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5 Speed Tranny ......

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Re: 5 Speed Tranny , 1979, 1500 Midget

The original backing plate is steel, actually rather thin and weighs an ungodly amount. The new adapter plate is aluminum but it is at least 2-3 times thicker than the original plate and still is considerably lighter, a mere fraction of the weight. Since its main purpose is to act as a spacer/adapter, it is more than sufficient in strength. Plus any forces that occur between the engine and transmission would be at a right angle to the adapter plate as torque forces (which should be going through the transmission to the wheels, not the adapter!) so really the fasteners holding it all together are probably more important than the metallurgical properties of the adapter.
 
Re: 5 Speed Tranny , 1979, 1500 Midget

How far forward? In general terms, it moves the shifter about 7" forward. The shifter would be about 20" from the bellhousing surface of the engine. The input shaft of a WC T5 is about 7 1/2" long. I think the 6 cyl. version of the T5 has a shorter input shaft.
 
Re: 5 Speed Tranny , 1979, 1500 Midget

Hey Guys,
I wish the Datsun tranny would work in my 1500 also but
have been informed it wouldn't work because of a problem
with an adapter plate, which is why I'm going with the
Ford kit. And to correct one of my last submissions on
the subject, I said it was Rivergate that sold the kit
for the 1500. I was wrong. It is www.quantumechanics.com
and www.piercemanifolds.com that sells a kit for the 1500.
John @ Quantumechanics also said that one of the J type
overdrives out of a 1500 Spitfire would also work. I just
don't like the idea of the electric switch to kick in the
overdrive. Heard that if you ever accidently shut the car
off and either forgot to flip the switch or accidently
turned the switch and then shifted to reverse it would de-
stroy the tranny. Would not be a happy camper if that ever
happened.
 
Re: 5 Speed Tranny , 1979, 1500 Midget

Sorry about that. I think this post started with somebody who had an A-series 1275. The datsun will work for that but the 1500's are indeed a different story. Can't help there. Didn't mean to mislead anyone. Sorry.
 
Re: 5 Speed Tranny , 1979, 1500 Midget

Not a problem lesingepsycho. I like reading about other
LBC owners having the same kinds of problems. I think I'd
heard it back when I was a kid that misery loves company.
But you'd be surprised what you can learn by just reading
problems others are having with theirs. God don't you just
love these little cars.
 
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