Moss Motors, Ltd

dose any one have advice on refitting an over drive or 5 speed in a 74 spitfire with a 1500 and a fore speed.  It runs strong, but I want a cruising gear 

Hi dee,

There are a few options out there.  One the most expensive is from an outfit in Australia who are selling complete kits for Toyota 5 speeds starting at $2500.

Other options include a complete engine and tranny swap. Toyota 1600 or 200 with 5 speed or you can buy a spitfire overdrive kit complete with drive shaft. I don't currently have the info available since my hard drive crashed (I think the heat and rough handling here in Afghanistan finally took its toll).  I found it doing a search for V8 Spitfires.  Once I get my laptop back in good working order and an external hard drive to store/back I intend to look up all the information I had collected, I'll forward the links to you if you still need them.   

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Dan Beliveau
Who Dares Wins

Dee,

Here is a link to a site you may find interesting re: above topic as well as many other useful bits of information on Spitfires.
 

http://teglerizer.com/triumphstuff/index.html
 

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Dan Beliveau
Who Dares Wins

I'm not aware of a 5 speed conversion for the Spitfire, but the GT6 offered an optional overdrive transmission that will interchange with the original 4 speed box. I think this was also an option for the Spitfire, but I'm not sure. Either way, it will fit with very few mods. This is a fairly popular upgrade for the later model MG Midgets that used the same 1500 engine and transmission.

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'73 Midget (V6)
'59 MGA (I6) under construction
'73 Lotus Europa
'52 MG TD kit car body project.
'98 Jag XK8

"There is a fine line between a hobby and mental illness"

Both Pierce Manifolds and Quantum Mechanics offer a five speed conversion for the Spitfire using the Ford Type 9 gearbox. They are not cheap, either. I think a websearch will locate both.

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Motorbill
From Lola to Land Rover, If it's British and has wheels, it's likely I've bloodied me knuckles thereupon

Dee  Try UK mag. www.practicalclassics.co.uk. June issue ,has a weekend workshop ,'how to',fit a 5speed gearbox,although the article is for a MG Midget there are many links to cars including Spitfire.hope this helps.

Dee  to fit ford type 9 gearbox to spitfire u change the engine back plate instead of bellhousing convertion as on MG's.I had a quick look on pratical classics web site,not alot of help. prehaps someone more 'local' than me might be able to help.Don't forget to price in propshaft and speedo calibration into any cost of convertion.hope this helps.have fun.