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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Driving With a 5 Speed Conversion

I have now taken the Sprite, with its Ford 5 Speed conversion out for a run. The first thing I noticed was the lack of whine when setting off in first gear. On the road and in all gears the Ford box is much quieter, especially on the overrun, and of couse the engine just purrs in fifth gear. The selection is fine but the lever does need a good shove, especially second whilst the box is cold. I suspect this is because the lever is shorter than in the Ford. I didn't fit one of the kits that reduce the throw of gear selection and I don't think this is necessary in a Spridget. What's really impressive though is synchro first. You can now crawl up to a "T" junction in first ready for a prompt get away.

Rough costings are:-

Type 9 Gear box via Ebay £400
Welding shortened gear selection £ 50
Gaskets, seals and front bearing £120
Conversion kit from Ebay Tucker £700
Stainless steel for lever / gaiter £ 30
Angle drive for speedo cable Ebay £ 20
Oils and bits and pieces £ 50
£1370

Now I have the fifth gear I may be able to take the car down to MG Live at Silverstone next year.


Jan T
J Targosz

Hi Jan.

2nd gear being stiff when cold, is a known feature. Not caused by a short lever, but definitely exacerbated by it.

It's also known for being 'notchy' even when warm, on fast changes.

Google notchy type 9 and 2nd gear change. It's been all over the internet for many years. Ford design fault.

There are 2 problems. One is oil( what brand/type are you using?), and the other is the spring/slider pressure in the synchro hub.

BGH geartech modify the hub set to overcome the problem. But at a cost of course. I was shown how they alter/reduce the sharpness of the chamfer in the hub.

I find, let the engine idle for a couple of min's when starting from cold, and the problem is greatly reduced, and even elliminated.


anamnesis

Hi Anam,

I am using Comma SX75-90 GL4 oil. I used 2 x 1 litre bottles so with what's on the floor there will be just under 2 litres in the box.

You may be able to comment on something else. I sometimes get a "ZZZZZZZ" noise from the gear leaver. I am told this is a problem with rose jointed ones but mine is standard. I did fill the casing at the bottom of the leaver with grease. I wonder if removing the Ford rubber coupling from the original lever has caused this. It isn't an issue but I thought you may wish to comment.


Jan
J Targosz

Jan,

Do you have the little plastic saddle in place that the bottom of the gear lever fits over? If in place it might be worn allowing excess play and your ZZZZ.
David Billington

Hi David,

I replaced the saddle. I can't remember why but I melted the original one. I do remember that a new one was expensive for what it is but none of the spares for a type 9 are cheap. In retrospect I think it may have been more sensible to buy a reconditioned box than rebuild a used one. You will be lucky to find one on Ebay for less than £400 and an overhaul kit will be £200+ and that won't include odds and sods like the saddle! I am assuming that the reconditioned boxes on Ebay have been done properly though!

Jan
J Targosz

Hi Jan.

I use the same oil. I've tried, and others have had great success with castrol syntrans. I didn't find it any better than the comma.

The problem is more than the type of oil.

Zzzzzz. New saddle is supposed to fixit, but as you say, it doesn't for everybody.

You commented, -- "In retrospect I think it may have been more sensible to buy a reconditioned box than rebuild a used one"

May be. But more expensive, and I think it amounts to about the same thing if you know how to diy it properly.

That said, BGH geartech don't just rebuild, they modify. They alter oil paths, and fit improved/modified gear and synchro sets. You pay more, but get a superb box in return.

http://www.bghgeartech.co.uk/html/5_speed.html


anamnesis

I can highly reccommend BGH, they suplied me with a 5speed gsierra box with long first gear and oilplug to drain.
That was in 2008, its been brilliant all those years!
A de Best

This thread was discussed between 12/10/2023 and 17/10/2023

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