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74 and later 5 speed

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Blueghost

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1st real post. GREAT site. Had '61 Bugeye from '65 to '69 & had no clue how lucky I was. Got a 78 Midget by accident 2 yrs ago. Wife says mid-life crisis. Wife and Midget are both keepers (she bought me a bugeye basket case).

Also by accident got rid of Calif emissions crap and put in normal pistons and very mild cam form Oregon Cam. Quite satisfied w/ engine. 28 MPG and reasonable acceleration. Transmission is different story. When I tell seasoned LBC drivers that I feel like I need to shift to 5th they all say, "yea, so what." I have been told there really is no 5th speed conversion for late model 1500s and just live with it. After all, we accepted Nixon and polio until the late 50s.

I just saw the post by budk1953 from 7/15/07, and the last couple of days. He has a very good looking and maybe economically feasible 5 speed for rubber bumpers. Budk1953 says kit came from Quantamechanics w/ ford T9 xmsm. I will email Bud directly. Can't find Quantamechanics on the web.

Question 1; What 5 speed transmissions are really available for 74 & later daily drivers?

Queation 2; Realizing there may be several, is there a single site that give plus and minus of each w/ dollar estimates?

Question 3; For us old [censored], how do you do spell check on this site so I don't look as dumb as I might really be?

Thanks in advance
Blueghost, Bob McMahon
 
No spell check, we use strange words all the time.

Welcome, lets see some pics of your Bugeye er cars.

We like pics.
 
have never before seen a kit for the 1500 midget. a few good ones available for the pre-74 (A Series.). Never heard nor seen anything for the 1500 tho. Oh other than the addition of a spite fire trans with Electric overdrive. (Need to widen the rear of the trans tunnel tho.) Also custom, never seen a kit.
 
Welcome to the boards! There isn't much on 1500 5-speeds. Here is one that is fairly common in the UK

https://www.the-wizardsden.com/html/conversion.html

You can get Sierra trannys here as Merkur XR4 Ti - can find them on ebay or https://www.car-part.com

BTW - ebay your air rail if it hasn't been destroyed, there is a very steady market for Californians re fitting the pollution stuff for their emissions tests.

One thought I had was a Chevette 5-speed. Haven't followed it up though.

again, welcome, it's a great place!
 
Bob:

Welcome! Probably the easiest "5 speed" for a 1500 Midget is the use of a Spitfire overdrive trans. This requires some minor pounding out of the trans tunnel and fabbing some trans mounts....not too bad.

You can see how it works out here:

https://www.boicey.com/midget/midget_overdrive.html


Otherwise, the 5 speed Sierra trans (Ford T9) can be fitted with the bellhousing from Quantamechanics. I think this is your only other "common" option. All the other "swaps" usually involve an engine *and* trans swap.
 
Bob,
The set-up from Quantum is a compltete kit with rebuilt T9 trannie, adaptor plate to use existing bellhousing and clutch slave cylinder, new driveshaft, new speedo cable, braces and hardware, new fiberglass interior tunnel to cover old shifter hole, new carpet piece to cover tunnel, shifter, and all misc. pieces needed to complete installation.

The wizardsden site was helpful to use as a guide, although the new shifter cut-out location as shown was a little off (the new tunnel cover will take care of that.

Chopping out the tunnel worried me a little but after seeing the bracing assembly my mind was put at ease. A little grinding was also required on the adaptor plate for a flush fit.

Here's my first post on the conversion
Conversion
If the pictures don't appear click the link at the bottom of the post.

Please feel free to email or PM me.
 
Great posts...

Seems that not many of us have 1500's and that the 1500 is seen as (or maybe even is) a crappy engine.

Combine having a '77 Midget with CA smog regulations and then using it as a daily driver (cant have it out of commission for long periods) is "interesting"... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

Yes it is a daily driver because of two reasons
1) Starting and ending a work day driving a Midget is a great way to get a smile on the face both to work and getting home... /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
2) Id rather drive than bike to work.


I am always interested in doable solutions.
 
Here's a doable solution...

Find an old Datsun 210 Deluxe (or maybe even a 310) with an A15 motor and 5 speed. Maybe get really lucky like another member here and find one for $50. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

Makes for a pretty good fit in a late model Midget & provides more power and reliability (IMHO more than the original 1500).
 
Thanks all for reply. All good info for future work.
Jack Laird; Yes, I know how to mis-spell many words. Don't have digital camera for pictures but will borror. Currently in Oaklahome City for 5 weeks. Return to Portland in late October. That's how I actually have some time for this great site.
JPSmitt; UK mod looks great, and affordable. Will study at length.
Baz; Thanks for Quantum link.
BudK1953; looks excellent, also web site shows it is quite spendy. Will look very close at this.
Aeronca65; need more study of Spitfire Overdrive; how does this compare with actual 5th gear? And your stage name has real strong aviation overtones. Explain.
Ulf; yes, a bad ride in a midget is better than any ride on a bike of USA car, (very few exceptions).
 
Blueghost said:
......Aeronca65; need more study of Spitfire Overdrive; how does this compare with actual 5th gear? And your stage name has real strong aviation overtones. Explain.....
Click to expand...

The overdrive ratio of the Spit trans is similar in ratio to the top gear in a regular 5-speed. So cruising at higher speeds would feel about the same.
You can also rig the Spit trans to have overdrive on 3rd gear so it would have the spacing of a 6 speed...with a nice "passing gear" (actually, you could use overdrive in ALL gears, but using O/D in the first two gears is pretty pointless).

By the way, a very simple solution for better cruising is to just fit a 3.7 final drive. This gives close to the same results and can be done in a day. Starting out in 1st gear is not really any different..these engines have good torque. The 3.7 axle ratio came in the last 1500 Midgets.

As for the user-name. Simple.
I own a 1941 Aeronca 65T

~CLICK HERE~ to see it.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]The 3.7 axle ratio came in the last 1500 Midgets.[/QUOTE]

The last, as in the last year or?
Was that a change from 3.9 to 3.7 and if so, for us non experts it sounds like a 6% change in rpm at specific mph, that correct?
 
Ulf said:
Great posts...

Seems that not many of us have 1500's and that the 1500 is seen as (or maybe even is) a crappy engine.
Click to expand...

I don't think the 1500 is a crappy engine - it's not as robust as the 1275, mostly because of the thrust washers which can wear and fall out. That being said, even with smog & this, if the engine is running, run it - it's all a car that size needs and more.

If the engine dies replace it sure but know that while 1500 (rubber bumpers) Midgets don't have the same cachet, they're still Midgets and the same wind is blowing through your hair.

I would certainly rather have a RWA or Bugeye (which is why I'm converting to chrome bumper. And Rubber Bumper cars aren't as popular (MGB's either) BUT - they're still fun.

Forgive the rant but I don't want us 1500 folk to be the red headed step children of Midgets
 
And that is what this forum is all about-- having fun with LBC's no matter which one you have!!
Bill
 
which is why I love it!
 
I don't think all 1500's are crappy... just mine /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif
 
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