Hey it's the noob teacher again. I was just curious I think that I have my head around this magic wand gearbox but still getting used to it. I've only had the car now for a week. I was just curious should I keep the magic wand or upgrade to a remote or a rod change gearbox? If I should change how hard is it to make this change? and also what are the benefits of making the change over not making it. It's not as if i can't drive with my magic wand and I like the idea of having a magic wand in any car. I just want to show the kids at school what a real car looks like and that won't work if i crunch the gears in front of them the evil buggers

There is nothing wrong with the magic wand, it is the most direct shift of the 3 types as it goes straight into the box.
Having said that, way back in the `60s it was de rigeur to remove it in favour of the then-new remote shift. It did have the advantage of a 3rd engine mount in tunnel to stop rock.

Then came the rod change setup, which gets vague and loose with wear.

But the old magic wand is back in favour now with the push for originality of 850s.

Nothing wrong, I'd keep it.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

If you are crunching gears infront of the kids at school is it when changing into first with the car still moving?

The car has no syncromesh in first gear and when changing into first from a stopped position move the gear lever down toward s second or even into second as this will line up first gear and prevent the crunch.

Even Deluxes and MKI coopers are the same with a remote gear shift.

Don't be tempted to throw the car into first when moving eg slowing down to stop at lights then needing to move on due to lights going green as it will eventualy chip a tooth and need rebuilding.

As time goes on you will be a master with the wand, all my minis are magic wands and I wouldn't change them for the world. If uprating the power plant at a later stage add an extra stabilizer bar from the thermostate housing and you'll be ok.



steve

Double the clutch with maybe a 'burp' on the accelerator as you pass neutral and who needs synchro

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

i love the pudding stirrer personally

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Me to Matt

My

Morris 850 Dorothy

850 Austin super Deluxe Queenie

Morris traveller 850

MkII Riley Elf Elfis

Mini K panel van Bruizer

All wiggly wands

steve

My 72 clubbie was a wand style....well it still is..i just dont own it anymore.

I thought it was great, took me a while to get used to though coming from driving a modern car.

Only problem I had was finding 3rd sometimes and it had a habbit of popping out of 1st. But...im guessing that was my dodgy g/b.

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No more Minis!......For now.

When one drives an 850, the gear shifting type feels VERY nostalgic and original... I love it.
But only for an original car.
Performance shifting must require the remote or rod-change type... magic-wand is far too sloppy for spirited driving (the one's ive driven anyway)

Nahh , willy , I can change faster and easier in the sports850 with the magic wand than I could in the rod change box I have in the moke and the remote in the Mk1 Cooper S dad and I rebuilt . Magic wand is closer spaced than the rod change and a lot more direct and better feel than the remote . Also in the dodgy box currently in the sports850 there's not much synchro left in 2nd or 3rd , snaps in on the up shift and double on the downshift , a lot easier to do and to "read" the rev's than it is with the remote or rod changes .

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Come up and drive Bruizer

and the word you are looking for is skill

steve

I have driven every type of gearbox (including the much disliked rod change - which incidentally i REALLY dont mind.in fact quite like!)

But i love driving a puddin stirrir. They are piss easy as everyone says, very direct
and i think even just that little more fun!! keep it mate. def keep it