gearbox upgrades...

[tjt77]

Has anyone on these boards swapped out the gearbox for a 5 speed ?  If so what 'issues' were encountered ?  

amongst existing inventory in stock i have a ford T9 based conversion for an MGA.. which i think could be easily adapted to the 1.5.. main challenge is likely bell housing ..due to the slot required to miss steering rack.. should be easy to overcome..many decades back i fitted  B series power trains to morris minors, and simply cut out sufficient metal from the bellhousing so it would miss the rack.. I recall John Volcker had a toyota 5 speed in his car.. but this is a HUGE  gearbox and requires lot of metal hacking to get to fit in place in the riley monocoque.. the ford t9 is dimensionally similar to the BMC B series.. other practical possibility with use of 'parts on hand' would be to use an early MGB (D type) overdrive..  I seem to remember that this fits in existing space, but is a tight fit at the back.. plus the gear lever is back about 1 1/4" rearward from standard position..  

[canuck]

Hello Tim,

I wonder too. I have not done any real investigation, so sorry.

I know the previous webmaster of the Riley Motor club has a one-point-five with an MGB engine and the OD gear box. This required some 'surgery' to the floor pan about the gear lever area. This was discussed on the old forum but lost unfortunately.
I recall at the time thinking that due to the metalwork performed on this car it would now be 'uncomfortable' for a LHD car, think accelerator pedal.    The OE driving position is already a challenge for our legs. 
I should think just about any different gear box will require metal work as you know the Riley is a compact car. 

Let's wait for some on else to come along, maybe the technical adviser?


B. 

[tjt77]

Bruce, Im doing run of SU carbs right now and giving the gearbox conversion some more thought.(very happy with a modified magnette 1V Riley 4/68 inlet manifold and a pair of HD4 carbs almost completed to replace the stock set up) I dont think there is much to cut as regards cars structure to adapt the ford T9, but there is the issue of slightly different gear shift position.. some leeway on this as the conversions offer different position via 'stepping' the actual lever  forward for the MGB.. and backward for the MGA.. the Riley uses early MGB position, but the floor is a bit closer to the base of the lever on the 1.5 and the canted lever may not fit in the riley metal extension for lever boot and its bezel without fouling... by far the simplest conversion would be to add a 'D' type overdrive from the Mk1 MGB.. since its all 'bolt in' to existing BMC/Riley components it will fit the riley gearbox case (0ne needs mainshaft, adaptor casting and the overdrive assy..along with a modified propshaft with bolt on rather then sliding flange) but there is the issue of shift lever being almost 2" reward of existing position. MGB Mk 1 has an oval bezel and boot to accomodate this difference... early versions of the Z magnettes used same boot and bezel as the 1.5, but the very last versions ('mid to late '58)used same oval bezel and lever boot as was later used from same parts bin on the early MGB.. presumably as a D type overdrive option was considered for the Magnette, but never went into production..(BMC saloons when fitted with overdrive option, used the heavy and weird  Borg warner overdrive... its decidedly 'non sporty' compared with the fast engaging laycock de normanvile set up) which puts it very close to parking brake.. the shift lever extension is also slightly higher for the rearmost 10" of the trans..so some floor work would be required of one took that route.. the later Mk2 and onward MGB gearbox and overdrive, whilst easy to obtain,  is dimensionally far larger all round then the early 3 synchro version..it would require a significant amount of metal re-working to fit in the riley.. I'd consider it a 'last resort' unless hampered with the situation of no funding and lots of time.(not in my case)  Its going to be a while before I get my own 1.5 in the workshop.. dealing with other peoples cars and my most recent acquisition ..a Daimler 2 1/2 V8 saloon that has a Ford 302 'hi-po' engine and overdrive auto box conversion..which continues to impress me..done about 30 yrs ago and very well thought out .. and the  T1 bentley that sat unused for 25 yrs I hope to have drivable soon.. its been sitting awaiting attention outside the workshop for 10 months since acquisition... too many cars, never enough time..