To Dan and Nina:
Well that should do it!
Two well-thought-out and beautifully expressed, albeit
highly subjective, opinions on the merits of stock over modern 5-speed
trannys.
You pays your money and take your choice.
But Dan, I think you may have short-changed the stock- with o/d transmission
just a little bit with regards to feel. I agree the gearshift is prone to
slop when worn, but what isn't? I rebuilt the shifter extension on my car
after years of "slopping" around, and can't believe how it transformed the
operation and feel of action.
You should add a well set-up stock transmission "feel" to your collection of
driving experiences so you can incorporate that fact to your argument.
Thanks for the entertaining exchange to both of you.
Dave
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nina Barton" <ninaba@mindspring.com>
To: <mgs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Saturday, June 30, 2001 4:44 AM
Subject: Re: 5 speed - why
> My first sports car was a non-synchro 1st gear spridget, and I've also had
> an MGB roadster with OD, and a non-OD MGBGT which I have today. One of
the
> things I loved about all these cars was the feel of the transmission and
> shifting through the gears. One thing I haven't heard in the discussions
> about OD vs 5-speed on this list, is, how the 5-speed gear box feels. I
> wouldn't want to go to the cost and expense of installing a transmission
> which might drastically alter the feel of the car I love. My car feels
> drastically different with new upholstery and I haven't changed anything
in
> the engine or transmission, just in how I sit in the car. These cars,
> especially the later B's in stock condition (and many listers might feel
> that my 71 BGT qualifies as somewhat later), weren't blazingly fast off
the
> line, but retained their enthusiasts because they felt good and were fun
to
> drive. Part of that, for me and friends of mine, was the feel of shifting
> through the gears. I have not found that satisfaction in any of the other
> manual transmission cars I have owned. The attraction to overdrive, for
> me, is that it would not significantly alter the feel of driving the MG.
> The 70 MGB roadster I owned had overdrive on the windshield stalk, and,
> like any new washing machine, refrigerator, or computer program, there was
> a learning curve before I became proficient in the mastery of smooth
> operation, but it was certainly not insurmountable. The Ford Sierra
> transmission, which is the one I believe is used in 5-speed conversions,
> may well have that sporting feel when used, I just don't have the
> experience with it to know, and that is what I would need to ascertain
> before committing to the installation of one in my B
>
> Soapbox mode off Nina
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