• Hi Guest!
    You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
    There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Tips
Tips

Tell me why...[trans options]

Share this page

Atrus

Atrus

Jedi Warrior
Offline
So, I just watched a Datsun 5 speed trans go for $620 + $100 shipping on ebay.

It's disheartening, and it's obvious that these are becoming more rare and certainly more expensive.

It seems the general consensus is that these are the cat's you-know-what for a spridget, and I really think I'd enjoy one. $1500 for the kit and trans seems to be just too much for me.

So, why, again, can a Miata trans not be adapted to the spridget? I really couldn't care less about originality, as long as it would fit reasonably and not be goofy-looking. Is there one specific portion that will not fit in the trans tunnel?

Any other viable options on this side of the pond?
 
At $1500, it is still cheaper than the frontline kit to put a type9 transmission into the car. BTW, Moss is going to be selling this kit soon, but do not expect a cheap price.
 
If I were seriously looking for one I would search the wrecking yard database and I'd set up RSS feeds on Craigslist locations where ever I was willing to buy one.

I'd not only look for the transmissions but also for the cars.

Datsun b210 & Datsun 310.

Find one with a 5 speed, take whatever you need & sell the rest.
 
i saw a t-5 conversion in a spridget once. guy had the transmission listed for sale on craigs list. not sure what all was involved but im sure its more fabrication than I am wanting to do.
 
So what model and years did the desirable transmissions come in? I know there is writing on the transmission that we are supposed to look for also. ???
 
I think it is only the 210 but, google a little. Here are some other options

MG Midget A conversion for the Midget and the Healey Sprite has been developed utilising the Toyota 4K gearbox, out of the RWD Starlet. It is a compact robust gearbox, complete with bell housing. Minor modifications required, to part of the bell housing area to enable the Midget starter to clear, and it is fitted to the engine by means of a 20mm thick adaptor plate. The clutch fork is modified and operated by a slave cylinder mounted by a special bracket on the side of the gearbox. In these gearboxes, the front layshaft bearing is prone to wear after 100,000 + kms, so we supply a gearbox that has a rebuilt layshaft, input bearing and seal replaced and any other bearings required, replaced. Rear rubber mount is modified to accept bolts through original holes in chassis. A special speedometer cable and right angle drive is included with the kit. For the slave cylinder connection, and new flexible hose and pipe are supplied.

https://web.ukonline.co.uk/glennbarcham/pp-bathtub.htm

Corolla

Westfield has designed the XI around the BMC "A" Series 1275cc engine and 4-speed transmission. These are commonly found in both the MG Midget and Austin-Healey Sprite. Westfield has also designed the XI to work with the Midget/Sprite differential in either the 3.9:1 or 4.2:1 ratios. The XI can also be fitted with a more modern Ford Sierra "Type 9" 5-speed gearbox, although the speedometer will need to be recalibrated by a professional.

there seem to be other options
 
Keep looking!

I looked for 2 mos before I found one,,, mine just popped up in a local junkyard $175.

And yeah, it is definately worth it.


Oh yeah, and I sent you a PM, found one

jay
 
I seen examples of other transmissions being used in Spridgets at the race track, I've seen a T5, Toyota, and a Alfa gearboxes all made to work in a Spridget. I think the main thing here is there's not alot of support to the general public to do these others transmission, so you're on your own as far as R&D, where with the Datsun it's already been fiquired out for you.
 
In my case, I would be interested in keeping the ribbed transmission and finding some sort of electronic overdrive. Wish there was one out there for a 1275.
 
I think I might have an Datsun automatic that would fit, but not sure and I have no idea what the ratio in it is. I think its from a 210. I am pretty sure the B210 is different from the 210. Barry, the ribbed original is much more crunchy and whiney than the smoother datsun one, thats why people do it.
 
For those looking for the Datsun transmission for the Rivergate conversion, you do need a specific transmission. For details on which ones and how to identify, look here:

https://www.rivergate5speed.com/desc_of_trans.html

I have the Rivergate 5-speed conversion in my '73 Midget and when I started my Spridget Project that was the SECOND spec I wrote down...the FIRST was a 1275 from Hap!

Ray
 
Also, never ever tow the 5 speed in the spridget without disconnecting the drive shaft. I had just bought mine and got a call from a guy wanting it because he had towed 5 for 5 miles and it messed something up bad in the 5 speed. Another thing, all you 5 speed guys, since this one is getting harder to find, you might want to consider finding a dirt cheap 4 speed datsun one that will fit and keep it for emergency, because that is better than nothing.
 
I like the crunchy, Kim. :smile:

It would just be desirable to have the original feel and sound and still get those extra rpms at speed.
 
The overall cost was one reason why I decided to stick with a ribcase and use a 3.9 rear on the Tunebug. I even already had the Datsun transmission in hand, but sold it to a fellow BCFer to fund other projects.

The extra $1500 or so was enough to tip the balance towards the Hap-built 1275. A worthy compromise, in my mind.
 
Down here in Johannesburg

In preparation for our 1600 mile Spridget tour I investigated this 5 speed big time for my Midget 1500. I eventually decided against it, however here are cut and pastes from emails and some web sites I came across. I hope this is of some value to all.

"The best I would suggest is the Nissan 1400 bakkie (small van) 5 speeed gear box or the Toyota 5 speed split gearbox."

"Just a point of information, although the j-type came out in the Triumph Dolomite/Chicane and Spitfire, only the Spitfire had the compact version of the gearbox which I
suspect would work on your car. The 'correct' type for a Midget 1500 would be the single rail 1500 Spitfire 'J' type overdrive conversion."


"For prices on conversions themselves follow this link to our website;
https://www.canleyclassics.com/products.asp?article=overdriveconversionkit.xml
"


"Good morning Mark. I'm sorry. We don't not have an overdrive gearbox for your car.

I've put a link up https://www.boicey.com/midget/midget_overdrive.html I thought this might help. You might want to look on the web for a source for a five-speed conversion. Many people are putting Japanese five-speed gearboxes in these old British cars with terrific results."

The other alternative is to get a new crown and pinion of the > 1977 type which is 3.7:1 which is around 5% longer than the 3.9

Good luck
 
Thanks guys. It just seems to me there must be SOMETHING else.

I looked at a side-by-side of a samurai trans with the ribcase, it appears the samurai is a few inches shorter.
 
Note that although Miata (OK "MX5") gearboxes are excellent, cheap and easy to find, they <span style="text-decoration: underline">do not</span> have a removable bellhousing like the Ford T9 or Datsun.

So, if you want to fit a Miata box to your Spridget (with an A-series engine), you'll need to fab a custom engine back plate and probably attach the Miata flywheel to the Brit crankshaft. Plus figure out the starter. Not impossible, but not exactly simple either.

For 1500 street Midgets, the obvious choice is to fit the 1500 Spit overdrive trans if you want better cruising. The T9 5-speed is OK, but it's actually not as nice to shift as the stock 4-speed....I'd choose a 3.7 final drive instead of a T9.

For racing, the normal ribcage (in A-series powered cars) is fine, especially with the close ratio gears. It has a great shift mechanism to boot.

For racing with the 1500 cars, like mine, the trans options are limited. Actually, I like the standard all-syncro "Marina" trans just fine....I just wish close ratio gears were available for a reasonable cost.

The "dog boxes" are the ultimate for race Spridgets, but they're huge dollars and not intended for street use.
 
Back
Top