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Bmw 5 speed tranmission swap

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Bmw 5 speed tranmission swap #1
ssmg Scott D North Florida, USA Sign in to contact	Topic Creator (OP) Feb 11, 2016 05:40 PM Joined 13 years ago 4 Posts

Does anyone know if I can swap my MGB 1980 transmission with a BMW E46 2001 325 i/ci/xi Engine Transmission.

I just want to do the transmission as I have a 1973 2 carb engine, with SU carbs. I want to change the carbs to Mikuni's.
Should I swap the engine also. What kind of vibrations should I expect?

I am guessing I will most probably need new bushes, ARB and springs- or a modified suspension?

Any wisdom would be appreciate it.

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Re: Bmw 5 speed tranmission swap #4
mac townsend Fairfield, CA, USA Sign in to contact 1973 MG MGB MkIII	Feb 11, 2016 09:22 PM Top Contributor Joined 18 years ago 24,294 Posts

beamer box probably too large to fit in the hole. As are most 5-speeds.

Plus you'd have to engineer the whole thing. Flywheel, clutch plate/cover, clutch slave, driveshaft, back plate, starter mount, all of these, as a minimum, will have to be re-engineered.

1973 Pale Primrose Roadster. A nice 10-footer!
SUs, Datsun 5-speed

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Re: Bmw 5 speed tranmission swap #5
Rick Fawthrop Richard Fawthrop Langley, WA, USA Sign in to contact 1960 Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite 1974 MG MGB 1994 Mazda Miata	Feb 11, 2016 10:53 PM Top Contributor Joined 12 years ago 6,720 Posts

That trans swap in not going to happen. Basically the E30 parts are huge.
I put a Getrag 265 trans in a early 2002. It took about 80 hrs or so to fabricate a new transmission tunnel.
The trans has a integral bell housing and will not even come close to matching the engine.
I don't want to sound rude but BMW makes a roadster and they are plentiful where I live.

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Re: Bmw 5 speed tranmission swap #6
B-racer Jeff Schlemmer Shakopee, MN, USA Sign in to contact 1950 Willys Jeep Pickup "Ratrod" 1964 Land Rover Series IIA 1971 MG MGB	Feb 12, 2016 07:47 AM Top Contributor Joined 17 years ago 20,008 Posts

The 280Z is the 5 speed of choice with overdrive where the BMW has a 1:1 5th gear and it IS huge. You need the overdrive unless you plan to change the diff as well.

jeff@advanceddistributors.com

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Re: Bmw 5 speed tranmission swap #7
pinkyponk Adrian Page Berwick, NS, Canada Sign in to contact 1958 MG MGA 1500 1961 Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite 1971 MG MGB GT 1973 MG MGB MkIII	Feb 12, 2016 08:27 AM Top Contributor Joined 13 years ago 14,759 Posts

In reply to # 3192687 by Rick Fawthrop That trans swap in not going to happen. Basically the E30 parts are huge.
I put a Getrag 265 trans in a early 2002. It took about 80 hrs or so to fabricate a new transmission tunnel.
The trans has a integral bell housing and will not even come close to matching the engine.
I don't want to sound rude but BMW makes a roadster and they are plentiful where I live.

lol!

Adrian

Home built Eaton M62 Supercharger with 8psi boost, 8:1 compression, custom "supercharger" cam from Schneider Cams, Mikuni HSR48 Carburetor, custom ground high ratio "stock" rocker arms, Maxspeeding rods with Teflon wrist pin buttons, custom aluminum cold air intake, CB Performance computerized ignition, Fidanza 9 pound flywheel, 1.44 exhaust valves in 48cc chamber head, matched manifolds, 2 1/4" exhaust system.

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Re: Bmw 5 speed tranmission swap #8
ssmg Scott D North Florida, USA Sign in to contact	Topic Creator (OP) Feb 12, 2016 08:49 AM Joined 13 years ago 4 Posts

Thank you. I'll try that, although it seems it is a no go. I just have access to this engine/transmission combo and wanted to find out how it would compare to the MGB spacing.

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Re: Bmw 5 speed tranmission swap #9
ssmg Scott D North Florida, USA Sign in to contact	Topic Creator (OP) Feb 12, 2016 08:55 AM Joined 13 years ago 4 Posts

Thanks Rob C. I was indeed thinking gas consumption. But it is a no go on the engine.

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Re: Bmw 5 speed tranmission swap #10
Ricochet Rabbit Dave Sanders Gordonsville, VA, USA Sign in to contact	Feb 12, 2016 10:45 AM Joined 14 years ago 271 Posts

Scott, swapping the gearbox will save you gas but it won't save you any money unless you drive the thing about a billion miles.

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Re: Bmw 5 speed tranmission swap #11
ohlord Rob C A tiny Island off the coast of Washington State, N.W., USA Sign in to contact 1957 Land Rover Series I "EYEYIYI" 1957 Land Rover Series I "OVRLND" 1971 MG MGB 1971 MG MGB "Bedouin 2" & more	Feb 12, 2016 11:33 AM Top Contributor Joined 12 years ago 28,878 Posts

I think he was thinking the Mikuni carbs swap would save fuel
It won't do that either winking smiley

LNDRVR4X4.COM
Home of Project "INCARN8'

1957 Series 1 Land Rover electric VEHICLE CONVERSION

FIXITUPCHAP.COM
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Re: Bmw 5 speed tranmission swap #2
xcoastie Eric Meissner Warminster, PA, USA Sign in to contact 1974 MG MGB	Feb 11, 2016 05:47 PM Joined 12 years ago 1,070 Posts

Re: Bmw 5 speed tranmission swap #3
ohlord Rob C A tiny Island off the coast of Washington State, N.W., USA Sign in to contact 1957 Land Rover Series I "EYEYIYI" 1957 Land Rover Series I "OVRLND" 1971 MG MGB 1971 MG MGB "Bedouin 2" & more	Feb 11, 2016 05:48 PM Top Contributor Joined 12 years ago 28,878 Posts

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