5 speed or not ?

Jayrz · Feb 28, 2009

So yeah,

I can't sem to make up my mind. My 64 MGB has a ruined 2nd gear synchro and the box needs to come out.

Doing kind of a "period performance car" with the thing so I am thinking strongly about repairing the 3 synchro box in it,,,, but would really like to have the datsu box too.

opinions?

rick_ingram · Feb 28, 2009

Will the Z-car transmission fit the transmission tunnel without major modifications? That would be my only concern with your vintage of MGB. I would try to make as few irreversible modifications as possible on early cars.

Would an O/D gearbox fit your needs? (Realizing the potential rarity of the early O/D boxes)

bob67bgt · Feb 28, 2009

Z car has a shifter location that will require a cut on the tunnel and a whack with a hammer up by your foot. The T9 kit Hap sells should fit with no problem. ....I use a borg warner T5 from a 4 cyl mustang in my Mk1 cars but there is no kit available. Bob

Steve_S · Feb 28, 2009

5-Speeds work well but will often lower the resale value of a Mark I car. Of course this only matters if you plan to sell it at some point. The deal killer for me is that it changes the feel of driving the car. I like that vintage, mechanical-feeling gearbox in the early cars. Full syncro is nice for a daily driver, but carving a canyon is much more fun to me with the original period bits.

vagt6 · Mar 1, 2009

Steve_S said:
5-Speeds work well but will often lower the resale value of a Mark I car. Of course this only matters if you plan to sell it at some point. The deal killer for me is that it changes the feel of driving the car. I like that vintage, mechanical-feeling gearbox in the early cars. Full syncro is nice for a daily driver, but carving a canyon is much more fun to me with the original period bits.

I think Steve hit it right on the head: all of his points are valid. Inevitably, the 5 speed will make it drive more like a modern car. But, is that what you really want?

Regarding "never" selling the car: although most of us would love to believe that we'll never sell, we definitely WILL <span style="font-style: italic">someday</span> (our estate when we kick the bucket, etc.). You never know. Another good reason to keep the car original.

Rebuild the gearbox and add an overdrive if you can. Overdrive totally transforms these cars and there's nothing like the sound, feel and *click* of shifting into overdrive! Plus, it never fails to wow uninitiated passengers. Most importantly, if done correctly the rebuilt gearbox will last for tens of thousands of miles, or more.

Stick to period mods (i.e., mods that were generally available in the car's era), they don't change the "feel" of the car and will INCREASE, not decrease the value (and feel) of your LBC.

You can't go wrong with period mods, period. :yesnod:

bob67bgt · Mar 1, 2009

Its all about opinions. If YOU want a 5 speed then do it.If your car is about resale then you are in the wrong game.YOU need to enjoy your car and the heck with what the next guy thinks. If you get a 5 speed with ratios close to what MG had then the 5 speed is a great way to go. The last GT i purchased has a Datsun 5 speed in it. First gear is very tall and it changes the feel of the car. My T5 conversions feel about the same as a early trans. Click, click ,click into the gears! Its still better than a standard 4 speed! Syncro first will not effect the way it drives on a nice twistie mountain road! Just keep it on the road and maintained and we'll all be happy with your decision. Bob

Rick_Stevens · Mar 1, 2009

bob67bgt said:
Its all about opinions. If YOU want a 5 speed then do it.If your car is about resale then you are in the wrong game.YOU need to enjoy your car and the heck with what the next guy thinks. If you get a 5 speed with ratios close to what MG had then the 5 speed is a great way to go. The last GT i purchased has a Datsun 5 speed in it. First gear is very tall and it changes the feel of the car. My T5 conversions feel about the same as a early trans. Click, click ,click into the gears! Its still better than a standard 4 speed! Syncro first will not effect the way it drives on a nice twistie mountain road! Just keep it on the road and maintained and we'll all be happy with your decision. Bob

x2.

It's your car, do what you want with it.

OD or 5-speed, either one is a great addition. Easier (maybe cheaper, maybe not) to find a good 5-speed swap. I love the Datsun box, but as noted - check with Hap first. The Datsun DOES require some mods to the earlier cars.

SteveTR · Mar 1, 2009

There are enough opinions here to form a committee.

I make a motion that you find a car with a 5 speed and drive it. My TR3 will have a Bill Close modified 5 speed. There are several options within your options. The difference between a standard standard 4 speed is both redundant and magical compared with that of a Nissan or Toyota transmission.

All in favor of the above motion signify with...

But know this - with all my puffery on the TR3 I am going modified restoration, and with my newest purchase - a 1957 MGA Coupe I am going stock throughout.

Good luck,

Steve

billspohn · Mar 2, 2009

I have both stock and 5 speed boxes in my MGs. I prefer stock.

PAUL161 · Mar 2, 2009

If was me and of course it isn't, I wouldn't put any other tranny in it if I had to cut and modify the tunnel, which in the earlier models were narrower than the later ones. The cost, I believe, will be about the same as putting in the one that came with it when new and as others have said, changing the tranny will change it from it's original driving experience. I prefer an old car to drive like an old car. That's why I bought it.

Hap Waldrop · Mar 4, 2009

I think anyone who drives a 5 speed MGB on the interstate immediately falls in love with 5 speed, it opens up one more way to use our cars, in my opinion a 5 speed is a more viable choice than a factory OD, the 5 speed is just better. When I looked into getting in the 5 speed business I thought about alot of things, most of them being not having to cut on the car, or modify alot, the T9 kit is the way I went, it's bell housing is a exact copy of the front of a MGB transmission case so it looks stock from under the hood, it lets you use all MGB clutch components including a MGB clutch disc, you don't have to modify a flywheel, and that opens up the option of having a aluminum flywheel (which I'm doing on my car), it also let you use your normal clutch hydraulics, and no modificatiton to the chassis whatsoever. As far as lowering the resale value on a Mark 1 car, I guess maybe if you doing concourse shows, but tell me if you buy one of these cars to drive, and you're looking at two equal cars for the same money sitting side by side, which one would you choose, the 4 speed or the 5 speed?

billspit · Mar 4, 2009

I'm wondering in from the dark side, but most of the folks with Triumph's that have the 5 speeds love them. I have a Mk I Spit with OD and would rather have a 5 speed. I have a Type 9 transmission sitting around, but I need to come up with an adapter plate for a Spit. Checked with Frontline and they run about $350.

billspohn · Mar 4, 2009

Hap Waldrop said:
tell me if you buy one of these cars to drive, and you're looking at two equal cars for the same money sitting side by side, which one would you choose, the 4 speed or the 5 speed?

Neither. I'd choose the 6 speed (stock MG box with OD on 3rd and 4th).

Bruce74B · Mar 5, 2009

billspohn said:
Hap Waldrop said:

tell me if you buy one of these cars to drive, and you're looking at two equal cars for the same money sitting side by side, which one would you choose, the 4 speed or the 5 speed?

Click to expand...

Neither. I'd choose the 6 speed (stock MG box with OD on 3rd and 4th).

Me, too!

Bob60 · Mar 5, 2009

I installed a Datsun 5-speed kit into my GT, straight bolt in, no body mods, everything fit. Absolutely transforms the car. I can cruise at 80 all day long. The car originally had an OD that was developing problems, the usual fixes (oil, o-rings etc. did not fix it), so it clearly required a rebuild. For slightly more than the price of a rebuilding the OD, I installed the Datsun kit. As far as resale - my feeling is - so what; after all, we're not dealing with Ferraris here. I'm not convinced a 5-speed greatly diminishes resale anyway. I also agree with Hal - two equal cars side by side - I'd take the one with the 5-speed. One final note - the factory OD consists of three systems: mechanical, hydraulic and electrical. A 5-speed eliminates two of those.

PAUL161 · Mar 5, 2009

Hap Waldrop said:
I think anyone who drives a 5 speed MGB on the interstate immediately falls in love with 5 speed, it opens up one more way to use our cars, in my opinion a 5 speed is a more viable choice than a factory OD, the 5 speed is just better. When I looked into getting in the 5 speed business I thought about alot of things, most of them being not having to cut on the car, or modify alot, the T9 kit is the way I went, it's bell housing is a exact copy of the front of a MGB transmission case so it looks stock from under the hood, it lets you use all MGB clutch components including a MGB clutch disc, you don't have to modify a flywheel, and that opens up the option of having a aluminum flywheel (which I'm doing on my car), it also let you use your normal clutch hydraulics, and no modificatiton to the chassis whatsoever. As far as lowering the resale value on a Mark 1 car, I guess maybe if you doing concourse shows, but tell me if you buy one of these cars to drive, and you're looking at two equal cars for the same money sitting side by side, which one would you choose, the 4 speed or the 5 speed?

I didn't know they had a 5 speed that would drop in without modifying the tunnel on the older Bs. What make is it Hap?

Steve_S · Mar 5, 2009

Bruce74B said:
billspohn said:

Hap Waldrop said:

tell me if you buy one of these cars to drive, and you're looking at two equal cars for the same money sitting side by side, which one would you choose, the 4 speed or the 5 speed?

Click to expand...

Neither. I'd choose the 6 speed (stock MG box with OD on 3rd and 4th).

Click to expand...

Me, too!

Me, three! :iagree:

Bob60 said:
As far as resale - my feeling is - so what; after all, we're not dealing with Ferraris here. I'm not convinced a 5-speed greatly diminishes resale anyway.

If we were talking Ferraris then we wouldn't care about losing money! I do care about resale value if I don't plan to keep the car forever.

Jayrz · Mar 6, 2009

Ultimately the decision is going to involve the funds available weighed against keeping the originality of the car. If I drop a grand into the original it can be like new and likely won't ever wear out again given the amount the car is going to be driven but I am stuck without that 5 speed all synchro feel. If I go datsun the stuff that needs to be cut, well that kinda turns me off, and don't really want to go that route.

Best solution is the T9 kit because the car does not have to be altered and can easily be put back to original,,, but dang! So much friggin money!Wonder if there is a way to buy the T9 kit without the trans if I source my own gearbox because they are a little rare over here but certainly not unobtainable here in Denver.

Hap Waldrop · Mar 10, 2009

Paul it is the Borg Warner T9, used in several Fords in the Europe, but only the Merkur here in the states, there are a couple of input shaft lengths, so no guarantee one you would find is the right one for the conversion. It wroks in the early cars, and the shifter comes out in the stock location, the early cars do hav asmaller tunnel and it is a little tighter, but it work fine, I plan on putting one in my 67 GT, which is a small tunnel car as well. They make two different bellhousings as well one for the the 3 syncro cars, and one for the 4 syncro cars, so you use all your normal MG clutch stuff.

This has been a good deal for me so far, I've sold three conversion kits in about 6 weeks, I'd love to sell one to a member from here, so I could send Basil a commision check for the site

Mickey Richaud · Mar 10, 2009

Bruce74B said:
billspohn said:

Hap Waldrop said:

tell me if you buy one of these cars to drive, and you're looking at two equal cars for the same money sitting side by side, which one would you choose, the 4 speed or the 5 speed?

Click to expand...

Neither. I'd choose the 6 speed (stock MG box with OD on 3rd and 4th).

Click to expand...

Me, too!

The '73 B that I restored for Janet came with the factory OD. While a 5-speed is a great option, it's hard to beat the "cool factor" of switching on the OD and watching the tach numbers drop!

However, if it hadn't come with the factory OD, I'd be tempted to go with Hap's option.

Mickey

Thread starter	Title	Forum	Replies	Date
	Correct Transmission Oil for Datsun 210 5-speed	Spridgets	1	Mar 25, 2024
	Jag 5 speed?	Jaguar	5	Feb 11, 2024
T	Datsun 5 speed potentially available from wrecker:	Spridgets	0	Sep 23, 2023
	What oil for Datsun 5 speed?	Spridgets	7	Sep 6, 2023
L	General MG Five speed	MG	6	Jul 19, 2023
K	Putting a Getrag 5 speed OD transmission in a Jaguar Mkll ?	Jaguar	4	Jul 11, 2023
D	Wanted WTB - clutch fork and shifter from Datsun 5 speed #60	Spridgets Classified	0	Jun 26, 2023
G	5-Speed Conversions	Austin Healey	15	May 3, 2023
J	TR2/3/3A TR3 Soft top speed limit?	Triumph	9	Mar 17, 2023
	Pilot Bearing Adapter for Smitty's 5-Speed Kit	Austin Healey	3	Mar 8, 2023
	Moss Motors 5-speed install in a Bugeye Sprite	Spridgets	2	Feb 6, 2023
T	Rut's 4 speed shifter modification - anyone have knowledge?	Spridgets	3	Feb 2, 2023
	Wanted WTB: two speed wiper motor TR4A / 75568 - Found	Triumph Classifieds	2	Oct 10, 2022
	Datsun 5-speed info neede	Spridgets	5	Jun 28, 2022
	Smitty's Five-Speed Manual	Austin Healey	1	Mar 30, 2022
S	TR2/3/3A Moss Motors Vitesse 5 Speed Conversion Kit Installation Issues	Triumph	13	Mar 17, 2022
	T-Series 5 Speed Road Test	MG	25	Mar 6, 2022
	T-Series 5 Speed Transmission	MG	85	Nov 30, 2021
	Tremec T-5 Five-Speed Transmission	Austin Healey	39	Oct 31, 2021
	Difficult-Shifting Toyota Five-Speed	Austin Healey	17	Oct 5, 2021
	Idle Speed Variation	Austin Healey	19	Jul 9, 2021
	Toyota 5-Speed	Austin Healey	3	Jun 18, 2021
	Toyota 5 Speed transmission	Austin Healey	4	Jun 12, 2021
T	Wedge TR7 4 speed wheel cylinders on 5 speed (locating pin)	Triumph	0	May 22, 2021
G	TR4/4A "Engine seized after engaging overdrive at low speed.	Triumph	26	May 16, 2021
T	maybe a Datsun 210 5 speed available in Oakland?	Spridgets	2	Apr 19, 2021
B	1966 TR4A two speed wiper motor	Triumph Classifieds	1	Feb 24, 2021
I	GT6 A type OD vs D type - engagement speed?	Triumph	3	Dec 23, 2020
	Toyota 5 Speed - Truck or Supra?	Austin Healey	16	Nov 23, 2020
	Toyota 5-speed shifter bushing	Austin Healey	7	Oct 24, 2020
	5 speed conversion question	Austin Healey	9	Sep 19, 2020
	Toyota 5-speed bell housing drain hole	Austin Healey	14	Jul 31, 2020
S	For Sale 3000 BJ8 Laycock 4 speed with 22% OD trans & 2 6 cyln engines / long blocks / BUNDLE	Austin Healey Classifieds	1	Jul 6, 2020
	Caving In [5-speed conversion for BN2]	Austin Healey	29	Jun 22, 2020
	Aftermarket heater/defroster with 3 speed fan	Austin Healey	15	Apr 30, 2020
	“Healey: Cars for Speed & Glamour” Exhibition	Austin Healey	5	Mar 12, 2020
S	TR2/3/3A Speed O not working	Triumph	27	Jan 27, 2020
M	TR6 5 speed conversion	Triumph	33	Jan 13, 2020
	T-Series Who's still building 5 speed conversions.	MG	4	Dec 20, 2019
	For Sale TR4 - 4 Speed	Triumph Classifieds	7	Dec 10, 2019
	For Sale 5 speed kits for supra conversion	Triumph Classifieds	0	Oct 4, 2019
B	"Healey 5-Speed"/Pete Delaney Contact	Austin Healey	27	Aug 26, 2019
M	5-speed, 1968, 4.2, E-Type, OTS	Jaguar	3	Aug 18, 2019
	Question on 1 speed wiper motor	Spridgets	2	Jun 6, 2019
	5 speed install	Spridgets	14	Jun 5, 2019
	Leaking 5-speed drain plug	Spridgets	26	May 18, 2019
	For Sale 5 speed kits for supra conversion	Triumph Classifieds	0	Apr 8, 2019
	Toyota 5-speed Problem	Austin Healey	28	Dec 25, 2018
F	TR6 Squeal When Turning Sharply at Low Speed	Triumph	6	Nov 21, 2018
S	Wedge 4-speed gearbox problem	Triumph	6	Oct 4, 2018

5 speed or not ?

Share this page

Jedi Trainee

Yoda

Jedi Knight

Yoda

vagt6

Guest

Jedi Knight

Jedi Trainee

Jedi Hopeful

Jedi Knight

Great Pumpkin

Yoda

Jedi Knight

Jedi Knight

Jedi Knight

Member

Great Pumpkin

Yoda

Jedi Trainee

Yoda

Moderator

Similar threads