My 850 is running great, but gearbox is plum worn out. I want it to be a daily driver, with some highway work occasionally. I’d like to keep the magic wand gear stick too. Can I upgrade gearbox to full synchro and keep wand stick? Should I also try and source a bigger engine while I’m doing the gearbox (even though the 850 is running sweet)? Or should I do a few upgrades to the 850 (headers, exhaust, intake, carb etc.)? I’ve set a budget of $15,000, but that has to include a good paint job too, and I’ve just spent $1k on suspension and few other bits. Any opinions or advice much appreciated.

Do some searching and reading clip...
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=95454&p=1021179&hilit=pudding+stirrer#p1021179

A 998 or 1098/1275 copes better with modern traffic...then again, modifying an 850 could pep the car up as well if originality is important...

_________________
"Show me the Mini!"

Do you really need a full synchro? I've always used three synchro on all my Minis, still do on the van and the Cooper S (albeit using one of the works SC/CR gearsets that my father brought back from ST in the UK in 1972). Never found it to be a problem in traffic. Learnt to double de-clutch.

_________________
Slide
1965 Mini Van (1360)
1970 Mk2 Cooper S (1310)
1978 Rover SD1 V8 (4.6)
1996 Land Rover Discovery V8 (4.0)

You don’t necessarily need it, but if you are getting a new/rebuilt gearbox it is nice to have all synchro.

Yes you can have all synchro and magic wand, I’ve replied to your other thread in members gallery

_________________

Thanks folks. The 3 synchros not really a problem, just guessing the 4 synchro boxes would be a better box. Happy just to have mine rebuilt, or even attempt it myself. Not sure about the diff though. Probably need someone to do that for me. Still can’t decide on engine. If I did up the gearbox and then later decided to upgrade to bigger engine, is the gearbox going to be up to it?

I just noticed looking down behind the engine to the gearbox, there is an external rod linkage that connects two shafts sticking out of the housing. One of the shafts that exists the LH side of the housing has worn so much that it has about a 5mm gap around it. I’m guessing this may have had a bush at some stage?
Thanks again for any advice.

Thanks Timmy, I just read through your thread, great thread, pretty much everything I needed to know about the gearbox (including that shaft), and a whole lot more
Now realise that I won’t be doing any of it other than pulling it out!

Thanks for the link too, seems nearly everything is possible which is so good

The diff is probably the easiest part

Some of the earlier gearboxes don't suit bigger engines without some modification to the casting inside. As with most things mini, they all look the much the same from the outside but everything has been changed numerous times during the production..

_________________

I have a Morris 850 with its 850 engine thats been modified and fitted with a 4 synchro gearbox with the 850 diff housing fitted and gear stick to still have that original look. The reason I did it so that if i needed someone to drive my car it made easy for them, and its happen more than once.

I took it for a good run today. With GPS I managed 111k's. But it wasn't very happy. 90 is fine though, but not quite enough for me. I think it ran out revs more than anything.

As I'm new to minis in this century, can anyone point in the direction of someone either on the Sunshine Coast or Brisbane that is trustworthy and could possibly source an engine and gearbox? OR do I just pay the big bucks and pick up a complete ready to go unit from the online guys like these: https://miniandmokeworld.com.au/cars_and_parts/sports-1100cc-power-unit-our-speciality/ I notice there's no price, so I shudder to think what they would be charging.

put a 5 speed box in! I have and never looked back

_________________

Matt Read should be able to help you out https://www.facebook.com/Readspeed-688922494518057/

_________________
Slide
1965 Mini Van (1360)
1970 Mk2 Cooper S (1310)
1978 Rover SD1 V8 (4.6)
1996 Land Rover Discovery V8 (4.0)

Wow! How Is that possible? I’ll have to do some searching.

Thanks slide. I’m not on FB, but will track him down.

viewforum.php?f=41

ReadSpeed Mini Mecca & The Mini Man
Shed 5L, 167 East,
Murarrie Road,
MURARRIE, QLD, 4172
Tel: (07) 3399 9999
Mob: 0407 135 656

_________________
"Show me the Mini!"