Morris Minor Owners Club

So, Jonathon did warn me that my gearbox was 'knackered' - something that the hideously sickly 1275's noises had covered up quite well (and I fear, given how unevenly it was running it may be related, since the whole car'd judder...)

Both second and third sound attrocious, and I'm faced with a variety of possibilities:

1) Rebuild the existing 1098 gearbox (I saw in an old post that some company did a seal and bearing rebuild kit, but I can't find it on ESM or Bull Motif, is it available from somewhere else?). Whilst I suspect I have sufficient expertise for this (well, sufficient insanity, anyhow), I'm not sure I have time. Any idea how long people reckon it would take? Bear in mind I've no longer got a garage, nor a shed, so it'd be a dining room floor job.

2) Buy a recon 1098 gearbox. They reckon that my new 1275 is probably pushing out around 75bhp; am I insane to leave it as a standard gearbox and diff?

3) Wait, pray it all holds together, and save for the rest of eternity and get a Type9 / Ford box upgrade (a grand, isn't it? All in and fitted?). That sounds like you get in to clutch modifications, and such, and such.

Whilst the 5 speed gearbox would undoubtably give better cruising - would it be that much better than a 3.9 diff (or 3.7 diff) and the standard box?

Part of the problem is I'm doing 32 miles every day (mostly motorway, thankfully), and the new engine is tempting

So... advice? Ideas? Gifts of large wodges of cash? ;)

I would simply source a good 1098 box and fit that. If your box has been making horrible noises - it will need a lot more than seals and bearings - the gears will be damaged, the lay shaft will almost certainly be badly worn - and the laygear will have been running 'out of mesh' and likely ruined. Spares for 1275 boxes are now v hard to come by - certainly v expensive! A good 1098 box will see you through. And yes - I would just source a 3.9 or 3.7 final drive. No matter what it costs (within reason) it will always hold that value. To fit a ford 5 speed box costs at least £500 maybe £1000 !! And does not increase the value of the car by anything like that amount.

Weren't/aren't you running a 1098 box? Don't remember you ever saying that you'd fitted a 1275 one

Someones just put one up in the For Sale section.....

I rebuilt my gearbox a few years ago on the living room floor over a weekend. That was new bearings, layshaft, synchro and seals. It costs a bit for that lot so if you can get a good replacement box at a decent price it might be a better option. Worth checking it thoroughly against your current box before bolting it on though as you don't want to cure the nasty noises but have it kick out of gear every time you accelerate etc.

There is a series on A series gearbox strip and rebuild in Practical classics. The third and final part is out later this month. If anyone wants a copy I'll lend them mine.

Roger

Ooh, I thought of another option. Pick up a cheap/free gearbox, strip and rebuild that and then fit it...

Well - you may not have time for that - if it's making horrible noises I would change it for anything that 'looks' ok through the side cover - and then take your old box to bits to see if it's worth repairing - or just look for another spare. When you don't NEED a box they are cheap - as you say, sometimes free! If you keep going on the noisy box - it may seize up/break and leave you stranded - maybe even need to take the prop shaft off to tow it home !

If you need it, I have some old ones you could try

There is now a FREE one in the For Sale section....