MG Sports Cars

my original mg 4 speed w/o has just packed in and im going to have to replace it. Rather than a straight swap i feel an upgrade is long overdue.
However i dont have the money for a reconditioned unit nor the time to work on restoring one myself.
What i am ideally looking for is something that i can readily find in a scrapyard that will have the correct gearing to just bolt in. (crossmember and tunnel modifications aside.)
I know a lot of you guys are using the T-5 but here my understanding is that here in England its only available in with the right gear set from a Cosworth that are few and far between. I've thought about the LT77 also, but it seems near impossible to find one in a good enough condition these days.
The R380 as used in the RV8/Discoveries+ is what i think im after. But (assuming i'm not lucky enought to find an RV8 in a breakers) is it possible to install one from a Land Rover into the MG. I know from the V8 discos it comes with the right gear set but how serious are the modifications im going to have to make to make the 4WD box work. if its even possible??

also i might have got my facts wrong about the T-5 or LT77, so if anyone knows any better i'd love to hear from them.
thanks.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/20/2009 01:10PM by jimmy8.

You don't say what engine you have, if it's rover or buick 215 then your obviously going to need a Rover pattern bellhousing for the LT77/R380 gearbox. The 4WD versions are not really suitable as the tailshaft I believe is different and you can't just unbolt the transfer box to convert it back to 2WD.

If your UK based there are more sources of LT77 and R380 boxes. and a good source of information is the V8 Owners Forum.

[www.v8forum.co.uk]

and boxes come up for sale from time to time. The later Jaguar XJ6 manual was fitted with the R380 box but you would need the rover bellhousing and the long remote if it's an MGB.

The gearbox tunnel needs modding at the top behind the console area and new mounts to be welded to the crossmember which are available from Dave Vale at V8 Conversions in Farnborough Kent 01689 858716

Hope thats a help.

Kevin.

it does, cheers kevin.

Given that the R380 was an evolution from the LT77 are bell housings interchangable between the LT77 and the R380?

[www.v8engines.com]

Here's another good source of info on the LT77 and R380. These folks probably know more about Rover drivetrains than anyone else. They've helped me with sorting out my 3.5.

Yes same bellhousing.

Kevin.