Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing 5 speed R380 box

Hi,
I have been the happy owner of a 1976 +8 / 1. reg Jan 1976 - so maybe actually a 1975 model.
I believe it has a 4-speed rover box which I want to convert to a R380 5-speed box. Does anyone know whether it will involve major changes to the chassis? And are there other matters to consider?
I know I will have to make some changes to the remote and understand that it should be possible.
For those of you wondering - yes I have a 4/4 1977 restoration project going on. But I just couldn't wait to get on the road.

I remember back in the mid 80s Mike Pullen Yorkhire put a 5 speed box into his 4/4 . Now the words Rooster conversion and Toyota box spring to mind . Dont know if any of this will help with your 1977 restoration

Many Moss-box +8s have been converted to the Rover 5 speed box. I didn't hear of any big problems but there are surely members on this forum with first hand experience.

How is your 4/4 project going? Pictures?

The age of the car puts this as having a 4 speed Rover box, not a Moss. The Rover 5 speed (LT-77) was introduced later in the year this car was produced. Moss boxes were only used up until around 1972 or '73...
You'll find an R380 very notchy and slow to change compared to the 4 speed Rover. Also the chassis (and body) is narrower than the later +8 which was fitted with the R380. I expect you would need major alterations to the transmission tunnel, chassis cross member etc. and that is assuming it will fit. I also expect the prop shaft will need shortening.
If you just want taller gearing, it might be worth investigating a change to differential internals to raise the gearing a bit...

Cheers,

How about going to a T5 box?? It's a conversion that the +8 racers have.. You don't need the performance parts they use, but it would get you an alternative option to consider.

OK Guys,
Thank's for the inputs. It seems like it will be wise of me to stick to the LT77 instead.
From what I have learned I will need a Maurice Owen bellhousing, a shortened early(1977-1994) "Morgan" clutch slave made to fit top of the bellhousing (it is not the LR or Rover slave) and a SD1 remote. Anybody knows where on earth I can hold of theese things?
As to the 4/4 restoration, not very much has happened. Except for the usual rust-work

Don't be too modest. There is already quite a lot of work in it!

Frank

Hi,

Many years ago I had a 1975 +8, with the old 4 speed Rover box. In every day motoring it was fine but as soon as you tried to rev the engine and then change up the box baulked. The noise was not very pleasant but was typical of the box - it was never designed for quick changes at high revs. I'd even had it rebuilt by MacDonalds and it made no difference at all. As I intended to use the car for hillclimbs and because of a slight (!) accident at Silverstone I changed the box to a SD1 5 speed along with a new 5 speed chassis. You could probably engineer the change with the old chassis but why bother. Keeping your car original will preserve its value and keep its original driving characteristics. Early original spec +8's are getting rarer every year so I would suggest if you want to change, get a newer car.
Paul

I have no idea really but Quaife make a range of 5 speed boxes and it seems to me that it may be possible to adapt something. It may be worth giving them a call.

Only slightly off topic, friend of mine worked at the Jag in the sixties, any noisy Moss boxes were rejected and sent to Morgan..... :snowlaugh: