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Gearbox ????

Posted by magnette1

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Gearbox ???? #1
magnette1 Andrew Murdoch Busselton, W.A., Australia 1956 MG Magnette ZA 1973 MG MGB GT 1977 Ford Escort 2010 Suzuki MC DL650 V-Strom	Posted: February 16, 2012 12:10AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 1,343

Could some one tell me if the gearbox in the Magnette is the same as the MGA please?

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Re: Gearbox ???? #2
enigmas Vince Stok Melbourne, Australia	Posted: February 16, 2012 12:37AM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 403

Physically No.

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Re: Gearbox ???? #3
Wray Wray Lemke ., South Carolina, USA 1956 MG MGA 1958 MG Magnette ZB Varitone 1973 MG MGB 1974 MG MGB GT 1974 MG MGB GT	Posted: February 16, 2012 07:24AM Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 11,052

The bell housing is a bit different and the front of the transmission is cast differently.

While you could probably make an MGA transmission work in a Magnette, it would be very difficult to make a Magnette transmission work in an MGA.

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Re: Gearbox ???? #4
laverda Steve Carroll Irvine CA, USA 1952 MG TD 1956 MG Magnette ZA 1959 MG MGA 1500 ~ For Sale ! ~ 1959 MG MGA Twin-Cam Coupe	Posted: February 22, 2012 04:16AM Registered: 3 years ago Posts: 74

Actually the MGA Twin Cam used the magnette Casting, but had the slave in a different location And some were close ratio boxes. The internals on the Magnette transmission are the same as MGA depending on year. I have a spare Magnette transmision if anyone has a need for one.

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Re: Gearbox ???? #5
bills Bill Spohn W. Vancouver, BC, Canada 1956 MG MGA 1958 MG MGA Twin-Cam 1962 MG MGA MkII Coupe 1965 Jensen CV8 1969 Lamborghini Countach → more	Posted: February 26, 2012 01:55PM Registered: 8 years ago Posts: 9,256

While puttering in my parts shed, I found a close ratio trans that I believe came out of a Magnette, but it has a tailhousing like an MGB and the early MGB front case, so when they set the Magnette up for competition, they must have modified it. Anyone converted from the large MGA style mount to an MGB twin pad mount (presumably installing a removable crossmember to boot?

Bill Spohn www.rhodo.citymax.com/carstuff.html
1958 MGA Twincam (race car), 1962 MGA Deluxe Coupe
1969 MGC roadster, 1957 Jamaican MGA
1965 Jensen CV8, 1971 Jensen Interceptor
1969 Lamborghini Islero S, 1988 Fiero GT turbo
2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe
West Vancouver BC

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Re: Gearbox ???? #6
Gofanu Fletcher Millmore Titusville PA, USA	Posted: February 26, 2012 04:55PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 618

Bil-
Magnette uses two pad mount, but has sliding propshaft splines like 1500 MGA. The MGA single bush "eye" mount is unique to MGA.
I do not recall the details of the bellhousing/starter location, might be the same as the high starter MGA, or even higher (starter is very close to dizzy). But, the Magnette has the top mounted slave cylinder, provision for which is incorporated in the TC bell but not machined.

FRM

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Re: Gearbox ???? #7
bills Bill Spohn W. Vancouver, BC, Canada 1956 MG MGA 1958 MG MGA Twin-Cam 1962 MG MGA MkII Coupe 1965 Jensen CV8 1969 Lamborghini Countach → more	Posted: February 26, 2012 05:00PM Registered: 8 years ago Posts: 9,256

I thought the Magnette case also had the big eye on the back (whether it used it to mount or not) but its ben a long while since I've been under one.

I also found an original Twin Cam trans while digging, which as you say, has the Magnette case but without the holes machined for the Magnette slave.

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Re: Gearbox ???? #8
Gofanu Fletcher Millmore Titusville PA, USA	Posted: February 26, 2012 05:45PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 618

Right you are, by the books. Too long since I've been under one too, and the snow is too deep to go look! Can't recall just how the mount works, but it uses Spridget front engine mounts.
Also, Maqnette has no remote. Anybody playing with these needs to know that there was maybe a change of splines/propshaft early on. Stories re this are murky, and I have no personal experience with this.

FRM

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Re: Gearbox ???? #9
riley1489 Bruce Hopgood Montreal, Quebec, Canada 1973 MG MGB	Posted: April 09, 2012 03:25PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 875

"The MGA single bush "eye" mount is unique to MGA."

Not so unique. Early Riley one-point-five has same single bush eye mount, uses no remote as well, gear ratios as Magnette, (according to book). Clutch slave, Lockheed, as per MGA or other but smaller bore.
salut
Bruce

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Re: Gearbox ???? #10
geezer charles durning Magee, MS, USA 1958 MG Magnette ZB "Chick Magnette"	Posted: April 09, 2012 03:34PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 400

I was under my '58 Chick Magnette on saturday. My bell housing is machined such that it has a provision for the top mounted slave and a bottom mount slave.

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Re: Gearbox ???? #11
Wray Wray Lemke ., South Carolina, USA 1956 MG MGA 1958 MG Magnette ZB Varitone 1973 MG MGB 1974 MG MGB GT 1974 MG MGB GT	Posted: April 09, 2012 04:02PM Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 11,052

Charles, the problem is that the bottom hole can't be used for the slave; the front cover over the 1st motion shaft would need to be rotated and it won't fit that way. I've looked longingly at doing that to get around having to use the unique clutch slave cylinder on top.

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Re: Gearbox ???? #12
Gofanu Fletcher Millmore Titusville PA, USA	Posted: April 09, 2012 04:51PM Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 618

Bruce - Not fair bringing Riley 1.5 into it! Very rare here and even though I was working in a big Brits only shop in a big city in the 60s, I never worked on one. I knew of two on the streets, and I kept my eye out because I wanted one.

Wray- You need the MGA cover/fork/bearing/slave. Or early (3 synch) B parts for the MGB diaphragm clutch and flywheel.

FRM

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Re: Gearbox ???? #13
geezer charles durning Magee, MS, USA 1958 MG Magnette ZB "Chick Magnette"	Posted: April 09, 2012 04:59PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 400

Slightly OT

Here is a Riley 1.5 that is for sale. I know nothing about the car nor the seller.

http://www.classicandsportscarparts.com/classic_british_automobiles.htm

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Re: Gearbox ???? #14
riley1489 Bruce Hopgood Montreal, Quebec, Canada 1973 MG MGB	Posted: April 09, 2012 06:37PM Registered: 1 year ago Posts: 875

"Not fair bringing Riley 1.5 into it!"

Fletcher, nobody ever asked to be fair! You are right about rare, I have one in my drive.
Staying OT, interestingly enough the Riley bell housing is quite unique such that it has a lateral cutout in the top to allow clearance for the steering rack.
Quite amazing the combination of transmission front plates and throw out arms geometry that BMC came up with. Do you think make work projects?
Salut
B

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