Morris Minor Owners Club

Hello!
I have a 1960 Morris Minor 1000 2 Dr who is ailing right now. First gear is pretty well gone (it jumps out as soon as you release the clutch) and reverse is headed that way. So I need to find new rib case tranny or rebuild it. Is it madness to try to rebuild the tranny?
If it is, any suggestions on where to find one in the US or Canada?
If it is not, are there any good places for parts and/or advice?
Any help is MUCH appreciated!!!
Thanks!

Hi
In the UK it would be a bit daft to rebuild one that is 'that bad' as there is still a good supply of serviceable ones (from all the rotted cars etc..)
There are companies in the UK which can supply a recon gearbox but it is going to be pricey if you get it shipped to the US.
Your car should have a smooth case box (not as strong as the ribbed case). You may have to upgrade the clutch + flywheel at the same time as the release lever is different to cope with the different clutches - but I can't give a definate answer on that!
(ie maybe you can still use the 948 clutch with the 1098 box, and maybe not. hopefully someone will have experience of that)

There were some ribbed case gearboxes on e-bay in the US last week, so if you know where to look you will find a second hand one. Your best bet is to find one where the owner has just upgraded the car to a bigger engine and box (but the old unit is still ok).
What you want to avoid is buying one second hand that is as bad as your own! That can be a bit of a gamble. Therefore if you are paying someone to fit it, then you have to weigh up the risk of doing the job twice against the cost of a recon gearbox.

Jumping out of gear is usually caused by a worn gear selector fork. When the groove in the selector fork is badly worn the gear is not pushed far enough into place and jumps out given the slightest chance. This may also happen when a selector forn securing screw and locknut are loose.

Dismantling a gear box can be broken down into three separate stages:
1. Take off rear extension, side cover and front cover.
2. Take out selector forks, rods, springs and ball bearings etc.
3. Take out gears.

Note that to sort out the selector forks you do not have to take out the gears. It is even possible to get at the selector forks by keeping the gearbox connected to the car but lowering it by removing the crossmember (and all the other things that you need to do to remove the gearbox) and then just taking off the rear extension and the side cover.

However which ever way you do it this is a tricky job and should not be attempted without a workshop manual for the car since failure to put the selector forks and rods and springs and ball bearings and plungers back correctly can have serious consequences.

The alternatives are get a second hand gearbox (which may be well on its way to developing the same fault) or buy a reconditioned box which will be expensive.

Hi!

I'm going to be moving stateside fairly soon (probably) so I'd be willing to help if you were anywhere nearby...

E-mail me off list if you like (send a private message I mean) and maybe we can solve the problem with two heads

Nikki

To identify your gearbox which appears to be from a 1098cc
moggie check your engine number(below the front spark plug).
If it begins with 10MA-U-....then it is a 1098cc engine. If it begins
with either APJM or 9M then it is a 948cc engine. The ribbed gearbox
belongs with the 1098 engine. If the engine number is missing then
look under the exhaust manifold on the crankcase near the front
engine mount and you may find a plate with '1100' on it. For your
guidance a recon gearbox in the UK is roughly £250. People
on this site will give you the address for Morris Minor groups in USA.

to add to willie. the 1098 gearbox has a hole in the casing to clear the steering rack, just visable looking down behind the engine, when its in the car.