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Spitfire Spitfire 5-speed conversion

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JodyFKerr

JodyFKerr

Jedi Knight
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Hey Folks,

I've been messing about preparing to put a new convertible top on Mum's Spitfire and as much as I enjoy driving the car I really wish it had another gear. I have toyed on and off with the idea of either fitting her car with a J type overdrive or a 5-speed.

Now, she's happy with the car as is, so unless the changeover is perfect I'd probably be in trouble (as #1 son I'm used to being in trouble, so that's no big deal. :smile:.

Overdrives are a little fiddly for my tastes. I've looked around for 5-speed conversions but only know of the Ford type 9 ones which, as far as I know, are few and far between around here. Is there a five speed kit out there that I'm not aware of? The idea of dropping 3K on a car worth 3K is a little excessive.

Am I missing anything in 5 speed land? If I went with the overdrive how much trouble am I asking for? Opinions?

Thanks!
Jody
 
You could always go for the ultimate Ford type-9
SierraType-9gearkasse4WD.jpg


I guess that might require a front-end rebuild.

But seriously, go for the overdrive. They <span style="font-style: italic">are</span> available and it's factory stuff => easy to find spares.
You won't have to cut anything.
I don't know about fitting either the Datsun or the T-9 to the Spitfire, but in the Spridget they require some cutting. (or at least with the Datsun it's a major pita to get it in there)
 
call Joe Esposito at Quantumechanics, he sells both a 5 spd kit and o/d transmissions. Not sure if he lists a complete o/d kit, but I'm pretty sure he could fix you up.
I think Canley's lists a complete o/d kit.
But as you stated, dropping 3g's on a car only worth 3g's is a tough decision...
 
yea dropping 40K on one thats worth 20k is even worse but then its my kids college education money, ooooo wait I dont have kids

Hondo
 
I would bet that you could install either a Miata trans or one out of an older BMW. If you weren't so far away, I'd let you experiment with one of the BMW Getrag 5 speeds I have laying around here.
 
Now why didn't I think of that? :confuse:
 
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