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TR-7 5-speed in Midget 1500?

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Morris

Morris

Yoda
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Does anybody know if a tr-7 5-speed will fit into a late Midget? I know the tr and the midget share the same 4-speed tran. Soooooo, I thought maybe....
 
I suspect not, I've never heard of anyone doing it, nor do I recall it being discussed when I was in the Triumph club. You could try posting on the Triumph board and see if anyone's done it with a Spitfire, at least you would find out if the engine and box fit each other, but would still need to find out in there's space for the 'box to fit.
I think the 5 speed is the same as the V8, rather than a 4 speed with another cog added on.
 
I have wondered this in the past as well.

Or, if it does not "bolt up", will the trans fit if the 1500 bellhousing is used?

Any info appreciated.
 
Just from looking at it, I don't think it will "bolt up?" It looks like the bell housing bolt pattern is different for both the engine and gear box side. However, making a new engine back plate would be easy. Or, it may also be possible to make an adapter between the Midget bell and the 7 gearbox. I think the real challenge would be the drive shaft. It looks like the gearbox is a lot shorter than the 4-speed and I am pretty sure that there is a very different drive shaft coupler.
 
In the old days we use to get a drive shaft from each, cut em in half and weld em up.
 
I've thought about it, and I almost bought a 5 speed once ... I don't know, if I ever have a bunch of time on my hands ...

I'd wager that the trans is quite a bit different, and not sure if it'd fit. I know the 4 speed is the same as the spit unit, with a different bellhousing (probably a first motion shaft as well). However, the 5 speed may or may not have any relation at all due to the fact that I don't know if it was ever mounted to a 1500 or similar casted block. The dolomite sprint engine (I think that's what they called it) was a 4 cyl from Renault? that was not of the same origin as the standard 4 cylinder. If we knew what the standard 4 cyl was, we might be able to figure out if it'd fit.
 
The standard 4cyl (for a TR7) has the same block as the Dolomite engine.

After research I have learned that the 5-speed is standard Rover unit.

All in all, it's probably as much or more trouble (considering the rarity of Rover gearboxes on this side of the pond) than trying to adapt, say, a Borg-Warner T5 world class.... Mwhah hah hah hah!
 
The T-5 is a Camaro box, correct? If so, it's the US hot setup for MGBV8's. I was reading about one such conversion and they required a bit of "custom clearancing" for the trans. tunnel. I sincerely doubt it'd work in a midget at all.
 
T5's were used in many cars Ford mustang S10 camaro etc. It is a Big box. The tail shafts are swapable on many models as well as the bellhousing. I think you could make one work, but it would (most likely) need a custom transmission tunnel. I've thought about it, but then decided that if I was going to alter a car that much that I'd just do an engine swap. However, I've done nothing more than "eyeball" the dimensions.
 
[ QUOTE ]
The dolomite sprint engine (I think that's what they called it) was a 4 cyl from Renault? that was not of the same origin as the standard 4 cylinder. If we knew what the standard 4 cyl was, we might be able to figure out if it'd fit.

[/ QUOTE ]Which "standard" 4 are you referring to? The Dolomite Sprints had a 16-valve version of Triumph's own slant 4, an engine developed in the 1960s by Triumph and "lent" as well to Saab for the 99 series. (Saab later did MUCH redevelopment and improvement on the motor) Additionally, "pairing" two of these slant-4s together is how Triumph came up with the 3.0 V-8 for the Stag.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Which "standard" 4 are you referring to?

[/ QUOTE ]

Perhaps it should have read Standard 4 - started life at 802cc in the Standard 8 and ended as the 1500cc Spitfire ;-)
 
Good one John!

I found a pdf that lists all the various incarnations of the t5, their dimensions, gear ratios and input/output spline counts. More to come on that...

Also, I think the tran tunnel on the B is smaller than on the Midget. Feel free to contradict me on this one because I am totally talking out of my A.
 
When I said "standard" I meant the stock 4 versus the optional dolomite. I thought the dolomite was actually a renault or similar engine while the standard four was of TR origin, but not sure whether it was of TR-5/250/6 2.0/2.5l origin or 1300/1500 origin, or some other area. If it originated from the former two, the trans. might have potential.
 
Years ago I ask this question elsewhere and came up with the same answer, "not gonna happen". I doubt the T5 box is the best choice either due to the amount of rotating mass. I believe the T9 with internal bellhousing mounting bolts would be a better choice unless you happen to be doing a Rover V8 or SBC conversion...At the moment I have more pressing matters to work through, but I had been leaning in the direction of investigating the possibility of the Sidekick/Tracker box as a viable, economic alternative on the west side of the pond (have you priced the Frontline kit at current exchange rates???) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif The problem there is cable clutch conversion to hydraulic...not an insurmountable problem, but not the most desirable situation either.
 
[ QUOTE ]
The T-5 is a Camaro box, correct? If so, it's the US hot setup for MGBV8's. I was reading about one such conversion and they required a bit of "custom clearancing" for the trans. tunnel. I sincerely doubt it'd work in a midget at all.

[/ QUOTE ]

Found this out on a locost forum, but I guess the camaro T5 is tilted 5 to 7 degrees towards the drivers side. This makes them wider and harder to accomodate in a small chassis. On the other hand, the T5 out of a chevy S10 has 0 degrees of tilt and is narrower....

Never verified this but it's food for thought!
 
I don't think the TR7 5spd is a T5 - its a Rover box as used in the Rover SD1. The TR7 four speed box is not related to the five speed - the four speed comes from the Marina (probably with a bellhousing and other changes?). Neither bolts up to the 1500 engine.
 
but my thinking was that the bellhousing from the 4 speed might bolt up to the 5spd box. It MIGHT. I'd have to measure/try it to be sure. Even then, the input shaft may be the wrong length.
 
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