another. £75
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Type-9-5-Speed-Gearbox-Kitcar-Locost-/231274634748?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item35d90addfc

And another £150
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Type-9-Gearbox-Five-Speed-Manual-Capri-Sierra-Escort-/331252717402?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4d2033575a
Lawrence Slater

And this one. Buy it now price £225.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2ltr-ford-type-9-gearbox-flywheel-starter-s-h-clutch-bolts-/171377839409?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item27e6ea4d31

There's quite a few for sale, and not that expensive at all from what I can see.
Lawrence Slater

I thought you had started to collect a few type 9s Lawrence. Any of 'em any good for Josh?
My £70 scrapyard special is still going strong after 6000 miles.(famous last words).

Bernie.
b higginson

Hi Bernie. Yup they might be good for Josh, but until I stick one of them in the Sprite and test it, I can't be certain.

I bought them as good, and the internals look good via the top cover. But only a drive will tell for sure.

I'm now toying with the idea of converting the Midget to 5 speed, and selling the good 4 speed that's in there.

Would a 5 speed '73 RWA be worth more than an original '73 4 speed RWA? (I reckon to assemble the kit quite cheaply, by having my own bell housing made).

Just an idea.

Berine, wasn't it you that bought an RWA midget around the same price (circa 700 quid) and time - 18 months to 2 years ago,
that I bought mine? If so, how's it coming on?
Lawrence Slater

The pictures of the gearbox (£150 ebay link from Lawrence) next to some old pants has to be one of the more surreal ebay pictures I've seen.
Dean Smith ('73 RWA)

Probably trying to create a version of Tracey emin's bed.

Actually looks way better than tracey emin's bed too. LOL.
Lawrence Slater

Or maybe he's really saying, that the g/box is 'pants'.




Lawrence Slater

The last type 9 I tried to buy that was in that condition (rusty as boggery lid) turned out to be full of water when I opened the gearstick retainer, intending to drop the box into Lara's boot.

Out poured a gallon or more of rusty oily water mix.

Yucky.

As you'd expect we didn't complete the deal and the seller confirmed with ebay that he had cancelled while I was there.

Don't expect the 0.99p one to stay below £100 though. An 0.99p start is not an altruistic sale.
bill l

Hi Lawrence. Yes, it was me who bought the Midget same time as you. It's going OK. I got a mint driver's door from a local guy for £80 and repaired the passenger door which wasn't too bad with a bit of lead loading. Although I did a course on it at night school, it's the first time I've used it on a car. I've also made a full set of trim panels and re-covered the seats. I'm restoring bits as I take them off, so I've not done any welding on the shell yet.
I think you're probably further along than me.

Bernie.
b higginson

Hi bernie, I thought I remembered correctly. Well keep at it. It's the motivation to be bothered at all, that I've found most difficult.
Never again. Next time I buy a car for spares, I'll stick to the plan, and actually scrap it.!

I've completed all the welding, and I'm on assembly. So much of what I hadn't planned to do, became essential.
Like removing the bloody ziebart from the engine bay. I just couldn't live with that crap in there.
Anyway, doors, wings, screen, boot lid, all fitted for the final time. Just had the dash off to check all the wiring, and believe it or not, clean ziebart off the loom
from BEHIND the dashboard as well. ?????????
Finally cleaned the same muck off the rear lights(the inside of the boot was covered in the crap), and will install them tomorrow.
Then some light filling, and a bit of a paint clean/rub-down, followed by a brush with filler primer on a few areas -- (until I get around to spraying the whole car, if I ever do).
Hopefully mot in a couple of weeks time.

So, back to the thread. lol.




Lawrence Slater

Would a 5 speed '73 RWA be worth more than an original '73 4 speed RWA? (I reckon to assemble the kit quite cheaply, by having my own bell housing made).


Absolutly lawerance.. id tack on an extra $2000 usa money ....the 5 speed is essential in todays world, id say the 4 speed was almost outdated for its time in the mid 70s ...at least in the usa

Only a purist are going to complain, and there are not many

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

I wouldn't say a 5 speed is essential at all. I cruise at high motorway speeds (80ish in France or more where legal of course) in mine with 1380 + 4 Speed OK. Yes its buzzy - but entirely possible. I must admit my impression was that our motorway speeds were higher than US generally.

Having said that....I have just won a Type 9 to go with the K series that will be going in soon.

The other trick on Ebay is not just to search on "Type 9" but also for the cars it fitted as not everyone else will call it a Type 9 e.g. "Sierra Gearbox","Capri Gearbox" etc etc.
Dean Smith ('73 RWA)

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all of your help and suggestions - I did indeed go the eBay route and found one for £130; I'm expecting it later this week. Let's hope it's decent!
Also sourced the conversion kit from the Morris Minor Centre in Birmingham and will be able to to report on how good it is fairly soon.

Thanks to everyone for the ongoing help and support - I really do appreciate it.

Wish me luck!

Josh
Josh Spooner

### I wouldn't say a 5 speed is essential at all. ####

Well okay .. perhaps wrong word choice but it sure gets 2nd place to what ever is essential

To me its a huge game changer, it reduces the wear and tear of long rides on the interstate, its much easier to listen to, and it makes makes gas milage really stand out....50 mpg, is not un heard of

Id put its esseintial necessity on par with a pan hardrod, Air conditioning, or magnet on a stick...you can live without them, but why would you want to

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Is that 50 miles to a US gallon Prop? If so, that's phenominal!

Bernie.
b higginson

Bernie I can drive my type 9 equipped 1275/1293 car from Brum to 'That London' and back on one tank of gasolino.

To be totally honest I usually refill in London before I attempt the return but have done the trip without a refill then lost my nerve with the gauge reading empty at Hall Green in Brum, just a few miles off the M42

My usual replacement 6 gallon tank, empty tank has given me 35 miles of driving on 'empty' before I pop my spare 'gallon' in it.

Brum is about fifteen miles across South to North I guess.

I can do these 'spirited' miles whilst listening to my CD player churning out miles of Clapton and Quo.

And classical when the mood applies, Rodrigo is a particular favourite.

Changing to a Ford 5 speed gave me a chance to hear the exhaust instead of the drivetrain.

I would not return to the BMC box for a king's ransom.
bill l

Hi Bill. Yes, I'm getting about 42mpg and I think I could improve that with a different needle in my HIF44. I too, wouldn't go back to the standard 'box, but with a US gallon only having 6 imperial pints in it, I thought 50mpg was very optimistic.
You're very brave to drive on empty in a Spridget.LOL.

Bernie.
b higginson

better add 'Running on empty' by Jackson Browne to your list :-)
David Smith

Hi just return from a weekend trip to Wales total mileage 787 with my recently fitted type nine it was great ,total transformation
C Walsh

yes synchro first can be useful on the mountain roads particularly if you're following a slower car up the steep twisty mountain roads, luckily that is rare to find another car getting in the way
Nigel Atkins

As per C Walsh:

TOTAL TRANSFORMATION. No two words in (either) English say it better.

Richard
Richard Reeves

This thread was discussed between 04/07/2014 and 13/07/2014

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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