5-speed conversion

Here's another follow up photo of my home brewed T-5 conversion I'm working on for my 73 MGB. Several weeks ago I
posted some photos of the bellhousing on the motorsports forum. Thanks for looking

That is pretty slick. Wonder what it would cost to sand cast a couple of hundred of those puppies. The T5 box is going to be around for a LONG time and would make a good alternative to the obsolete Datsun units.

Pete

Nice!

The T-5 is a good transmission....and easier to source hese in the States than the T-9

Indeed. Would make life much simpler than trying to find yet another obsolete unit!

Looking good John!

Have a T-5 in my 75 B. Hands down the best mod made to this car. On my unit the final drive ratio is .68, which is better than the .83 that the MG OD trannys put out. Very nice to cruise down the highway with traffic and see the needle in the 2's and not bumping 4 grand! The T-5 has several advantages, they are plentiful (I believe it is the longest production run of any manual transmission), inexpensive (this one was $75), and the grear ratios work pretty nicely with the B, although you are shifting to 2nd moments after 1st.

For those thinking about looking at one, there are two main type, "World Class" and non-World Class. The WC transmission are built toughter with higher grade materials and should probably be looked for over the NWC whenever possible. There are a range of gear ratios in these units as well. General concensus around these parts is that the units from the SVO Mustang or the Thunderbird are superior for use in MGBs. Try and avoid the 5.0 Mustang units as they are more difficult to adapt to the B.

Here a link to some good T-5 info: http://www.carcraft.com/howto/116_0609_t5_transmission/index.html

John,

I looked over in the motorsport forum, and I'm not sure what I'm looking at.

Did you chop off the bell-housing of an MG transmission, and then mount a T-5 to it!?

And by "chop", I mean "do a lot of calculating, and very accurate machining".

David

We need to convince Rivergate et al to develop a kit like this.....

Tom

I was a little apprehensive to make the plunge into a T9, because of shift feel. I was pleased when it was done with a very nice shift feel. Did not want a rubber isolated feel of a new car, and like the mechanical feel of the original B box. How does the T5 rate in this category?