Gearbox Identification

[Editor_Reid]

Could someone please positively identify this gearbox?

It came out of long-term storage in a garage where there were several cars stored long-term: a BN2 Healey, a 1960 Lotus Elite, and 240Z race car, a Model T, a 1949 Chrysler, and a very low-production Lotus race car (1 of 17, or something like that).

Thanks.

 

[John Turney]

A Google search leads to a MGA: https://mgaguru.com/mgtech/gearbox/gt101.htm

 

[Michael Oritt]

Yes, it looks exactly like the MGA 3-synch box that was in both of my Elva's, the Courier and the sports racer.

John--what did you put in the google search box--the numbers shown in the photo?

 

[Editor_Reid]

Yes, it looks exactly like the MGA 3-synch box that was in both of my Elva's, the Courier and the sports racer.

Really? With that same shape to the bell housing with those large cut-outs?

John--what did you put in the google search box--the numbers shown in the photo?

Yeah. I tried searching "22H34" and got no where. Likewise searching "22H34 gearbox" was also no joy.

There are none that look like it at the link, but maybe I'll try the MG Forum anyway.

 

[red57]

It does look a lot like the MGA boxes shown in the link John found but the one difference I see is the vertical throw-out arm. The MGA Twin cam box shows a raised boss about where a slave cylinder could mount but I don't see a hole with a raised ridge around it for the arm to come out? The large cut outs in the bellhousing may be modifications 'cause I don't see where the starter would bolt up.

 

[John Turney]

Yes, it looks exactly like the MGA 3-synch box that was in both of my Elva's, the Courier and the sports racer.

John--what did you put in the google search box--the numbers shown in the photo?

MOWOG 1H3150 from the first photo.

 

[Michael Oritt]

Ah yes.
Nice catch.

I seem to recall buying a transmission out of a Metropolitan--it had a boss for the slave cylinder on top. I was using an annular clutch with its own cylinder so it was no matter.

 

[Editor_Reid]

MOWOG 1H3150 from the first photo.

Good eye! I was focused on the more easily readable numbers. That said, it also says 1H3150 in the 7th photo, and it also has 4 B 60 making me wonder if it was made in April 1960. Either way, I've written to the MGA Guru for his assessment.

And strange about those bell housing cut-outs. They don't look "home made."

 

[Editor_Reid]

I checked with Barney the MGA Guru and he says, "MG ZA or ZB Magnette. 10-spline input shaft, top mounted slave cylinder, straight up shifter."

Thanks John for mentioning him which gave me the idea to contact him directly. Now I just need to find a buyer ... but how many MG ZA or ZB Magnettes can there be ... and how many need a gearbox ... and are willing to buy one in unknown condition?

Seems like I might own it for a long time.

 

[Michael Oritt]

Reid--

If you look at the photo ending in 61 you will see at the bottom what I think is the inward side of a second boss to accept a secondary cylinder, and the more I think about it the more I seem to recall that the transmission I purchased from a Nash Metro guy had two bosses--one on top as does yours and one low and on the right side as is often found. As to the two big cutouts I can only think that either this transmission was mounted in a car with longitudinal rails that required narrowing of the bell housing or perhaps there were simply fractures in the casting and someone with a diegrinder /sawzall decided to perform radical surgery to head off the cracks.

At some point you should pull off the side plate and see if perhaps there is a CR and/or square-cut gear set installed. That, in and of itself, would be valuable.

 

[Editor_Reid]

I checked with Barney the MGA Guru and he says, "MG ZA or ZB Magnette. 10-spline input shaft, top mounted slave cylinder, straight up shifter."

Thanks John for mentioning him which gave me the idea to contact him directly. Now I just need to find a buyer ... but how many MG ZA or ZB Magnettes can there be ... and how many need a gearbox ... and are willing to buy one in unknown condition?

Seems like I might own it for a long time.

Now another guy says it's correct for a TVR Grantura. There's the answer to a great trivia question in this episode: What do the MG ZA and the TVR Grantura have in common?

 

[steveg]

Now another guy says it's correct for a TVR Grantura. There's the answer to a great trivia question in this episode: What do the MG ZA and the TVR Grantura have in common?

TVR wouldn't have had a major component, such as a transmission, that was unique to a TVR! According the the TVR Grantura Wikipedia page, total production for all three models was 800, using a variety of engines and transmissions.

 

[smaceng]

looks correct for a Lotus Elite Type 14......from a Magnette with the side sliced off.
Scott in CA