Type 9 Gearbox in a Dolomite.

[sprint95m]

Hello everyone,
having given up trying to find a 3 rail o/d box after 3 years of looking,
I am going to attempt to fit a Ford type 9 (Sierra) 5 speed gearbox into my Dolomite (1850).

To this end I have acquired the following:
Sierra 1800 turbo diesel gearbox (which has the long input shaft)

Bellhousing adapter (from Canley Classics)

Dolomite 1850HL clutch plate

New gearbox mounting

Quickshift adapter (from rally Design). The Sierra gearlever is rather long so I may shorten it and employ the QA.
I will use a normal Dolomite gearknob.

New spigot bearing (which needs its internal bore increased).

Sierra speedo cable (which I hope to adapt. Given that the exhaust is on the other side, I don't anticipate needing an angle drive?).

I am intending trying to make a propshaft by modifying a Dolomite's front section to take the Ford sliding end (that way the centre
mounting will not need to be relocated).


The intended timescale for this project?
There isn't one but should (or could) take place over the next couple of months .
Will try to keep you updated with photos as I go along (there I have said it so I guess will have to do so now!).

[cliftyhanger]

Re speedo cable, I think something like landrover ones may work. It is just another bit of vague information rattling around my brain taking up space......

And my gearbox should be "delivered" this week. Long input shaft has been reduced to the same as a 4 cylinder, so suitable for my spitfire build.
The 2.8 gearboxes are actually not any stronger according to Pete the gearbox man. different in a few places, but they are unlikely to be much stronger. Besides, ford stuff is rather robust compared to teh Triumph boxes (tin hat now required! )
For teh geaqrrknob, I cut he stick to the required length, and welded a bit of suitable thread from a bolt on. worked a treat. And the quickshift, there is a cheapo way of doing it, it a little bit of faff

But well done, I suspect it will all cometogether nicely.
remember, 75/90 GL4 oil. BGH recommend comma semi-synthetic. Got mine from amazon.

[xvivalve]

Hi Ian,

Picking up on the last thread, I have an alloy bell housing from early 1850HL and a complete 3 rail1500 HL bell housing in my yard. Any use?

[Jon Tilson]

"Hello everyone,
having given up trying to find a 3 rail o/d box after 3 years of looking,
I am going to attempt to fit a Ford type 9 (Sierra) 5 speed gearbox into my Dolomite (1850)."

Did Alun Nicholas know you were looking?

Jonners

[topfuel]

mmm i got one in my dolly.. oh and a zetec... right were to start. you may be better off going for a mt75 box as this box has a removable gear lever i.e you can cut it about to get it in a nice place. oh and it stronger than a type9. if you go for the type9 making a quick shift is no problem at all. three 8mm nuts a sharp knife and a hammer. let me know if you need measurments etc...

terry

[sprint95m]

Hi Ian,

Picking up on the last thread, I have an alloy bell housing from early 1850HL and a complete 3 rail1500 HL bell housing in my yard. Any use?

I already have a bellhousing from a 1850HL, Alun.
The 76 Parts book doesn't appear to show a part number so I can't cross reference the number for the three rail type but
from an old post on here I am led to believe that the bellhousings are the same.
I will know next week if it'll work.......

I don't think a 1500HL type will be suitable for me unless I convert to 1500 clutch slave, operating arm etc?
Being heavier duty it is best to stick to the 1850 clutch release bearing?


Thanks.

[sprint95m]

Re speedo cable, I think something like landrover ones may work. It is just another bit of vague information rattling around my brain taking up space......

And my gearbox should be "delivered" this week. Long input shaft has been reduced to the same as a 4 cylinder, so suitable for my spitfire build.
The 2.8 gearboxes are actually not any stronger according to Pete the gearbox man. different in a few places, but they are unlikely to be much stronger. Besides, ford stuff is rather robust compared to teh Triumph boxes (tin hat now required! )
For teh geaqrrknob, I cut he stick to the required length, and welded a bit of suitable thread from a bolt on. worked a treat. And the quickshift, there is a cheapo way of doing it, it a little bit of faff

But well done, I suspect it will all cometogether nicely.
remember, 75/90 GL4 oil. BGH recommend comma semi-synthetic. Got mine from amazon.

Thanks for the info.


Your comments about the 2.8 boxes concur with what several folk have told me.
It is possible to upgrade them but I am sure this is not necessary for a Dolomite 1850 .

[xvivalve]

Had my arse in my hands when I typed that; I have an alloy 3 rail 1850 bellhousing and a 3 rail non overdrive box from a herald with an alloy bell housing that has the 1850 style slave!

[Carledo]

Sounds like a GT6 bellhousing then Alun, I've seen this done a couple of times on Heralds and Spits as an upgrade to use the bigger 6 cylinder clutch and it may even be a GT6 box! Steve

[Carledo]

Regarding your propshaft, Ian, as you say all you need to do is cut the front few inches off the Ford prop (plus slide and UJ assembly and get it welded to the Dolly prop such that about half an inch of the slide is showing. In service it will never actually slide cos the centre bearing holds it in a fixed position. Best to get this done once the gearbox is properly installed since then the required length can be accurately determined. This is also a job best left to a professional as extreme accuracy is required and it will have to be rebalanced as well. I had my hybrid Vauxhall/ Dolly prop done like this by Proptech of Hartlebury, Worcestershire, it cost me £100 but was worth every penny! Steve

[Jon Tilson]

I agree re the bell housing.
There are some ohv alloy bell's about made for racing spits, but I'm sure they retain the spit clutch mechanism slave wise.

Jonners

[Carledo]

Yes they do, Jonners cos I have one! Steve

[sprint95m]

I have made a start,
this being by comparing the gearboxes.




(Sorry about the bright sunshine reflecting .)
I have used a single rail o/d box (in foreground) for comparison.

The Sierra 'box is much longer (but seems lighter) with its gearstick being about 70mm further back. I am thinking that a
shortened remote will be required.
The gearbox mount sit a little bit forward but I fully expect to be able to adapt the o/d cross member to suit.
On top of the 'box is the bellhousing adapter (£85) which I bought from Canley Classics. This came with some fitting instructions
and hints. It lists a part number for a shortened remote but I didn't find this on their website so will check again/phone.




I am going to use the Dolomite 1850HL clutch plate seen fitted to the input shaft.
That is a Sierra speedo cable. It fits an 1850 speedo properly and is sufficiently long to make routing it practical.

The bellhousing from the single rail 'box is needed for the conversion but before removing it I measured the location of the
input shaft relative to the front of the bellhousing. This is +27mm (it is proud). (An aluminium ruler provided a straight edge.)
The nose beyond the splined section extends 46mm. The Ford has a bigger diameter nose so I will need a bespoke spigot bearing.
It will be necessary to trial fit the type 9 'box to the engine without the clutch to check there is no interference with the
flywheel from the input shaft.



Next is fitting the bellhousing to the type 9 'box and assessing input shaft suitability.........

[sprint95m]

It lists a part number for a shortened remote but I didn't find this on their website so will check again/phone.

Phoned Canley Classics, they haven't sold any for over a year because they couldn't get the old remotes for core despite
their customers paying an exchange surcharge. To make it viable they need to do a batch of at least 20 units.

Will have to get my own remote shortened......

[topfuel]

i may need one shortened. so thats two.. only 18 to go....

terry