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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 - 5 Speed Conversion

A good friend and I took the old tranny out of my TD (# 8961) this winter and replaced it with the 5 speed Ford Sierra tranny conversion offered by Hi-Gear in the UK (this is also what Moss sells). I appreciate that doing this might not appeal to the purist, but if you are one who's looking to dramatically improve the driveability of your car, I highly recommend the conversion.

Although the car was always a blast to drive, having synchro in first is a real plus, as is the overdrive gear. Perhaps best, however, is driving along at 55 mph (90 kph) in fifth gear with the tach only reading 3100 rpms, rather than at 4600 rpms when running in fourth gear with the old tranny. Knowing that there's less stress on the engine is a good feeling. The car also just seeems to have a little more juice.

For any that are interested, get the conversion tranny/kit directly from the UK - it'll save about $1000 vs. going through Moss. Peter Gamble at Hi-Gear is a decent fellow to do business with.

Phil Atrill

Mind if I ask what the total cost was, including shipping etc? And labor involved? Feel free to email me efhask at roadrunner dot com.

Appreciate it,
Ed
efh Haskell

Ed, check your email

Phil
Phil Atrill

Phil, The 5 speed conversion does seem nice, but for many of the same reasons that you are sold on the conversion, I am sold on the 4.3 rearend! I get around 53 mph at 3100 rpms and 59 at 3500 rpms, and I now have a first gear that is actually usefull.
As far as the advantages, the car looks totally origional, and cost me about $200 to modify. Even a professional rear conversion would cost less than a 5 speed. As far as the lack of synchro in 1st...who cares? What's next...power steering, power brakes, power windows (or side curtains)? I don't know how others feel, but personally, I take the greatest satisfaction in making the origional aspects of my car as mechanically perfect and reliable as is humanly possible, and then mastering driving it safely and efficiently as was done when it was new, with all of its period inconveniences and quirks.
Steven Tobias

I have the 4:1 in my 51 and without the 5 speed it does just fine. Cruising at highway speed is around 4000 turns at about 65 or so. Total cost 600 bucks for the conversion at the rear end.
Tom Maine

I do believe that it has started again !!!!!!!!!
Steve Wincze

Steve, the 4.3 rear end conversion option might have been considered, if not for the fact that the original tranny was iffy at best, and could have easily exceeded $2,000 to rebuild with a new cluster gear and other essential parts, only to have it returned to an inherently noisy and leaky example, even after rebuild.

I certainly respect your desire for authenticity - hence my comment in the initial entry re how purists might feel. No doubt there are many out there, and I'm sure you're not alone in your views. I guess it all comes down to the degree of non-authenticity each owner can live with, balanced against a goal of having as much trouble/hassle free enjoyment one can have while driving these great little cars.

I assure you, there's no air bags or a rear view camera in the car's future!!
Phil Atrill

$200 bucks? $600 bucks? I got a quote last month from the "new" University Motors of $1,500 to $2,000!

Please tell me where I can get this done for $200-$600!!! My car is totally dismanteled so now would be the time!!
efh Haskell

Ed, see http://www.ttalk.info/RearEndConversion3.pdf for the SE T-Register's article on DIY'ing.

You're right, Steve, ...it's baaaack!

Bud
Bud Krueger

I paid $250 for the MGA gears and $600 to have the conversion done...I found the info in the little Moss conversion leaflet ($14.95) totally worthless to someone of my abilities....
gblawson(gordon)

Gordon, did they remove the rear-end from the car complete the conversion and then put it back in or was that just to put in the gears?
Richard Taylor

We took the rear end out and I dropped it off to have the work done, then we re-installed it.... not a huge job....took less then an hour.
gblawson(gordon)

richard, the differential on the TD's splts at the side versus having a front "pumpkin" like the MGA, so the rear end has to come out. you can check the archives if you like. lots of info there on the atlanta chapters instructions on the conversion. much easier to understand that cedarstrands/moss instructions. they do it a s a club activity and have done over 50. regards, tom
tom peterson

Richard,
You are not far from Cinncinatti.
There is a gentleman by the name of Dave Zyp there that did my TF rear end. Has been doing them for years and has it down to a science. Excellent work...I am very happpy with my 4:3.
I took mine out (was replacing the springs also), met with him in Columbus and then picked it up at his shop in Cint. Like Gordon said ...less than an hour to reinstall. Dave has made some "special tools & jigs" over the years that make the job very easy. Dave got hold of the stencle they used in Abingdon and made a copy of it. When I got mine back it had the "correct" marking on it...just as when she was built! (simply a "TF" on the differantual ...but I have had a couple people notice it and they were impressed...John Twist for one)
David Sheward

Thanks Dave,
I talked to Dave Zyp back in October or November and plan to get up with him as soon as I get the new axles in from Jerry Austin and remove the rear end. I was just wondering if $600.00 is the average for labor on the conversion or if it included removal from the car and installation as well.

Regards,
Rich
Richard Taylor

Just to add to the above. When I spoke with David Zyp back in October he had a rear-end already converted and gave me an exchange price of $1,250 and that included removing it from the car and installing with new U-bolts and pads; seemed like a pretty good deal but I wasn't that far along at the time and wanted to keep my original rear-end.

Regards,
Rich
Richard Taylor

Update, I talked to Dave Zyp a couple hours ago and he still has a rear-end already converted if anyone is interested.

Regards,
Rich
Richard Taylor

Richard, I am interested. How can I get in touch with Dave Zyp? You can reach me at efhask at roadrunner dot com. Feel free to pass this on to Dave.

Ed
efh Haskell

I found Dave Zyp's phone on this BBS advertisor section as 513-922-8076 but nobody answers. Can anybody verify that number or perhaps have his email address?
efh Haskell

Ed, I spoke to him at that number yesterday but I believe it is his business number so probably only good during work hours. Here is his email address.
motorgood@fuse.net
Richard Taylor

David S.

You brought up something I have never heard mentioned on this BB before. When I got my new TD in 1951, during a journey of exploration under the car, I found a "TD" stenciled in white on the flat backside of the differential. Over the years it got covered with the usual road coatings and I forgot about it. During the cars restoration, and the general clean up, the "TD" appeared again. I made a mylar copy of it and applied it to the extra diff. that had the 4.3 gears in it. Is the "TF" on your car, similiar to this?

George

George Raham

Was this a factory marking? Possibly to identify it from earlier rears while on the storage rack. Or? PJ
Paul Jennings

Paul,

I would expect it is a factory marking, as there were other cars on the assembly line at the same time as the TD, that had the same rear end housing but different gears. It would be interesting to know if anyone else has come across the marking on their differential.

George Raham
George Raham

This thread was discussed between 19/05/2010 and 22/05/2010

MG TD TF 1500 index

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