Will either of these overdrives work?

[LAW3]

I have a 75 Midget with a 76 engine and transmission. Will either of these overdrives work with my set up?

https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/J-TYPE-OV...6#ht_500wt_1182

https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/LAYCOCK-O...5#ht_500wt_1182

 

[vagt6]

There's a website for a guy who wedged a Laycock D-type OD into a 1500 Midget, with photos and tutorial. A Laycock D-type will fit, however, it takes a bit of bending of the propshaft tunnel which should be done with great care (obviously).

The J-type is larger than a D-type which may eliminate it from consideration. There isn't much extra room to work with for this mod, so it make sense to use a D-type. Again, if the propshaft tunnel has to be widened for a D-type, the wider J-type unit would require further widening which could be unpractical.

Does anyone have a link for the guy who installed a D-type in a 1500 Midget? I think his name was Trevor, not sure.

Anyway, it can be done and seems like a great mod. The D-type goes with the 3-rail gearbox, just like a Spitfire. Not that hard to find and less expensive than a J-type.

Anyway, let us know how this goes. And please provide some photos for us as this would be a most valuable documentation project.

Good luck . . . :thumbsup:

 

[Trevor Jessie]

https://www.boicey.com/midget/midget_overdrive.html

 

[tdskip]

Wouldn't a conversion like Rivergate be on the short list here?

Not as original but isn't it thought to be "easier"?

 

[LAW3]

It might be easier but on the surface appears much more pricey.

 

[tdskip]

It might be easier but on the surface appears much more pricey.

Probably, but then again it is supposed to bolt right in. Guys, does fitting an O/D require a new prop shaft etc? You'd need the shaft for use the the O/D as well, right?

 

[drooartz]

Rivergate won't work with the later 1500 engines.

 

[tdskip]

Rivergate won't work with the later 1500 engines.

Well go and get all technical on me Drew - LOL.

Sorry for the mis-direct.

 

[bthompson]

If the D-type OD bolts right onto the back of the 1500 tranny, that's quite a deal! A little welding and wedging, and you're shiny.

 

[vagt6]

In the link above, Trevor states that he did not have to modify his propshaft, so that saves time and money. And, even if you have to rebuild the D-type gearbox, the Laycock D-type mod costs a fraction of the cost of the Datsun gearbox conversion.

Rebuilt D-types can be had for less than a thousand and I've seen good ones for $600 or so. All you need is the wiring (Teglerizer.com shows you how to fabricate it from scratch--pretty easy).

Plus, it's at least somewhat "correct" for the car. What's more, the D-type provides more reduction in your final drive ratio, delivering lower RPMs on the highway.

It also has the "coolness" factor: switching that gearbox into overdrive never fails to wow passengers, most of whom have never seen an overdrive gearbox in action!

If money is important, do the D-type conversion. A well-sorted/maintained D-type will deliver tens of thousands of miles of driving fun.

 

[racingenglishcars]

I don't see that the unit comes with the mainshaft. This part is unique to the Midget/Spitfire gearbox and since the unit is from a Volvo, the shaft will need to be sourced separately. Fortunately it's not too hard to find.

 

[LAW3]

How can I identify which overdrive is a D type as opposed to a J type? I sthe unknown overdrive in the ebay listing at the beginning of this post a D type?