I guess I have been lucky in the OD department, both of mine were guaranteed
to work. Of course with the trouble involved with removing and installing
one, guarantee or not I would have been pretty pissed if they hadn't worked.
As far as deals go, I have a friend who bought an OD tranny(missing a
solonoid) at a show for a hundred bucks and sold it 15 minutes later for two
hundred. never my luck. When I buy something it is worth a fortune and
when I sell it it isn't worth a plugged nickle. Don
10:40 AM 02/18/2000 -0800, you wrote:
>Here's my BTDT story...
>
>I had the engine out for flywheel replacement (bad ring gear), and the
>shop I took the flywheel to just happened to have a 4-synch OD tranny
>sitting on the floor. For $650 I said, "why not?". But since I was
>changing trannies (I have a '66), I also had to:
>
>-swap to the newer flywheel
>-install a new engine rear plate (thrown in gratis)
>-cut a longer hole in the tunnel top
>-buy a handy new tunnel top cover from British Automotive
>-buy a new shifter knob (threads are different)
>-do something to recalibrate my speedo (like a new pinion -- haven't yet)
>-buy the newer type starter (needed a starter anyway since it is what
>ruined the ring gear -- good riddance to that primitive gimcrack device)
>
>As long as you stay with your correct type of tranny you will avoid these
>expenses/hassles. But...
>
>...the tranny looked perfect upon close inspection, so I had high hopes
>for the project. But on installation, the OD didn't work. Removed it and
>sent it to the shop, who tore it down and replaced a few components.
>Reinstalled it and it still didn't work. Removed it again, but this time
>used it as a core and bought a rebuilt unit from VB, for $600. Installed
>it and it worked first time.
>
>So, all told, the engine & tranny came out and went back in 3 times, and
>I spent over $1200 on just the OD tranny (not counting the conversion
>expenses). Conclusion: make DAMN sure the thing works before you go to
>all that trouble! I admit that I am very hapy with the result, however.
>And now I can pull/replace the engine in about 2 hours <g>.
>
>P.S. I just read John's post. My experience makes his price for a fully
>rebuilt unit seem very reasonable. I'm curious, though: what are the
>ratios in the 5-speed (for comparison)?
>
>
>D.Bavery had this to say:
>
>>OK, since my engine is sitting on the floor right now - general clean up and
>>clutch replacement - you got me thinking. I don't have OD and would really
>>like it. What can I expect to spend on a ready to install OD tranny? And
>>any ideas on a good source to buy one? Don't know if I'll do it but if I
>>could round up the cash now would be the time.
>>
>>Denny
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Don Walton <dhw@pinehurst.net>
>>To: mgs@autox.team.net <mgs@autox.team.net>
>>Date: Wednesday, February 16, 2000 9:39 PM
>>Subject: Re: OD Prep
>>
>>
>>>Hi Larry, I just went through this for my 77 and I also helped a friend add
>>>an OD to his 74, One question is did you know the condition of the tranny
>>>before you bought it? I have had success with the two of them I have
>>bought
>>>but I knew who I was getting them from. I think as a rule MG transmissions
>>>are pretty stout so odds are the mechanicals should work OK for you. I did
>>>see one once which had various parts fall out of the filter housing when
>>the
>>>cover was removed, so you never can tell.
>>>I would change the filter and gasket and the gasket and grommet on the
>>>solonoid. Chances are that the solonoid wire is going to be brittle so be
>>>careful with that, the wire on my 77 tranny broke off but I just removed
>>>enough of the solonoid coil wire to solder a new piece on and it worked
>>>fine. If you remove the solonoid make sure you have a manual so you can
>>see
>>>exactly how the thing goes back together.
>>>It is also a very good time to change the oil seals both front and rear,
>>>Remember to get all gaskets needed for the job. One thing I forgot to do
>>is
>>>to check that the speedo drive is good, I found out mine wasn't after the
>>>fact. I have a new pinon but I havn't put it in yet but with my luck the
>>>drive gear will be stripped.....
>>>Check and replace as needed the backup and OD isolation switches, also make
>>>sure that the shifter is actuating the switches, you may have to play
>>around
>>>with the fiber washers to get them right. This is not a big deal with the
>>>BU switch but with the OD switch it is do it now or it becomes a big PITA
>>>later because unless you have alien-like 15 inch fingers, you can't get to
>>>it once the engine/tranny is installed . Just mount the shifter and use
>>an
>>>ohm meter to check the action of the switches.
>>>In short, check everything that you can't get to when the engine/tranny are
>>>in the car, also look closely at the motor/tranny mounts, my transmission
>>>mounts had just about turned to chewing gum. I also used a lister tip on
>>>drilling holes in the crossmember to aid in re-assembly. EXCELLENT IDEA!
>>> Good Luck and enjoy the overdrive!
>>>
>>> Don Walton in NC 73 74 77 B's
>>>
>>>
>>> 01:37 PM 02/16/2000 -0500, you wrote:
>>>>Hey Listers, need more OD advice (and I suspect some others might too)--
>>>>
>>>>Finally got an overdrive for my '72 B, now I'd like to know what checks
>>and
>>>>preventive or restorative maintenance can be done with the thing out of
>>the
>>>>car, before the big swap exercise. Tips on checking the solenoid,
>>replacing
>>>>gaskets/seals, checking innards, etc., will be greatly appreciated. Gotta
>>>>get rolling on this (plus engine freshening) so's I can make the big June
>>>>Cleveland show. Cheers!
>>>>
>>>>Larry Ruggiero
>>>>Warner Robins GA
>>>>'72 MGB
>>>>'65 Midget
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
>--
>
>Max Heim
>'66 MGB GHN3L76149
>If you're near Mountain View, CA,
>it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
>
>
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