The recent postings on OD prompt me to offer another trivia question.
Does anyone know about the 5 speed gearbox that the MG factory built, what it
was based on (ie which production trans), and what it was used in? Answer
tomorrow or Fiday, depending on response.
And by the way, the OD is useful not as a performance item, for most cars
don't have enough spunk to accelerate much more once you get past redline in
top gear, but as a device to make long distance touring more pleasant and
economical. I have done distance work in my MGA (no OD) and my MGC (with OD).
At 100 mph you have a choice of 5000 or 3000 rpm (approx). Granted that you
don't cruise for long at those speeds unless you live in Montana, but which
would you rather have, even at 70 mph?
By the way, judicious use of an OD for racing is very useful, allowing you to
run a lower diff ratio yet retain top speed capability when you shift gently
into top OD once a lap. Very boring if the OD ever craps out in the middle of
a race though!
Bill S.
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