Morris Minor Owners Club

i was just wondering were can i get a ford 5 speed gearbox conversion kit from.

thanks tom

Try B'ham MMC they seem to stock most parts. I would suggest that you do not buy the gearbox crossmember though as this is a very poor design and allows significant movement of the gearbox. PM me if you need info about this part.

Hope you have deep pockets!

i have spent all my money on my car but it will be worth it.

Doubt it - unless you have considerably increased the power output!

bmcecosse you seem very scathing of the ford type 9 conversion, ive heard your points that fitting a lower diff has the same effect but surely dropping to something like 3.7 has quite a dramatic effect of acceleration. i have a friend whose original gearbox was truely knacked and went for the type 9 and he says its transformed the car.

johnathon could you explain a little more about the cross member, just out of curiosity/thinking at some point of a type 9 conversion

If you have the cash ~£1000 - then by all means go for the Ford! I just don't see the value for money. The 3.7 does all you really need - the acceleration is still fine, second gear is good for 50 mph - third for 70+ , very handy for overtaking - and then into top.

bmcecosse wrote:If you have the cash ~£1000 - then by all means go for the Ford! I just don't see the value for money. The 3.7 does all you really need - the acceleration is still fine, second gear is good for 50 mph - third for 70+ , very handy for overtaking - and then into top.

Doesn't this statement need some qualification??

This particular poster may not be anticipating keeping the engine standard, but many people have stated that the 3.7 diff is too tall for a standard 1098, and makes it even more pedestrian in acceleration terms!

For us enlightened ones with our 940 heads, I'm sure it's fine, and would agree with BMC- the engine, being a longstroke can then pull the higher ratios to good effect- I like the fact that you can hold any ratio over a wide speed range, and 5 speeds can then seem unneccessary to some.

Having said all that, the type 9 ratios are similar to the original- 1st is 3.65:1 as against 3.62:1 therefore if you keep the standard diff with the type 9 you will be lumbered with the same ultra low 1st gear, so a taller diff ratio would be useful in either case!

I can't really comment re use of 3.7 with standard engine, since I haven't done that. Yes - I expect changing into 3rd will be required at times, but equally I bet the 5 speeders with a standard engine spend most of their time in 4th - and have to go down to 3rd for hills. But I did say - if anyone has the cash and feels it's value for money - go for it!

Horses for courses!

If you're doing a lot of towing I've discovered the original box ain't up to it

Oh I think it is! I towed a dinghy and my racing Mini all over Scotland (not at same time!) behind my old Minor - with a simple 948 box! I did rip the centre out of a clutch plate - but the box never gave any problems.

bmcecosse wrote:I can't really comment re use of 3.7 with standard engine, since I haven't done that. Yes - I expect changing into 3rd will be required at times, but equally I bet the 5 speeders with a standard engine spend most of their time in 4th - and have to go down to 3rd for hills. But I did say - if anyone has the cash and feels it's value for money - go for it!

Given that the internal ratio span (first to fourth) is so similar between the type 9 and the moggy box, then the only real gearing difference becomes tacking 5th on the end, ie you will still have that very low first gear.

As the overdrive ratio is 0.82:1, you could imagine the effect of it as being that of driving a standard fourth gear through a (theoretical) 3.44 diff! I imagine that would be a bit tall for a standard engine?

Overall then you end up with the low, low first gear, spanning up to a very high top ratio. Doesn't sound like my ideal gear spread!
With the standard box on a modified 1098, I would be looking for a first gear ratio somewhere between the standard 1st & 2nd, going to a top ratio somewhat higher than standard 4th. The 3.7 diff would do the trick, and the standard 4 gears in that span would be fine for the engine characteristics.

However- as has been said- horses for courses! Put a K series/ zetec in and the whole scenario shifts!

I run an almost bog standard 1098 with a 3.7 diff and the acceleration is not that much different really. Wouldn't want to go back to the standard diff!

I do live in a part of the country which is not very hilly though. Never been able to understand why British vehicles always had such low gearing, the BSA motorcycles I used to have from the 50's and 60's were the same - revving like mad at 60mph!

The car has to be able to cope with 4 adults and a boot full of luggage on a hill start.
This may explain why the gearing seems low in normal operation.

Motorways were only just invented in the 60s and the British car and bike industries weren't exactly known for fast thinking or action .

Good to hear it's ok on a standard motor corm!