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No one makes a 1500/ 210 convestion ??????

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I researched into a Spit OD and don't want to cut my perfect, never wrecked, rust free California car. If the Datsun tranny can go into an unmodified 1275 Spridget, then no cutting should be needed on a 1500, right? Does anyone make or know of such a kit (any 5 sp for that matter) or one that doesn't require cutting up my poor little car? Thanks.
 
These guys (Frontline) will sell you one:

https://www.mgcars.org.uk/frontline/gearbox.htm

Won't be cheap, though.

Personally, I like the standard ribcage just fine.
If my Spridget was a street car, I might look for a 3.7 final drive, but that's about it.
 
That kit still requires cutting the crossmember.
 
Maybe you should put in a 1275 with a datsun transmission? :wink:
 
I've got a 1275 here, but I want to keep it original. I also have an original 3.70 chunk here that I was going to put in as well.
 
My bad.

I forgot you have the all-syncro "Marina trans" in the 1500 (just like my race car).

The "ribcage" is the trans that comes with the 1275 (the case has a bunch of strengthening ribs cast into it). It has a non-syncro first gear, but otherwise, it's a fine trans that shifts beautifully.

Actually, the 1500 Marina trans is OK too, but I like the ribcage trans that the 1275 comes with better.
I'm swapping my 1500 for a 1275 engine/trans later in the season.
 
Hi Kellysguy,

You don't want to go with a 1275/OD combination for reasons of originality...

...but you want to put an overdrive in a car that never had one, and you don't want to use the only OD that the Midget / Spitfire 1500 engine came with?

I'm not trying to be obtuse, but I'm not sure that I understand the question. If you're asking 'is there an overdrive or OD kit that will mount to a 1500 engine, and will require no body modifications whatsoever to the Midget transmission tunnel or crossmember?' then I think the answer is no. Not that has been developed / marketed, AFAIK.

I'm pondering the same thing, but planning on the Laycock OD. Rust-free California car here as well, but I'm willing to grit my teeth and do a little cutting, for the sake of increased drivability. Work to be done next winter, I think.

Best,
Duncan
 
The Datsun box requires no cutting, but it is a tight squeeze. But for the 1500... I think your on your own.
 
Has anyone ever considered a conversion to Fiat 124 5speed box? Not too sure about the fit (it looks good in pictures but might be a tad wide!), but the Fiat box has a separate bell housing like the 1500 box, so some adapting might be possible, and a bell housing made from a ribcase could also be possible! I was just comparing the gear ratios between them and the first 4 gears are amazingly close to our stock boxes with the Fiat providing an additional overdrive 5th gear of either 0.881 or 0.912.
 
Down here in Johannesburg

Someone not so long ago had a similar topic and I posted a bunch of cut and pastes from emails from a similar investigation...................

The 'correct' type for a Midget 1500 would be the single rail 1500 Spitfire 'J' type overdrive conversion.

https://www.canleyclassics.com/products.asp?article=overdriveconversionkit.xml

This site together with the one above (Nial's) are the 2 serious options. BUT you will have to cut and weld. The alternate is get a longer drive diff from 78 onwards.

Cheers,
Mark
 
I don't mind "unoriginal" as long as I can return it back to original easily without any long term effects so cutting is out. I don't mind an "unoriginal" trans. I believe the parts should fit the car, not the car fit the parts. If it wasn't so nice, I wouldn't mind cutting. I have another one ('75) as a parts car and might do some "modification" with that one, but not my '79.

Where can I get a 3.55 ?????? That would be great !!!! I'd rather do that anyway. I was hoping for a 3.55 but figured that wasn't avalible. Oh that would be PERFECT !!!!!

The car isn't fast to begin w/ so I won't mind another few seconds getting up to speed.


Oh please tell me where I can get one of those from !!!!!!!
 
Victoria British used to have them.
 
This is a common mis-speaking, the correct term is "rib-case" or even ribbed case. This refers to the external strengthening ribs cast into the case to give greater strength over the previous "smooth case" tranny.
 
Westfield is CORRECT!!! (Ooops! I left out the hyphen :blush: !)
 
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