• The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
  • Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

Overdrive/5 speed options for 1500 Midget?

RossL

Member
Country flag
Offline
The only 5 speed kit I see for the 1500 (1978) Midget is the Moss kit.

Are there any other options available (5 speed or OD)?

Anyone have experience with the Moss Kit?
 

RickB

Yoda
Offline
Remember, you asked if there are any other options...

Here's one - find a Datsun 210 GX with a good motor and the 5 speed trans.
Here's another, find a Datsun A12 with dual SU carbs and a 5 speed.

I had to kick myself hard last month when an A12 with dual SU's came up on Craigslist here for only $100 and someone else got to it first.

These motors will mate right up to the 5 speed and not much has to be done to fit it into your 78 Midget.

However, if you really want to keep the original motor then your options are limited. I wonder if BillM has worked out an adapter yet?
 
OP
R

RossL

Member
Country flag
Offline
RickB said:
Remember, you asked if there are any other options...

Here's one - find a Datsun 210 GX with a good motor and the 5 speed trans.
Here's another, find a Datsun A12 with dual SU carbs and a 5 speed.

I had to kick myself hard last month when an A12 with dual SU's came up on Craigslist here for only $100 and someone else got to it first.

These motors will mate right up to the 5 speed and not much has to be done to fit it into your 78 Midget.

However, if you really want to keep the original motor then your options are limited. I wonder if BillM has worked out an adapter yet?

Trying to keep the car as original as possible. It's a 2 owner 42000 mile car that's been in the current owners possesion since 1979
 

nomad

Yoda
Offline
Spitfire's had your engine and a laycock overdrive option. Don't know if there would be room but that may be something to consider.
Agree with Rick though. You could swap engine and trans for a Datsun with not many mods and have more power and a 5 speed plus probably more reliability.

Kurt.
 
V

vagt6

Guest
Guest
Offline
Before installing OD or a 5 speed I humbly suggest that you think really hard about the kind of driving you intend to do in this car. Unless you're spending a LOT of time on superslab highways at 65MPH++, the stock gearing will be just fine.

An OD or 5 speed conversion is a lot of work, and it's relatively expensive. Don't do it unless you're convinced beyond doubt that the majority of your driving will be at higher speeds, or that you'll need a lot more top end speed for some reason (are you racing Porsches?).

The stock gearing is perfect for the car, *unless* you have some unusual need for more top end speed, or sustained speeds above 60ish MPH.

Save that money and purchse some wire wheels or a leather interior (or both!).

Good luck, let us know . . . :thumbsup:
 
Country flag
Offline
If you do not already have 3.7 gears, you could do that to drop the rpms just a bit.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Guest
Offline
RickB said:
I wonder if BillM has worked out an adapter yet?

Yes and no. Further development has been passed along to me. I planned on getting it sorted soon, however; seeing I am currently between income streams it has been delayed.
 

regularman

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
Having driven my 1500 a little bit. 1st is synchonized and it does not seem like a bad gearbox. Seems pretty low in 1st so there is lots of room to increase the final drive ratio. Diff gear would be your cheapest and easiest option if you want higher gearing.
 

nomad

Yoda
Offline
Agree that if you don't have the 3.7 diff in your car that that would be your best option. Diff change is a few hour job. If your car does have the 3.7 then I can't see any reason to worry about a 5 speed.

Kurt.
 

RickB

Yoda
Offline
If it's a '78 it should already have the 3.7 in it.
If you are feeling the need for the OD then you must already be driving it over 60mph on a regular basis.
What are your current RPM's at 60, and at 70mph?
I'd expect you are going about 4000 rpm at 70 right?
Maybe the Spitfire OD unit is the best idea, it's a Spitfire drive train after all. That would preserve originality.
 

regularman

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
You could scour the UK and see if anybody has the 39/11 gearset. I got the last set that Vicky brit had a few years back I think. It works out to 3.5454:1(3.55) and gears it higher. That would give you about what an OD would give you. Especially if you already have the 3.7
 
G

Guest

Guest
Guest
Offline
NLA on the 3.55 anywhere. I have the last new unistalled set known of and no, it's not for sale.
 

bthompson

Jedi Warrior
Offline
+1 on the Spitfire OD transmission. It's the same trans as you already have, basically just with an extended shaft and a Laycock J-type electric planetary overdrive unit hanging off the end.

The only reason the 1500 Midgets didn't have overdrives in the <span style="font-style: italic">first </span>place, is there isn't room for it to fit over the crossmember, and BL didn't want to put the money into re-engineering the transmission tunnel. That and politics: it's always politics.

IMHO, using the Triumph overdrive is just doing what BL <span style="font-style: italic">should </span>have done from the beginning. It <span style="font-style: italic">does </span>involve some irreversible minor surgery to get it to fit: you have to cut the crossmember under the tunnel, and extend the inspection hole forward. The trans then attaches to a reinforcing member bolted or welded under the crossmember like a subframe. Not hard to do, and not expensive if you can find the tranny.
 

MGGuy

Member
Country flag
Offline
You can place a spitfire OD in it. Will take some modifications in the car to get it to fit. I have a 1974 with a 1500 spitfire engine/gearbox Laycock J type OD in it (a previous owner did the install)
https://www.brit.ca/~tboicey/midget/midget_overdrive.html
Hi Jedi Warrior

(Wars do not make one great--Yoda)
I have a 77 Midget and I bought a Spitfire J type O/D tranny. I clicked on the link you provided a long time ago in a forum far far away, but it no longer works. Would you have any installation tips/instructions I could benefit from?

Thanks,

Guy
 

MGGuy

Member
Country flag
Offline
Yeah, I wanted originally to put a Datsun 5 speed 60 series in, but I have a 77 Midget in California and HAVE to use the 1500, not the 1300. Hence, I will use the Spitfire 4 speed with O.D. Wondering if anyone has detailed plans of how to including fabricating the new cross member and how this mounts to the tranny.
 

JPSmit

Moderator
Staff member
Silver
Country flag
Offline
Guy, the thread you replied to is from 2011 - hence the dead links.

Looks like some info here:


a lot here:


and here


both those taken from here:


keep us posted!
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
G TR4/4A "Engine seized after engaging overdrive at low speed. Triumph 26
J Overdrive Retards Vehiclear Speed Austin Healey 4
S BJ8 Sputtering at High Engine Speed and in Overdrive Austin Healey 36
R TR4/4A Changing from 4 speed to Overdrive on a TR4 Triumph 18
S Overdrive 22% to 28% - RPM and Speed Austin Healey 1
tinman58 5-Speed or overdrive? Triumph 35
T 3 Speed to 4 Speed Overdrive Relays Austin Healey 0
L Overdrive Or 5 speed? Triumph 28
W 4 SPEED OVERDRIVE GEARBOX MK2 MG 7
O overdrive and 4 speed question? MG 1
RickPA Overdrive Oil Pressure Austin Healey 8
bighealeysource Leaking Overdrive and Gearbox Drain Plugs Austin Healey 19
71TR6 TR6 Type-J Overdrive identification Triumph 4
luke44 TR2/3/3A Calling all Wiring experts TR3 Overdrive Wiring ver A or ver B or are they the same? Triumph 8
T Wanted Working overdrive unit Austin Healey Classifieds 2
D Overdrive Stops Working After Oil Change Austin Healey 26
S TR2/3/3A overdrive does not function Triumph 45
T TR2/3/3A A type overdrive hard engagement Triumph 36
S Overdrive Throttle Switch Austin Healey 4
KVH General Tech Overdrive--Afraid it's Serious Triumph 45
M Overdrive Pressure Test Austin Healey 2
BN6_2197 Gearbox/Overdrive Removal Austin Healey 25
T For Sale MGB Black Label Overdrive For Sale Or Trade For New RB Parts MG Classifieds 2
Fanch00 Non-Overdrive Benefits? Austin Healey 10
AUSMHLY BJ8 Overdrive Oil Passages Austin Healey 2
R TR6 J-Type overdrive will not disengage when warm Triumph 8
S Overdrive Relays Austin Healey 2
AUSMHLY Overdrive Buffer Pad Austin Healey 3
L Stuck in Overdrive Austin Healey 10
AUSMHLY Flushing the Transmission/Overdrive Austin Healey 7
T Weight of BJ7 Transmission/Overdrive Austin Healey 10
P Overdrive Not Engaging Austin Healey 4
S BJ8 Overdrive Stays Engaged Austin Healey 35
AUSMHLY BJ8 Overdrive Accumulator Spring Tube Austin Healey 1
RonC TR2/3/3A J Type Overdrive in TR3A Triumph 4
AUSMHLY BJ8 Overdrive Pressure Loss Austin Healey 11
AUSMHLY BJ8 Overdrive Oil Pressure Austin Healey 14
John Turney Overdrive Pump Austin Healey 6
S Removing Overdrive Shaft Lever Pin Austin Healey 7
nevets Reversing With Overdrive "On" Austin Healey 8
Healey Nut Overdrive Relay Austin Healey 1
T Clutch or Overdrive Slip Austin Healey 8
A TR4/4A TR4 Overdrive Solenoid Triumph 19
H TR4/4A A-type overdrive pump Triumph 4
B COMPLETE DROP-IN Rebuilt 1975/6 MG Midget 1500 engine PLUS rebuilt Spitfire Overdrive trans NEVER INSTALLED Spridgets Classified 2
Rob Glasgow New Fangled Electric Overdrive Austin Healey 9
Got_All_4 TR6 Refurbishing gearbox with A type overdrive Triumph 7
J Transmission and Overdrive Rebuild Austin Healey 6
C Overdrive Failure Austin Healey 18
D TR2/3/3A Overdrive question. Triumph 49

Similar threads

Top