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MG MGF Technical - soft-feeling gear box

I'm about to buy my first MGF - I'm looking to spend about 8-9,000ukp on something like a P/R/S reg car. NOt sure about whether to get a 1.8i or VVC - I don't think I really need the extra oomph of the VVC, but if the right car coms up...

Anyway: the few of this age I've test-driven have all had (in marked contrast to a much newer one owned by a friend) a very soft gearbox. By this I mean that there's a lot of play in the stick, even when in gear. SHould I worry about this, or does it simply happen to all 5-6 year old MGFs?

And is there anything else I should really be looking out for?

Many thanks,
Jamie
Jamie

It's easy enough to correct the soft gearchange - My P reg VVC was modified by TechSpeed and is now excellent.
I think your idea of 'but if the right car coms up...' is the right idea.
You need to look for the latest cars (preferably MY200)- but you need to be wary of anything more than 4 years old that has not yet had its cambelt changed as this service can be very expensive.
At five years old the suspension mounting bushes are past their best, the radiator and under-floor coolant pipes may be corroded. If it's already had a headGasket failure (HGF) then all well and good - it's unlikely to have a second (though many Fs never have HGFs)
Try to get one with ABS - its impossible to add later, and don't pay extra for very low mileage or 'lady owners'.

There's plenty of MGFs out there and some have had a great deal of care lavished on them. BRG VVCs with TechSpeed badges should warrant special attention !

Steve
Steve

Jamie,

The MGF gearbox is situated in the engine bay, it is therefore controlled by a cable linkage to the gear selector in the cabin. The bearings and joints of this linkage tend to wear over time resulting in a gear change that has been described onhere as 'like stirring pudding!' :-)

There are two options i would recommend.

The first is to visit Tech-speed, they are in Eathorpe near Leamington Spa and have a first class reputation on this board. They are specialists in suspension and gear selector modifications amongst other things and thier gear shift mods are first rate. I understand that they replace joints with rose joints and any worn components and then set it up so that it is 100% spot on, they also shorten the gear lever. This results in a light, precision shift that is a joy to use.

The other option (which is the route i followed) is to purchase one of Mike Satur's Slick Shift Kits (SSK). This is a replacement gear lever assembly that ditches the OE set up entirely. It is precision milled with phosphor bronze bushes and rose joints and is (i believe) guaranteed for life. The SSK (version 2) is only slightly heavier than the Tech-Speed one but is a lot more mechanical in feel, giving a 'rifle-bolt' type action and a really positive selection.

Neither conversions are massively expensive. With Tech-speed you are paying for thier (extensive) experience and know-how (so you need to visit them and have them 'work thier magic'), with Mike Satur's you are paying for the engineering and can be D.I.Y. fitted.

You can't go wrong with either of them IMO.

SF
Scarlet Fever

Thanks for the help!

When you say 'not massively expensive' are we talking some hundreds of pounds? I like the sound of the SSK, but I'm going to need to factor the cost of this into how much I spend on the car itself!

I might have found *the one*. 1996 P plate 1.8i, 15,000 on the clock, BRG with full leather, 7800ukp. Will look on Saturday - I'll let you know how it goes...

Cheers,
Jamie
Jamie

Jamie

Mike Satur's is £ 175 plus fitting


http://www.mgcars.org.uk/satur/fx05.html

I had it fitted last year and its a vast improvement on the original

STU
Wokingham
S.C. Dickens

>When you say 'not massively expensive' are we talking some hundreds of pounds? I like the sound of the SSK, but I'm going to need to factor the cost of this into how much I spend on the car itself!

:), yeah, the dark side friends ;)

However, why don't you try repairing the existing assy.
Lot of works, cause you need to remove nearly the complete interieur to get the tunnel off and adjust the bearings of the gearstick.
Secondly another option is asking at Mike's for replacements for the rear gearbox mounted rubber-metal ball joints.
They are made for 13mm ball and have an inner thread for M6 (IMO, could be M5 though)

Regards
Dieter
PS. my MGF gearstick is shaking as well. 99 made.
Dieter K.

This thread was discussed on 03/04/2003

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