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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 MGB Technical - Modern Engine & gearbox

I found this link today for a US company that offers a kit to replace the standard 4 speed box for a Ford 5 speed unit. What impressed me was that this does not involve any cutting, fits the standard engine and even places the gear lever in the same place.

http://www.quantumechanics.com/categories.php?op=newindex&catid=3

Now this got me thinking if anyone has done this sort of conversion before. I've emailed the US company to see if they would sell the kit minus the gearbox as it makes sense to get one locally. If I made this change then maybe I would look at the engine as well, the Ford Zetec with the Sierra box? Anyone done this, I'm interested in a conversion that does not alter the standard car with cutting so if needed it can be returned to standard bits.
Roy Soper

Check out the boys and girls on the K Series midget+B BBs on this site.
They will have ooodles of info on this subject.

Mal.
76+77 BGT's
malcolm watson

Hey Roy, Here is another option that coms highly recommended for 5 sped conversions..

Cheers

Moe

http://www.mgfivespeed.com/mgb.htm
Moe

From the pictures it looks like the product from Hi-Gear Engineering in the UK http://www.hi-gearengineering.co.uk/ - there seem to be quite a few companies reselling it. I installed their kit two years ago together with a new MGOC club engine and was very pleased with the completenes and ease of installation. Since done 8000+ uneventful miles.

Barry
73B
B.J. Quartermaine

I've emailed the UK company to see if they offer any cheaper versions of the kit for example without the gearbox. I have access to some of these and the cost of £1,314.53 including tax is a little out of budget at the moment. I could always sell the current 4 speed box and OD unit but I wanted to really retain these in case I ever needed to revert the car back to standard when selling. See what happens.
Roy Soper

Roy

The kit is 595 and refurbished gearbox 300. With VAT this is 1051.62 pounds. I didn't pay VAT but this was more than offset by air freight!

Good luck.

Barry
73B
B.J. Quartermaine

Why isn't anybody mentioning the Rivergate conversion?

Check out their website at
http://www.rivergate5speed.com/rivergate.html.

I used this kit with the Datsun 280Z five-speed and a five-main MGB engine in my ZB Magnette. It all went together as easily as factory components and it works beautifully. In the Magnette, I didn't even have to modify the length of the drive shaft.

I'm sure the Ford Hi-Gear design is a good one - I've heard many favorable reports. But my experience is with the Rivergate conversion and I can't say enough good things about it. Their standard conversion kit is $595 US and their deluxe kit is $895. They sell a rebuilt, guaranteed 280Z transmission for $825 - although you can certainly use any that you obtain (and rebuild, if necessary) yourself. I think it makes more sense in a Magnette than in a B - because the overdrive MGB transmission will not fit in a Z Magnette without major modifications to the transmission tunnel.

Cheers,
Allen
Allen Bachelder

I installed the Ford fivespeed kit in my 72B four years ago and loved it. Truely a bolt in conversion, and almost undetectable unless you know what you you're looking for. Speedo is right on the money, shifter is in the same spot and the same length. Perfect in my eyes! I think I paid $1600 or so for the kit from Waterloo Drivetrain in Texas back then
gerry masterman

BTW, I also bought a O/D tranny for my 71BGT from the fellow at the link three years ago, and have been thourghly pleased with it as well. The fellow was great to do business with and would reccomend him to anyone
gerry masterman

Couple items to be aware of...

If you're buying from the UK, prices that are more than a couple hours old are out of date. In 2003, the exchange rate was about $1.60/lb, it's currently trading at about $1.80, so you're looking at another 10% from a year old price.

Second. I REALLY like the Rivergate kit for US applications, but be careful. It's a small store, and he contracts work out. The kit he shipped me had a pilot bearing bore and diameter out of concentric by about .040", clearly visible to the naked eye. The proprietor, when called , measured parts on hand, concurred with my assesment, had new parts made, and shipped a replacement free of charge.

Great service, but due to the store being a mom+pop shop, just look closely at the parts you get. While they clearly want to build good product, and have a positive attitude toward customer service, the reality appears that pro-active quality assurance practices are not in place.

That Caveat addressed, I've seen a couple of designs for adapting the Nissan L series box, and I think Rivergate's is the best thought out.
greg fast

Much as I like the Rivergate kit, I have to say that my first choice for a 1968 or later MGB would be the stock overdrive. It's still the cheapest, it is reliable, and it's even more flexible. But it's just a matter of time until the 4-sync o/d boxes become hard to find and/or very expensive. As that time approaches, I would suspect that the Rivergate will become more and more attractive.

I would rather not use the four-syncro o/d box in a metal dash car simply because I prefer the feel of the 3-sync. And there are very few 3-sync overdrives to be found anymore. For these cars, I would consider the Rivergate/Datsun or the Ford Sierra. I am considering use of the Rivergate/Datsun for an 1800 powered MGA and for my Farina Magnette. I do know that the Rivergate kit in my ZB Magnette was very easy to install and it is flawless in operation.
Allen Bachelder

Check out the toyota supra conversion. Dellow automotive in Sydney Australia makes a variety of kits.
The supra box is about 20kg lighter than the MG box and alot stronger. I'm using one in my V8 conversion, a W58 with the 0.78 5th gear. It's very smooth, nice ratios. Infact you get a choice of about four different set ups if you get your gear box off him.Cost me about $1800 Australian dollars for all the bits and pieces, including the reco gear box (about 700 pounds). The 4 cylinder set up should be cheaper as there are less clutch bits involved. He will sell you the kit minus the box, however I believe someone in the UK is importing/selling the Dellow kit.
Peter

Roy:

I put the Ford Sierra's T-9 5-speed in my "B" last fall, and I love it. It's geared virtually the same as the MG overdrive transmission -- in fact, fourth and fifth are exactly the same.

Got it through the mgfivespeed.com location mentioned earlier in this thread. He gets them from the U.K., so at least you won't have the cost of shipping it across the pond built into your price.

Truly a bolt-on conversion. No filing, drilling or modifying needed for the install if you're planning to bolt it onto the back of a "B" engine.

The conversion took a really fun 4-speed road car and turned it into a great 5-speed road car.

Ken V.
'77 B
Safety fast!
Ken Vandruff

Does anyone here have any experience with the 6-speed internals available for the Type 9? I'm considering putting one of these 'boxes behind my T16 Turbo and I'd really like an extra-high 6th gear for economical cruising (isn't it great when you can call on 220+ foot pounds at 2200rpm!) but I'm not sure what ratios can be made.

Cheers,
--
Olly
Oliver Stephenson

This thread was discussed between 08/09/2004 and 15/09/2004

MG MGB Technical index

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