MG Sports Cars

engine swaps and other performance upgrades, plus "factory" and Costello V8s

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hirot
Ian Hart
Ashbourne UK
(88 posts)

Registered:
06/01/2011 05:15AM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB GT (conversion) Rover 3947 R380 gearbox

authors avatar
R380 Gearbox Remote
Posted by: hirot
Date: January 20, 2013 06:01AM

Hi, does anyone know if the remote gearchange has to be shortened to fit in the MGB. I was going to use an LT77 box untill I discovered it needed a new layshaft, input shaft and bearings. Howeve, the remote was a good positional fit with the LT77 using a cranked RV8 gear lever.

I am now getting an R380 which I understand puts the gear lever back about 1" and was hoping to at least know what to expect before I put the engine and gearbox back....again.

I think I read somewhere that a Sherpa Van remote is shorter but by how much.

Many Thanks.

Regards Ian


WedgeWorks1
Mike Perkins
Ellicott City, Maryland
(460 posts)

Registered:
07/06/2008 08:07AM

Main British Car:
1980 Triumph TR8 3.5 Litre Rover V8

authors avatar
Re: R380 Gearbox Remote
Posted by: WedgeWorks1
Date: January 20, 2013 10:39AM

The Sherpa remote puts the shifter up about 4 inches too much. They are ungodly rare too. I have been looking for one for 4 years now. In the end your going to have to machine something to use either the R380 or the LT77.


hirot
Ian Hart
Ashbourne UK
(88 posts)

Registered:
06/01/2011 05:15AM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB GT (conversion) Rover 3947 R380 gearbox

authors avatar
Re: R380 Gearbox Remote
Posted by: hirot
Date: January 20, 2013 11:37AM

When you say you are going to have to machine something do you mean cut it, remove 1" and then weld it back together.

Also do I need to either remove the SD1 remote reverse gear selector or somehow swap it over to the other side. I read two things one you remove it as the R380 has a reverse inhibitor and the other said you have to rework it.

Shame about the Sherpa as I was just going to start ringing the scrap yards.

What did they use in the RV8 ?
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WedgeWorks1
Mike Perkins
Ellicott City, Maryland
(460 posts)

Registered:
07/06/2008 08:07AM

Main British Car:
1980 Triumph TR8 3.5 Litre Rover V8

authors avatar
Re: R380 Gearbox Remote
Posted by: WedgeWorks1
Date: January 20, 2013 02:33PM

Yes you are going to have to do cutting and welding to get the shifter centered in the existing transmission tunnel hole. I remember reading something about what you mentioned about having to modify, remove or add with reverse selector. The other car the really short shifter came on the manual transmission eighties jaguar xj6s. You find more than one let me know.


hirot
Ian Hart
Ashbourne UK
(88 posts)

Registered:
06/01/2011 05:15AM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB GT (conversion) Rover 3947 R380 gearbox

authors avatar
Re: R380 Gearbox Remote
Posted by: hirot
Date: January 20, 2013 02:47PM

I will have a look round. Problem is if they are rare then they come expensive.

I came across a place that will shorten the SD1 remote by 1" ish but it costs £180, so at the moment I shall see what I can find.

The TR8 seems to use a shortened remote but I can't find any information.


WedgeWorks1
Mike Perkins
Ellicott City, Maryland
(460 posts)

Registered:
07/06/2008 08:07AM

Main British Car:
1980 Triumph TR8 3.5 Litre Rover V8

authors avatar
Re: R380 Gearbox Remote
Posted by: WedgeWorks1
Date: January 20, 2013 08:05PM

The TR8 shifter is about .625" shorter than a TR7. The price to shorten it seems a bit steep!


Simon Austin
Simon Austin
Surrey, British Columbia
(107 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 01:44AM

Main British Car:
1977 MGB V8 / 1970 MGB GT V8 project Rover 3.5 / Rover 3.5

Re: R380 Gearbox Remote
Posted by: Simon Austin
Date: February 14, 2013 12:13AM

I've got the LT77 in my MGB. Remote gear change was not shortened to fit.

AFAIK, the RV8 does not have a shortened shifter either. Mine has the LT77 installed as well.



rkas3882
randy kassed

(84 posts)

Registered:
05/30/2010 09:14AM

Main British Car:
1973 mgb gt rover 3.5

Re: R380 Gearbox Remote
Posted by: rkas3882
Date: February 14, 2013 12:32PM

on mine I had to shorten the remote, but I am also using some engine mounting brackets to set the engine further back than the factory set up would have.


WernerVC
Werner Van Clapdurp
Lynchburg, Va
(108 posts)

Registered:
09/06/2009 12:56PM

Main British Car:
MGB 1977 Rover 3.5

Re: R380 Gearbox Remote
Posted by: WernerVC
Date: February 14, 2013 09:18PM

I also have a LT77 installed in my 77 B. Didn't shorten the remote . It all depends how for backwards you mount the engine.
I used the original mounting brackets as seen in the book "How to install a Rover V8 in an MGB".
The gearshift lever sits right in the middle of the hole in the tunnel.
Werner


hirot
Ian Hart
Ashbourne UK
(88 posts)

Registered:
06/01/2011 05:15AM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB GT (conversion) Rover 3947 R380 gearbox

authors avatar
Re: R380 Gearbox Remote
Posted by: hirot
Date: February 21, 2013 03:54AM

Sorted it. I had used the Clive Wheatley engine mountings and with the LT77 gearbox all was well. However the LT77 box was somewhat broken, so I exchanged it for an R380 which is about an 1 1/8" longer, which puts the gear lever further back.

I did a Z cut on the remote and had it Tig welded which shortened it by 1 3/8" and now it fits spot on.

Thanks for all the replies.

Regards Ian


Simon Austin
Simon Austin
Surrey, British Columbia
(107 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 01:44AM

Main British Car:
1977 MGB V8 / 1970 MGB GT V8 project Rover 3.5 / Rover 3.5

Re: R380 Gearbox Remote
Posted by: Simon Austin
Date: February 22, 2013 08:14PM

Ahh...that explains it. I've got the same mounts with the LT77 in my car.

Next time I have the RV8's console out, I'll try and remember to check what the tunnel hole looks like. I'll also see what engine mounts are used.
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pspeaks
Paul Speaks
Dallas, Texas
(698 posts)

Registered:
07/20/2009 06:40PM

Main British Car:
1972 MGB-GT 1979 Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: R380 Gearbox Remote
Posted by: pspeaks
Date: February 25, 2013 02:33PM

I know I’m going to prove to you all that I’m not the brightest “Motor Head” around but I’m not familiar with the term Gearbox Remote. Are we talking about the shifter?

Paul


Simon Austin
Simon Austin
Surrey, British Columbia
(107 posts)

Registered:
10/23/2007 01:44AM

Main British Car:
1977 MGB V8 / 1970 MGB GT V8 project Rover 3.5 / Rover 3.5

Re: R380 Gearbox Remote
Posted by: Simon Austin
Date: March 02, 2013 01:53PM

Correct, Paul.

On the Rover gearboxes, the shifter doesn't connect directly into the gearbox from above. The bottom of the shifter connects to an "arm or linkage" that goes horizontally into the guts of the 'box. Thus the term "remote". If the shifter were to be connected directly into the 'box, the shifter would sit under the dash. Not the most convenient for shifting. :)

I'll find a photo that will show the remote.

Here's a link with pics of the LT77 showing the remote: [www.google.ca]#



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/02/2013 01:57PM by Simon Austin.


pspeaks
Paul Speaks
Dallas, Texas
(698 posts)

Registered:
07/20/2009 06:40PM

Main British Car:
1972 MGB-GT 1979 Ford 302

authors avatar
Re: R380 Gearbox Remote
Posted by: pspeaks
Date: March 02, 2013 05:03PM

Thanks Simon! See, I’m always saying I learn something every day on this site. The only T-5 I’ve ever dealt with is the Ford version and was unaware of the remote type.


Paul


Migge
Michael B.

(151 posts)

Registered:
11/18/2008 02:31PM

Main British Car:
Re: R380 Gearbox Remote
Posted by: Migge
Date: March 05, 2013 04:59AM

[www.ebay.co.uk]



WedgeWorks1
Mike Perkins
Ellicott City, Maryland
(460 posts)

Registered:
07/06/2008 08:07AM

Main British Car:
1980 Triumph TR8 3.5 Litre Rover V8

authors avatar
Re: R380 Gearbox Remote
Posted by: WedgeWorks1
Date: March 10, 2013 10:44AM

Found two of the LT77/R380 remotes on fleabay and bought one of them willing to ship to the US. In the end I had sold some TR7 parts and did not kill me!


hirot
Ian Hart
Ashbourne UK
(88 posts)

Registered:
06/01/2011 05:15AM

Main British Car:
1971 MGB GT (conversion) Rover 3947 R380 gearbox

authors avatar
Re: R380 Gearbox Remote
Posted by: hirot
Date: March 10, 2013 01:44PM

Mike, I got a second remote from Rimmers for only £18 + vat + postage. I used this one as my test piece just in case it all went wrong.

After measuring and measuring and measuring I finally got brave and cut it and it worked. So, I now have a spare.

Its all good clean fun....but it just takes a long time....which doesn't always seem to elongate the fun bit.


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