Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Tremec T5 Gearbox & Plus 8

The MX5 5 speed gearbox is a delight having driven a sisters MX5 and my own M3W, which fun aside was the best feature of the car. A variety of sources confirm that torque handling on the 5 speed is nothing approaching the figures you suggest though Dave. I remember Griffo of this parish being concerned when his Ecoboost converted Plus 4 hit (from memory) 255 lbft on the dyno, given the generally accepted slightly lower max torque handling figure. The six speed MX5 box in direct contradiction will handle greater torque though but the accepted limit seems to be closer to 300 lbft.

Having said this the MX5/Miata forums suggest the six speed is a little less precise (it would be diffcult to improve on predecessor) and some even complain that the car so equipped lacks kick in (overdrive) 6th

Yes it certainly will, with your level of normal care. The only thing that will happen is your original rubber bushes (7 quid swap to neoprene is the cure) the remote's
bushes will rot (they should have by now!!) and shifting will become almost impossible until they are changed. Of course it is a knotchy vintage shift (much of that
can be adjusted out and silkier fluids are now available, but few use them or care to properly adjust the shift. They choose it to remain knotchy, under the chosen or
mistaken belief that only an unobtainable R380 can cure that.

However, regardless of comfort with shifting ease, the ultimate reason for a swap remains. LT77 and R380s have highly inappropriate gearing for a hyper-light sports
car V8. Simple fact. The best cars should be rated on how harmonious a balance of components they achieve. It is the weakest point of the legendary Plus 8s from
1977 to 2004. It gets worse depending on how much power and torque your Plus 8 enjoys. So as long as we stay "original, the more fun we have lost from out of the
major components we are given. Happily, most of us are unaware, but figures do not lie.


You are absolutely right.The Sherpa Van also used the same 2wd LT77s and R380s as Morgan. LT7 2wd were used by a very large range of vehicles. R380s by
a very small one. With the first bunch of owners wanting the rare R380s, they should be considered an impossibility, unless I put mine up for sale. (wryly) And
honestly, they are not worth it. They only provide a smoother shift and have a higher power/torque capacity


Yes...amateurs and even professionals are fascinated by its trick features. The public loves trick cars. But that car had less to do with our trad Morgans than today's Cx
or Aero Morgans. Recently, the Works development chief insisted flying about to have a visit to it arranged in order to glean ideas from it for the suspension of a 1980
Plus 8 desert rallying car!!!!! (sad chortle!) Sadly, this leaves Rob' more interesting trad work, more advanced and more Morgan, more obscure than it should be.

L.

Many thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge of Morgan gearboxes L. When last I had removed the gearbox tunnel, (2014) I replaced those spacers and washers on the gearshift mechanism the cost was £17.40p from Uncle Melvyn.. (-:

Fun is where you find it, is it not..? Had I sought something nearer perfection in terms of quality engineering when I was in search of "which Morgan," I would perhaps have stuck with my 911 SC... (-: today the SC would certainly be worth more cash today than my Morgan.. However, recently with the choice of either a 991 or my old Mog on a warm sunny day.... it seems the +8 wins every time... (-: Not too many warm sunny days of late..pity..!

Many thanks also for boosting my ego re the Sherpa box, to the extent that I am occasionally proved to be not as daft as I sometimes feel these days.

I well remember struggling with my then acquired thinking on the value of originality, re ROB 80 R being identified as a Morgan, or even a Morgan special, despite it`s outward appearance..

Well if Porsche think there might be a market for an off-road 992, then why not Morgan..? After all I remember modified Morgans taking part in the Peking to Paris adventures over the years.. whereas Porsche won the Paris Dakar with their 4WD 959 in 1984...Though I suspect a tad more money time and effort went into the 959`s design and build.... The current Porsche Dakar is available new for circa £175k but not as special or valuable as it`s perdecessor is today, given just how special the 959 was in it`s day...

Thanks again for your input L.

One must examine the options for the Rover/LR v8 more closely...matching the engine to available bellhousings, ratios, happy rev range, gear lever
placements, gearing offerings, parts availability and, most importantly existing lore.

The MX 6 speed is not in the running. Thank you Montegue, we agree again. And frankly, the top gear with the 5 speed merely makes the top gear problem
with the LT77/R380 worse. The LT77/R380 never continuing developing aside from a one-off used by Peter Morgan and a run of twenty-fix R380 units made
by Dave Ashcroft that quickly sold out.

The MX is also limited in gear offerings. Yes, Rpi was pushing them, but Ian has left and retail sellers flog what is the most profitable for them. They say the
they are out of stock,https://shop.v8engines.com/tremec-t5-5-speed-manual-gearbox-and-bell-housing-35-p.asp but these units are ALWAYS available
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/rem-1352-000-251

The T5s kept developing and continue to do so until this day. The people speaking to them here address the unit as it was 30 years ago. It has a significantly
great power capacity than a MX now. Good to 650bhp. And that does not deal with the many much stronger 5 speed variants now produced. The TKX, the
TKO, the TCET..with a range of gear choices. As it is my 5th gear accelerates up hills in 5th (.79)! why would I want the MX's even higher ratio? At
Tremec .68 or .63 is fine for me and would allow cruising at of 75mph at 2000rpm. It was even fine for my missed friend Button with his stock engine on a
carb and later Holly pro-injection, (Button enjoyed trying everything).

Most importantly, the Morgan racing community decided on Tremec long ago. There are many options for bellhousings, gear lever placement, expertise. It is
inevitable that the pre-2004 community will lose easy access for parts for the LT77s and R380s. There are many sellers and the UK Morgan dealers can do
the swap. When switching to a new datum, it is important to do so with the largest crowd, among the other factors mentioned. That is Tremec.

gmg