5 speed box and bellhousings

[PAULJ]

could anyone please advise me on where or how I can fit a five speed box to a 1275, would I need a replacement bell housing or are there boxes that will fit,

[bigginger]

You'll need a new housing. Most of the traders seem to sell them (Ford Type 9 to A series), and I bet most of the moggy mechanics would be able to put it in for you.

[JimK]

Paul,
I'm going down this route, pairing a 5spd Sierra box with an Ital A+. You need a bellhousing, a shortened propshaft, clutch plate to fit the gearbox, a new crossmember and top cover and a bunch of little bits and pieces.

Easiest way to get all of these is a kit from the Birmingham Minor Centre for a bit over £400. Apparently Chris Street at Opus Cars also does/did a kit, but I've been unable to find out anything about it.

Does a mod want to move this to 'mechanical'?

[GAS]

you will also need a drilled moggy flywheel to take the ford 7" clutch plate (about £40-£50 exchanged)

[PAULJ]

thanks for that jimk, sounds more trouble than its worth, do all the bits come with the kit, gearbox as well? as £400 sounds too cheep if thats the lot MMC in Bath want over a grand to do it, + VAT

[bigginger]

No, you'll have to budget for a box as well

[JimK]

I paid £50 for a box in good condition. A recon would have set me back a load of cash.

Whether it's too much hassle/cash for the gain of one gear is up to you, I guess. I decided the gain of an "overdrive"gear is worth it
(and you also get synchro on first and a reversing light switch).

GAS - doesn't the flywheel come with the kit too? How did you do yours? Kit or separate bits?

[GAS]

My kit came from birmingham,everything but the box
Bell housing,prop,clutch plate,crossmember,tunnel,clutch layshaft bracket.
I have an Ital engine (6bolt fitting)as the miget uses the smaller clutch plate the moggy one was used but drilled for 6 bolts and 1 dowel.
Other items that I had to find were,clutch cover,clutch carbon+arm and the box.

[JimK]

Clutch carbon+arm? What's that? Is it the release bushing? I was planning to put in a ball bearing.

I'll have some other questions soon.

[bigginger]

It is the release bearing and the operating arm. That's my guess too, anyway. The roller bearing is a good idea - I hope, 'cos that's what I've got

[Robins]

I've heard you can modify the gear lever so as moving the handbrake lever back is not necessary. But do I understand with these kits the floor has to be cut out just under the hand brake lever as the ford box is longer? Is there a way round this?
I do like having 5 speeds now my van has them (rover box) and wouldn't mind doing something with my traveller but don't want to cut the floor.

[bigginger]

Not that I've ever heard. Do let us know if you find the way to do the modding

[PAULJ]

So which sierra is the type 9 specific to and how is it best identified, also this bell housing, I cant beleive someone makes it just for this conversion, where does it originally come from. I want to do this but cheap as posible

[jonathon]

The Bell housings are bespoke cast items, and for the Minor only B'hamMMC and C.S Autoclassics, now Opus cars do them. It is very important that you ask exactly what is included in the kit down to the last nut and bolt to avoid any mis understanding of what a 'kit' comprises.
The mods to the floor are essential to fit the Ford box, you need to remove approx 1" from the start of the transmission tunnel. The handbrake can be shortened instead of moving it back or modding the box. The Type 9 normally used is the 1.6 or 1.8.
The bellhousing on ebay was quite good value I believe.