Moss Motors, Ltd

I have a '69 Spitfire (sort of) and a whole wad of questions. I'll only bring them up one at a time.

My spit has a mid '70s MG 1500 engine and the drive shaft (prop shaft) has a painted indication that it is from a '79 Spit w/ O/D. This car likely has more modifications than my second ex-wife, but I digress. How do I figure out what transmission is in this thing? Are there any visual cues that will help me determine what I've got?

 I'm working from scratch. The vehicle has never run so I don't know if 1st gear is syncro or not. I'm at a complete loss. 

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I don't know when I realized that I had grown up, but I'm not happy about it.

That "MG 1500" engine is actually the standard 1974 and later Triumph Spitfire 1493 cc engine.  British Leyland also used it in the '74-79 MG Midget when the old Austin "A" series motor could no longer meet Federal emissions standards.  Pure speculation on my part, but your engine might also be from a '79 donor vehicle.  Check the serial numbers on the motor.

 Thank you for the response. 

It could well be a '79 engine transplant, but at the moment I'm trying to identify the transmission. Is it the original? Did it come from a later year? Is first gear synchromeshed? Is there any casting number or visual indication of which transmission is installed? All I know at this point is that it is a four speed. Everything else is a mystery.

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I don't know when I realized that I had grown up, but I'm not happy about it.

The Moss paper catalog shows the location of the gearbox ID number.. You'll have to remove the gearbox cover in the cockpit to see it, I believe.

Thank you all.

I still don't know if this is a '79 transmission (gearbox), but it appears to be at least sometime around mid '70's. I've removed the body from the frame so everything is clearly visible. Now I just have to figure out how to remove these damned rear axles. I'm taking it down to the frame for restoration.

I would attach a photo, but it doesn't appear that I can upload a file. I have to post it somewhere first and then link to it. I'm too tired right now to think about that kind of extra effort. ;-) 

  

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I don't know when I realized that I had grown up, but I'm not happy about it.