MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

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 Midget and Sprite Technical - 1500 gearbox mounts

hello all,

SOme what of a silly question.
Can the gear box mounts of a 1500 be removed without
removing the motor?
If so what is the best way of going about it?
hoping for only good answers.

cheers,
nelson
mm sir

Hi Nelson,

Not quite sure why you would want to remove the gearbox mounts with everything in place but in short the answer is no, certainly not easily!

The only thing I can suggest is to remove the radiator, split the exhaust from the manifold, remove the bolts into the base of the gearbox mount and those through the tunnel into the gearbox bellhousing. Then, using an engine crane, lift the engine off its mounts and you should be able to drag the engine and box forward enough within the engine bay to be able to access the gearbox mount from under the car.

Due to the telescopic nature of the 1500 propshaft there should be enough movement here to allow for this to happpen and this way at least you can keep the electrical, fuel and clutch systems intact. If you have the right tools and knowhow you can have the whole engine and gearbox out and back in again in about 3 hours. The only real advantage to not removing the engine and box entirely is not having to bleed the clutch, which has caused some serious headaches to some of the most abled home mechanics and professionals alike!

Hope some of this helps, or someone else has an easier approach!

Good luck
Dave
D Prince

It should be possible to slide the the clutch slave cylinder out of its housing and secure it safely out of the way so that you do not need to bleed it afterwards.

Carl
C Bintcliffe

True Carl...so long as you can slide the slave out, often I find this easier said than done!! Then you have all the trouble of getting to the top bolt of the housing to release this from the gearbox...grrr!!!

To overcome this second bolt I actually cut a hole in the battery tray big enough to get your hand through!!! This is subtly hidden by a new alloy battery tray ;) Crude but oh so very effective, and after 4 years of midget ownership and possibly 10-12 engine and gearbox removal/refittings, something I would recommend to any 1500 owner! IMHO :)

Dave


D Prince

This thread was discussed between 19/11/2008 and 20/11/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.