MG Sports Cars

My chronically leaking, too short ratio nasty SD1 just took a ride to boot hill today. Was going to replace it with a T5, and I've seen a lot of activity on this site about the pros and cons of Camaro vs Mustang T5s, swapping shifter mechanisms, bell housings, clutches, throw outs, etc.. My 3.5 Rover is built about as much as I can build it (got skills, but the whole build was a first timer deal for me). Thing is, the engine, tranny, everything fits absolutely perfectly right now, so if I can do this swap without moving the engine, that gives me more time and money for beer:) My rear end is a Ford 8" with a 3.0 ratio. I've already got a custom drive shaft converter for my speedo, everything to have a really nice car except that it has this lousy SD1 messing up my mojo.

Seeing the level of experience I'm writing to, can anyone tell me the best T5 to use that will minimize the mods, deliver a strong tranny, give me good 5th gear mileage, and put my ratios between gears a bit farther out than the SD1? With the SD1, you go through gears so fast around town that you rarely have time to change CDs:)

If the best alternative requires mods, that's fine, I love welding, but I'd like to have this on the road again in two months. It's getting warm outside folks!

Sorry, here's a pic




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/22/2009 12:01AM by Bubbajones.

I think a Ford T5 designed for the 94-95 Mustang might be useful. This transmission has a longer input shaft that moves the transmission (and therefore the shifter) back about an inch. It should line the shifter up with the tunnel hole if the V8 is in the stcck factory V8 position. For a Ford V8 this requires a 94-95 bell housing, or a standard bell housing with a spacer (spacers are readily available). In your case you would probably need a standard T-5 conversion bell housing with an aditional spacer. The input shaft (with gear) can, as far as I know, be installed in any Ford T-5, or at least a world class T-5, so you should not have to look for the relatively rare 94-95 transmission. It is best to check with a T-5 specialist such as Hanalon Motor Sports to confirm all of this (check the web). Maybe the longer input shaft would even fit in a Camero transmission... T-5 transmissions are so modular that you could probably start with a Camero T5 and add the Ford tail housing and shifter to it along with the Ford input shaft, if you so desired.

Larry suggested that spacers are available for making a Ford T5, with its longer input shaft, mate to a Buick/Rover bellhousing. You can see how that's been done here: [www.britishv8.org]

Thanks for the info guys. The pic helps too. Just got this dog pulled, so will start sourcing and glad to have a place to start. Will let you know how it goes.