Best kit for Ford 5-speed conversion

[Tootall]

I realise that this is a subjective and perhaps controversial topic but can anyone recommend any of the various Ford 5-speed conversion kits on the market - and for what reasons?

My 1275 is chewing its way through another 1098 'box and there seems to be no point in either rebuilding it or buying another second-hand, when it's turning 4000rpm at 63mph and I'm always wanting another gear, even on B roads.

Finally, a type 9 is on the cards, but which way to go?

All opinions gratefully accepted, as this will be a once-only purchase and I'll have to put up with it for at least another quarter of a century (hopefully...)

[shoebone]

With the Ford 5 speed fitted you will still be turning 4000rpm at 63mph because, like the 1098 box, the gear ratio in top gear is still 1:1. A better option is a differential change, 3.9:1 will lower the revs and 3.7:1 will lower the revs even more. the Ford box seems to of lost favour recently, people say its heavy and saps power and a good condition 1098 box will cope well with the power. I do actually run the type 9 and I am happy with it, had it a long time, fitted it myself using a bellhousing from can't remember where and I fabricated cross member and operating mechanism myself .... it doesn't just drop in !!. If I had to do it again ..... i probably wouldn't. I would just change the diff ... easier and a lot less expensive. Just my view, good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[Sleeper]

I think you'll find the type 9 5th gear is an overdrive gear...approx 0.85 ish so he could be cruising at 63mph at 3400rpm or at 4000 rpm 74mph.

John

[Sleeper]

Correction,ratio is 0.82:1,therefore corrected figures are 3280 rpm and 77mph.

John

[Declan_Burns]

Don't underestimate the work and the expense involved. Changing the diff as mentioned above is a lot cheaper and a lot easier. The Ford installation is approx. four times the price.
I have Type 9 in my MG TD and it took us two days to install it. We installed one on my mate's Midget (engine out job) and it took us 3 1/2 days. In the Moggy I have a 3.9 diff and I am quite happy with it and now the speedo is perfectly accurate!

Regards
Declan

[shoebone]

Oops, sorry Yes, 5th is an overdrive.

[Tootall]

With the Ford 5 speed fitted you will still be turning 4000rpm at 63mph because, like the 1098 box, the gear ratio in top gear is still 1:1. A better option is a differential change, 3.9:1 will lower the revs and 3.7:1 will lower the revs even more. the Ford box seems to of lost favour recently, people say its heavy and saps power and a good condition 1098 box will cope well with the power. I do actually run the type 9 and I am happy with it, had it a long time, fitted it myself using a bellhousing from can't remember where and I fabricated cross member and operating mechanism myself .... it doesn't just drop in !!. If I had to do it again ..... i probably wouldn't. I would just change the diff ... easier and a lot less expensive. Just my view, good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I've already had the diff changed for a 3.9... think it might even handle a 3.7... Engine is 1275 with 100bhp at the wheels... it's basically chewed up the 1098 'box. Changes the diff ages ago and even had the speedo recalibrated but the 'box is making one heck of a row now, so either I need to have it properly rebuilt or do the 5-speed swap...

[les]

You say an option is to have it properly rebuilt, does this imply the other boxes were not up to scratch? If so you may well find a decent one would do the job, alternatively the 1275 box is a bit stronger why not go for that.
If you're set on 5 gears, ask on the modified cars section of this forum, someone there may have views on the conversion.

[irmscher]

What has been done to the engine to get 100 bhp ??

[jagnut66]

Hi,
I went through two type 9's when I had Abby with her 1275 engine, they were nothing but trouble and expense. In the end I reverted back to a 1098 box, much better. If you're worried about longevity get one rebuilt with stronger MG Midget internal parts, designed to cope with the 1275 engines, although unless you are charging round all over the place the standard 1098 box should be fine, mine certainly was and I'm glad I swapped back.
As said above a different Diff would be a better way to go.
Best wishes,
Mike.

[philthehill]

Instead of paying out for a type 9 gearbox you may like to consider a Ford RS2000/Cortina 4 speed gearbox and bell housing kit.
A much better gearbox (& closer ratios) than either the 1098cc or 1275cc BMC gearbox and with the benefit of synchro on 1st gear.
I did this conversion and it works a treat.

Note: Some Ford gearboxes have an integral bell housing which cannot be separated from the gearbox case proper - avoid.

Example of a suitable gearbox:-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Capri-Mk ... Swc-tY7RDH

There should be spare cash to fit a 3.9 diff.

[Chipper]

I recently bought a Type 9 conversion kit, albeit minus the clutch which I gather requires a Sierra clutch fitted to a modified Midget flywheel or a hybrid Midget/Sierra plate to fit to a 1275 Midget engine.

Apparently, these parts are available from the Birmingham Minor Centre (David Manners) for around £300.

So, I'm tempted to fit it to my 1970 Midget-engined Traveller, as the existing standard Minor 1098cc gearbox is crunching when going into 3rd, and yes, mine has gone through 4 gearboxes since fitting the mighty 1275 back in the early 1990s, not to mention at least a couple of halfshafts!

The only thing that puts me off somewhat is that the Type 9 gear lever position is approx. 6" further back than the Minor one, so you would end up with the gear lever almost between the front seats, and requiring altering the handbrake lever position/length to avoid it obstructing the gear lever.

Has anyone any experience of this, and whether it's a good position for it, or is it worth getting the tail housing modified to bring it say a couple of inches further forward?

[Tootall]

You say an option is to have it properly rebuilt, does this imply the other boxes were not up to scratch? If so you may well find a decent one would do the job, alternatively the 1275 box is a bit stronger why not go for that.
If you're set on 5 gears, ask on the modified cars section of this forum, someone there may have views on the conversion.

The boxes I've had have all been standard, none have been rebuilt...

Trying to juggle either rebuilt 4-speed Minor box with tough internals + even lower back axle versus Ford 5-speed conversion and current axle... or possibly Type 9 + lower axle...

Basically, trying to decide on a decent option before reaching for my flexible friend...

[Tootall]

What has been done to the engine to get 100 bhp ??

Built by a Mini racing champion, Stuart Drake, when he was working at Ken Riley's place...

All lightened, balanced, blue-printed... big-valve Cooper S head, 1.75 SU, fast road cam... had 98 on Pete Baldwin's rollers before it was even run in...

Bags of torque and revs happily past 6000... sadly, it does rather encourage me to tear about! I've now done about 50,000 miles on it in 20 years but the gearboxes don;t tend to stand the strain...

[Tootall]

I recently bought a Type 9 conversion kit, albeit minus the clutch which I gather requires a Sierra clutch fitted to a modified Midget flywheel or a hybrid Midget/Sierra plate to fit to a 1275 Midget engine.

Apparently, these parts are available from the Birmingham Minor Centre (David Manners) for around £300.

So, I'm tempted to fit it to my 1970 Midget-engined Traveller, as the existing standard Minor 1098cc gearbox is crunching when going into 3rd, and yes, mine has gone through 4 gearboxes since fitting the mighty 1275 back in the early 1990s, not to mention at least a couple of halfshafts!

The only thing that puts me off somewhat is that the Type 9 gear lever position is approx. 6" further back than the Minor one, so you would end up with the gear lever almost between the front seats, and requiring altering the handbrake lever position/length to avoid it obstructing the gear lever.

Has anyone any experience of this, and whether it's a good position for it, or is it worth getting the tail housing modified to bring it say a couple of inches further forward?

I know there's a bit of cutting-and-shutting to get the bell housing to clear the steering rack and the gearbox tail is longer... I wonder if the Mazda MX-5 conversion is any easier... details seem to be few and far between, in my searches...

[Tootall]

Hi,
I went through two type 9's when I had Abby with her 1275 engine, they were nothing but trouble and expense. In the end I reverted back to a 1098 box, much better. If you're worried about longevity get one rebuilt with stronger MG Midget internal parts, designed to cope with the 1275 engines, although unless you are charging round all over the place the standard 1098 box should be fine, mine certainly was and I'm glad I swapped back.
As said above a different Diff would be a better way to go.
Best wishes,
Mike.

Interesting! You'd have thought the Type 9 would have been man enough for a 1275...

I do tend to charge about all over the place, as the Minor is only used for fun. I have an old, solid, diesel Merc for all the motorway-mile commuting...

A rebuilt Minor 'box would fit right in - bonus - and a different diff wouldn't be too much for the engine to pull, I'd have thought...

Any ideas on who might be able to make a 1098 'box that is tough enough?

[Tootall]

Instead of paying out for a type 9 gearbox you may like to consider a Ford RS2000/Cortina 4 speed gearbox and bell housing kit.
A much better gearbox (& closer ratios) than either the 1098cc or 1275cc BMC gearbox and with the benefit of synchro on 1st gear.
I did this conversion and it works a treat.

Note: Some Ford gearboxes have an integral bell housing which cannot be separated from the gearbox case proper - avoid.

Example of a suitable gearbox:-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Capri-Mk ... Swc-tY7RDH

There should be spare cash to fit a 3.9 diff.

Hmmm... Is this the famed 'Rocket' box? Assume it's stronger than the 1098 'box... but presumably top will still be 1:1, so will require a diff change as well...

What conversion kit did you use to fit the Ford 'box? Will it bolt onto a standard Type 9 kit bell housing?

[oliver90owner]

I've no experience of ford 5 speed conversions, but I can well remember the delightful 2000-E gearbox which I fitted to my escort back in the seventies. Back then it was always a diaphragm clutch, a better box along with a higher ratio diff. Heavy duty springs were also an advantage.

So I would endorse PTH on the ratio choice, even if only a four speeder. Biggest problem with those boxes (1600-E, etc) was that plastic gear lever part which screwed into the box. The 2000-E was a proper metal one and, I think, a slightly shorter selector extension which bolted on. I expect a 2000E box would be rather more costly than the one PTH linked to, as they were the choice of the day back then.

RAB

[philthehill]

The conversion kit I used was a C.S. Autoclassics bell housing.
The cross member used is the original Minor one in its original position with the Ford rear gearbox mounting resting on a Minor Spring pad with a rear damper arm bush to centralise the box in the cross member.
I have all the dimensions if I can lay my hands on them but as far as I can recollect the front dimensions are the same as the type 9.
The type 9 is basically a Cortina box with an additional overdrive unit bolted onto the rear.
The Rocket box is the one to get but the 2000E is just as good in my opinion and that in standard form was originally fitted to my Minor.
That box metamorphosed into a full blown Quaife Clubman box with S/C C/R gears, a Quaife gearbox casing/top cover and Quaife quick shift.
An absolutely brilliant box with that wonderful synchro on first gear.
Below is a photo of the now Quaife box fitted to my Minor.

[Tootall]

The conversion kit I used was a C.S. Autoclassics bell housing.
The cross member used is the original Minor one in its original position with the Ford rear gearbox mounting resting on a Minor Spring pad with a rear damper arm bush to centralise the box in the cross member.
I have all the dimensions if I cam lay my hands on them but as far as I can recollect the front dimensions are the same as the type 9.
The type 9 is basically a Cortina box with an additional overdrive unit on the rear.
The Rocket box is the one to get but the 2000E is just as good in my opinion and that in standard form was originally fitted to my Minor.
That box metamorphosed into a full blown Quaife Clubman box with S/C C/R gears, a Quaife gearbox casing and Quaife quick shift.

'metamorphosed'... I like that...

Having sampled a Caterham 6-speeder, I'd love one of those... but I fear it'd be almost as pricey as your full-house Quaife job...

...and perhaps just a gear (or two) too many for a 50-year-old+ Minor road car...

This is for back-road tomfoolery, not competition... and my budget does not extend to such flights of fancy...

Much of my early inspiration for the car was the legendary Miller Minor - a GTi-baiter from the early 80s, which was essentially all done with BMC parts (Riley 1.5 brakes iirc - that sort of thing...)

Looked like a standard brown convertible. Went like whotsit off a shovel...