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In the latest edition of MG Enthusiast I notice an advert
for an overdrive unit for 1500cc midgets. Seems like a good
idea for the longer motorway trips. Anyone know if they are
actually any good?
Its says prices from £99. I'll have to get someone to do all
the difficult stuff like fitting it for me. How much will this
cost in total.
Any comments appreciated.
I have'nt seen the advert but I would guess the overdrive
unit they are using is the one from the triumph spitfire. This
will fit into the midget transmission tunnel with a little
widening but unfortunately requires the chopping and
re-welding of the cross member support.
I imagine that the prop shaft would also need to be shortened.
As for the 99 pounds I think that's probably the cost for
a non-reconditioned over-drive box. To actually have an
overdrive fitted would be in the region of 700 - 1000 pounds.
I'm sticking with the standard set up for now.
If you are lucky, you have the extension tube drive shaft.
It has to be pulled out a bit to fit a standard 1500
transmission, but when fully compressed will just fit with
the spitfire J overdrive.
Besides doing major surgery on the transmission tunnel and
chassis crossmember, you also have to cut away a 1-foot
swath through the table that the battery and heater sit on
just to get the beast in. (luckily, mine was already mostly
destroyed by a battery explosion). A tinsmith can fashion
a replacement battery table/heater channel - fasten it in
with screws in case you have to pull the motor again.