Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) 5 speed box in a Kent engine car

Hi All,
I've just got my hands on my first Morgan, a 1980 4/4 two seater. Its got a Ford Kent engine in it (711 M) with stage 3 head, uprated cam and the like. Its got enough grunt but seems undergeared to me as its doing 4k rpm at just shy of 80mph in fourth.

Given its all generic Ford bits in there, has anyone converted a Kent engined car to run a five speed gearbox, and did it make it a better cruise on long runs? I wondered if a Sierra type 9 box would fit (as they seem to be used in loads of other cars for 5 speed conversions), and if so does anyone know:

a)Whats the best type 9 box to get?
b)Do I need a custom bellhousing or is that another generic model Ford part?
c)Does the cars bulkhead or chassis need chopping about?
d)Is there a generic prop shaft, or do I need to custom alter my own?

If anyone has done this I'd like to hear from you. Equally, if the accepted change is to fiddle with the diff ratios etc instead that would be useful to know. Lastly, if there have been countless threads about this and I haven't found them sorry for being a plonker!

I feel sure someone has asked this before - try PM ing cerealsurfer he builds and races all sorts of exciting Morgans.

This is in the for sale section which might be interesting.
For Sale - Zetec engine, and Type 9 Gearbox

Good Luck
Richard

Hi and welcome.

Many articles out there such as Click Here...

Hope that this helps,

R.

Yes it was a few month ago . A firm called Rooster Racing , if my memory serves me correct it was a new bell housing and the word Toyota is ticking in somewhere . A Yorkshire lad Mike Pullen did it . You should be able to get hold of him .Dont know if Rooster Racing are still going .

Various versions of Type 9 boxes. Also various versions of bell housing.
Yes, you will need to modify the trans tunnel, possibly gearbox mountings.
The easiest option is to change the diff internals - JB Sports Engineering have alternative ratios. If you are doing the work yourself a 5 speed is nicer to have, though you will often find first on the low side, if a dealer/workshop are doing it you'll probably find altered diff ratios cheaper.
PM me your email address and I will email you copies of articles from various copies of Miscellany over the years where others have done this. Also have a look at MOCA web site.
4k rpm for 80mph sounds a little taller geared than mine - is that a true 80mph, or from the speedo?

Good luck! Oh, and welcome to the forum.

Welcome to the forum.

My 1600cc Kent ('76) does about 3,000rpm at around 80mph (speedo reported).

With a 4.1:1 axle and 165/82 15" tyres, ie standard 4/4 70s and 80s a four speeder is doing 4000 at 70mph. So beware of your speedo accuracy those who have reported differently!

Not sure of the type numbers, but a Ford gearbox as fitted to the XR4i is both stronger and has ideal ratios for a road car being 1,2,3,4 as per the 2000E box (which matches the engine perfectly) and the addition of a fifth gear. The 2000E box in both three rail and single rail forms were fitted to 4/4s from about 1968 to 1973/4 and are much superior to the later boxes as on these first gear is too low for a sports car.

But the XR4i box is a heavy box, and you will need chassis modifications.

I've driven a normal five speeder box equipped Xflow and it seemed ok to me, but as it was somebody else's car and he was in it at the time, we didn't go terribly fast!

I get 17.5 mph per 1000 rpm out of my 4 speed 1972 4/4 in top. I presume it has the 4.1 axle.

Standard 72 4/4 will have the 4.1 axle, and 17.5 mph per 1000 is exactly 70mph at 4000rpm.

I did all the maths in the early 80's and have not forgotten the answers. I fixed it, but my 4/4 speedo drive had a problem (glue to the rescue!), and later the speedo (repaired with bits from a Jag speedo I bought from an autojumble) so I did for a time need to know how many revolutions was a certain speed.