Overdrive for TABC or SVW cars

[CFritz7001@aol.com]

Have any of you fellow listers heard of, seen, considered, or installed an electrically-controlled overdrive unit in one of "our" cars??? (I'm thinking of the units used in various Healeys, the Volvo P-1800, and probably dozens of other cars) I just happen to have a P-1800 sitting there in my driveway with an overdrive in it. What do you think?? Regards, Carl Fritz TC # 6756 (Betsy) VA # 2009 S (Abigail) Gainesville, Florida

[joecurto@aol.com]

Carl the P1800 gear box believe will work, check with Skip Kellsey ( Hey Skip jump in) he said he once put one of those in a TC, I did some measuring years ago and it would not take much to put one in a TD/TF. Joe Curto

[Skip Kelsey]

Joe: Actually it was Jim Silva that installed a volvo O/D transmission in his TC. You have to make an adaptor, but the gear ratio is great. I drove the car once, and it was an experience. I shifted from 4th into O/D at 75 MPH, and accelerated to 90 MPH rather rapidly. I backed off at this point. This is a stock 1250 block that was bored to 1500CC,and has a Marshall Supercharger installed. Just a little trivia. Skip Kelsey..............................................................At 05:02 PM 10/18/01 -0400, joecurto@aol.com wrote:

Carl the P1800 gear box believe will work, check with Skip Kellsey ( Hey Skip jump in) he said he once put one of those in a TC, I did some measuring years ago and it would not take much to put one in a TD/TF. Joe Curto Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

[Mark McCombs]

19" tires with a "Z" rating..... I think I saw a JATO bottle at a surplus store. I bet that'll mount to one of those upright luggage racks.... Regards, Mark TC8126

----- Original Message ----- [b]From:[/b] kelsey@shadetreemotors.com [b]To:[/b] joecurto@aol.com ; CFritz7001@aol.com ; MGSVW@yahoogroups.com ; mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com [b]Sent:[/b] Thursday, October 18, 2001 5:26 PM [b]Subject:[/b] Re: [mg-tabc] Overdrive for TABC or SVW cars Joe: Actually it was Jim Silva that installed a volvo O/D transmission in his TC. You have to make an adaptor, but the gear ratio is great. I drove the car once, and it was an experience. I shifted from 4th into O/D at 75 MPH, and accelerated to 90 MPH rather rapidly. I backed off at this point. This is a stock 1250 block that was bored to 1500CC,and has a Marshall Supercharger installed. Just a little trivia. Skip Kelsey..............................................................At 05:02 PM 10/18/01 -0400, joecurto@aol.com wrote: Carl the P1800 gear box believe will work, check with Skip Kellsey ( Hey Skip jump in) he said he once put one of those in a TC, I did some measuring years ago and it would not take much to put one in a TD/TF. Joe Curto Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

[DougPulver@aol.com]

OK Carl, I'll add my obscure data to what has been already stated. I have a Volvo B1800 transmission in my TF1500 which is now a TF1800 since it also has the B1800 engine. But maybe my TF1800 is actually now a TFB1800 since it also has an MGB rear end and front disc brakes. Having said all that, the Volvo transmission fits very nicely in the TF (and likely would in a TC as well). I don't have the overdrive trans which I understand (a) is wonderful and (b) requires some additional "contouring" to the transmission tunnel. The good news with the MGB rear end is that it is the same ratio as the Volvo so everything works well together (prior to this installation, the engine screamed very loudly at about 55mph). I have MGC 15" wire wheels on the TF making it actually a TFBC1800. The car runs really well and keeps up with the rest of the San Diego MG Club (mostly MGBs) on tours. Having said all of this I have no idea what the Volvo trans would do to your TC given the rear end and presumably 19' wheels. Carl, I wish you the best of luck should you decide to actually make the change, but my real question is, "why don't you just use the TC transmission?" Doug Pulver TC 5850 (almost on the road with original parts)

[Ray]

I don't know that I would use the Laycock anyway..it is sort of a cow of an overdrive. Why not just adapt the little Datsun 5 speeder if you want an overdrive...it didn't come in the car either, but at least it is easier to make less obvious. AND you get a syncro'd first and reverse! I put the tranny in question in our Morris Minor, and it makes a great conversion as the trans has correct gear intervals to allow the car to perform. Just a thought since originality isn't a question... I suspect that it might be easier to re-convert when you sell, too. Best, Ray

----- Original Message ----- From: DougPulver@aol.com> To: CFritz7001@aol.com>; mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2001 9:28 PM Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Overdrive for TABC or SVW cars > OK Carl, I'll add my obscure data to what has been already stated. > > I have a Volvo B1800 transmission in my TF1500 which is now a TF1800 since it > also has the B1800 engine. But maybe my TF1800 is actually now a TFB1800 > since it also has an MGB rear end and front disc brakes. > > Having said all that, the Volvo transmission fits very nicely in the TF (and > likely would in a TC as well). I don't have the overdrive trans which I > understand (a) is wonderful and (b) requires some additional "contouring" to > the transmission tunnel. > > The good news with the MGB rear end is that it is the same ratio as the Volvo > so everything works well together (prior to this installation, the engine > screamed very loudly at about 55mph). I have MGC 15" wire wheels on the TF > making it actually a TFBC1800. The car runs really well and keeps up with > the rest of the San Diego MG Club (mostly MGBs) on tours. > > Having said all of this I have no idea what the Volvo trans would do to your > TC given the rear end and presumably 19' wheels. > > Carl, I wish you the best of luck should you decide to actually make the > change, but my real question is, "why don't you just use the TC > transmission?" > > Doug Pulver > TC 5850 (almost on the road with original parts) > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > >