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MG TD TF 1500 - 5 Speed Conversion

I've just been reading on the web how to convert a Morris Ital to 5 speeds using the Ford T9 gear box. This mates the Ital bellhousing to the Ford gear box using an adapter plate. Is this possible with a TD / TF or is the only way with a new, High Gear bellnousing.

Cheers

Jan T
J Targosz

Jan, Moss has the complete conversion as a kit. Expensive, but with all the bits and pieces, not that bad. PJ

http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=51574
Paul sr

Ordering the kit from Hi-Gear directly will save you approximately $1000, even with shipping from England. I know that from experience.

As to Jan's question, I'm not sure there's enough room to add an adaptor plate between the TD bellhousing and the T-9 transmission without making major modifications to engine and transmission mounting points. The Hi-Gear bellhousing is almost identical to the TC/TD/TF bellhousing in size and appearance.
Gene Gillam

Gene, on the Hi-Gear, do you still have to re-position the motor location like on the Moss unit?

Bill
Bill Brown

Bill,

The Moss 5-speed is the Hi-Gear 5-speed (see bottom left corner of website http://hi-gearengineering.co.uk/) so yes, you still have to do the same thing...BUT...you're saving the Moss mark-up and the shipping from Moss to you.

Customs did cost me about $70 later on but still a lot cheaper.

I'd call Hi-Gear - I can't remember the guy's name but he's super easy to talk to and informative as heck - and can answer any question you would have about the install.

Gene
Gene Gillam

You might want to contact Steve Neil of Skyhook Engineering, Maine. He modifies the bell-housing of the transmissions he uses so that the engine remains in place.

As for saving $1,000, it'll be a lot less. I had to pay freight from the port of entry (Boston) to my home, in addition to duty and finally a currency exchange fee to VISA. If you go with Hi-Gear's kit here in the States check with John Esposito at Quantum Mechanics for pricing first.
David Werblow

I've been in contact with Steve Neil several times this year and he is not currently doing his great transmission. He told me there have been some health issues. Plus what few donor tranny's out there are asking outlandish prices.
Sigh...
Ed
efh Haskell

Sorry to hear about Steve. It might be his wife with health issues. That's the way I remember it when I bought his conversion 5 years ago. Either way, sad. Good diet with NO gluten's, normal sea salt, high protean, lotssa sunshine (when it isn't raining) and physical exercise. Remember Aurthur Murrey? He said try dancing (every night - contra when possible).
John Redman

Hi John,

What type of gear box does Steve's conversion use and is the MG bell housing retained.

Cheers

Jan T
J Targosz

Steve's conversion involves a Datsun B-210 5 and it uses the Datsun bell housing.
John Redman

John,

As fas as I can recall, Steve Neal's conversion does not use the Datsun B210 transmission. That is a front wheel drive car.

The earlier 210 rear-wheel drive uses the desired transmission for the Skyhook conversion. I have details if anyone's interested, but since there are so few now coming on to the market, its almost a waste of time.

I had a dtr working in Durango, Mexico a few years back. I recall driving about the roads and seeing abandoned cars in the fields including a few 210s. In two cases, I stopped to look at them and one had the 5-speed, and the other had the 4-speed; and I saw many more just drying out in the heat of Central Mexico. They may still be there!

Steve had a special bellhousing cast for the conversion, that looked similar to the T-Series belhousing.

Gord Clark
Rockburn, Qué.
Gordon A Clark

The 210 trans, code FA, FS, FL or FX is the right trans, but they are few and far between these days - still used for Spridget conversions, so still desireable.

Steve cut the front of the bellhousing, welded a mating flange to fit T-series, and made various other alterations. Since his stroke he has not done these conversions.

om Lange
MGT REpair
t lange

Although I have not seen the car I have a friend who mated the Ford type 9 gearbox to his TD using a self-made adapter plate between the XPAG bellhousing and the gearbox.
He told me it was a straight forward exercise once he had the gearbox and engine on a bench in front of him.
I believe the plate was about 3/4" thick aluminium and a small amount of lathe work plus drilling and tapping was involved.
I also know a chap that used a similar process to adapt a Toyota Sprinter/Celica box into a TD.
R Somerville

If you go to www.5speedMarina.com you will find pictures and a write up relating to fitting a 5 speed Ford Type 9 gear box to a Morris K series engine. I was wondering if it would be possible to make a similar adapter plate to mate the Ford 'box to an EXPAG engine. I know kits are available but they are expensive (very) and there is satisfction in doing it yourself.

Cheers

Jan T
J Targosz

There is another way,,,,
go to http://www.tregister.org/ttt_archive.php
download issue #6
go to page 32
STEVE WINCZE

Steve, that overdrive article (above) was from 2004, 9 years ago. Did that fellow ever complete the job I wonder?
If somebody (i.e. Moss) would offer an overdrive "kit" for the TD for $1,000 bucks I'll bet they would fly off the shelves! I would be first in line!! Moss, if you read this forum, think about it. Most guys here cannot afford the $4,500+ Moss 5-speed but I'll bet 90% want one.
Ed

efh Haskell

Hi,

I've told there are three sources for 5 speed conversions. One is Hi Gear and I believe Andy King is another. Apparently the third simply sells replacement bellhouses with a MG "front" and a Ford "rear". Does anyone know who this person is?

Cheers

Jan
J Targosz

Gene, Its Peter Gamble at Hi Gear Engineering. The TD conversion kit is bolt on and includes all the parts except speedo calibration. Its already engineered to fit and original can be put back in when required. No permanent modifications to the TD.

I just ordered a MGA kit. The T9 trans was the hard part,( not many were in cars in Canada) although Hi Gear can still source those.
C.R. Tyrell

This thread was discussed between 18/07/2013 and 27/07/2013

MG TD TF 1500 index

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