Question for 5 speed conversion guys

Did any of you that have installed Smitty 5 speed conversions weight your Toyota 5 speed and aluminum bellhousing before installing it? Unfortunately, I never thought to do it and now I'm wondering about weight savings of the 5 speed conversion over the stock AH 4 speed/od....definately a duh moment. I suspect one of you thought to weight it before plugging it in.

Oh, and, yes, I sent Pete Delany (the current owner of the 5 speed conversion) a note but I haven't heard from him. I don't think he stays to current with email.

Thanks for your help.

Cheers,
Steve Thomton
https:/stevesaustinhealey.com

https://www.midlands-overseas.austinhealeyclub.org.uk/. Click on the technical menu, and look up the weight saving page. This should help you. I would have thought it was more. Neil

Healeyneil, thanks this is great! As complete as this is, I'm suprised the bellhousing isn't mentioned....I wonder if he includes it in the backing plate weight?...or in the transmission weight?

Steve

HealeyPassion said:

Healeyneil, thanks this is great! As complete as this is, I'm suprised the bellhousing isn't mentioned....I wonder if he includes it in the backing plate weight?...or in the transmission weight?

Steve

Click to expand...

Bellhousing is part of the xmsn, whereas the backplate should be considered part of the engine.

At present, my car has an MGC xmsn in it, and I suspect it weighs about 80Lbs. I'm actively preparing to rebuild the original side-shift/ovd gearbox, so I'll be putting all that weight back in the chassis. I've done several late-late nights this past week getting internal/external components treated with polymer coatings (dry-film lubricant, thermal dispersant).

I wish I could afford/justify the aluminum cylinder head; significant weight savings there, and sure to be appreciated the next time you pull the head only out of the car.

Thanks for the help Randy!

Yes, the weight savings on the back when pulling the stock head vs. an aluminum one may justify the cost.

Cheers,
Steve

Healey Passion,

You inspired me to weigh some parts today as I thought the Toyota box would surely save more than thirty lbs.

Here's what I found on Longacre electronic scales this afternoon:

Healey side shift OD box with bell housing: 116lbs

Toyota box w/o bellhousing: 78lbs
Toyota bell housing w/ TO brg and release mech: 10 lbs

I don't have the Healey 5 Speed Bell housing yet so I don't know how it compares with the Toyota unit.

Stock Rear engine plate is 19lbs.

Cast head with valves and springs: 84lbs.

Steel deck lid w/ paint: 18lbs
Early ribbed steel Hood w/ paint: 19lbs
Steel frt fender stripped: 14lbs
Frt Shroud stripped: 20lbs

Bare chassis media blasted and primed: 374lbs


Barry

Dont forget that, as the Toyota box will consume less bhp than the original, you have more power at the back wheels too !

healeyneil said:

Dont forget that, as the Toyota box will consume less bhp than the original, you have more power at the back wheels too !

Click to expand...

....and it's got no solenoid to go on the fritz!

healeypassion, perhaps im not understanding your question, what i would do is just re-weigh your car with the new trans in it and just subract it from the cars known stock weight.

Barry, I wish you hadn't listed the weight of the Healey Transmission with OD at 116 lbs. Since I just carried it out of the car and put it on my workbench no wonder my back aches so much. Plus, I have to put it back in! Maybe it's time I seek help.

Johnny said:

Barry, I wish you hadn't listed the weight of the Healey Transmission with OD at 116 lbs. Since I just carried it out of the car and put it on my workbench no wonder my back aches so much. Plus, I have to put it back in! Maybe it's time I seek help.

Click to expand...

And to think, I was under the impression it (side-shift) weighed 120#... :wink:

healeyneil said:

Dont forget that, as the Toyota box will consume less bhp than the original, you have more power at the back wheels too !

Click to expand...

Now that poses an interesting question, and I don't doubt your claim, but...

I'm currently in the process of coating nearly all the internal rotating and sliding components of my original side-shift xmsn and overdrive with polymer coatings (dry-film lubricants, thermal dispersants) so I wonder how much (if any) friction losses can be recovered...?

It is hard to quantify the benefits, and given the labor-intensive nature of their application, even harder to justify them! But if you can appreciate how much a simple header coating lowers your underhood temperature, imagine the advantage of reducing friction (and heat generated) and optomizing heat radiation.

I'm almost finished with the last of the parts to be coated, hopeful that I can have them done before the end of this week. The last of the required replacement parts are en route from Moss. After a brief hiatus (Sarasota ), I plan to lay all the parts out for final assembly, and document the actual assembly with pictures. I'll start a new thread when I have all the material ready for posting...

A little tease:

Ahh, Anthony7777 if only it was that easy....I've got tons of mods to the car so I really couldn't compare.....efi, a/c, stereo, cruise, no bumpers, etc., etc.

Steve
https://stevesaustinhealey.com

Wow Randy, I'm humbled by the scope of this effort! It'll be interesting if you can feel a difference.

Cheers,
Steve