Sprint engine and gearbox - silly idea?

[Galileo]

I've spotted a Sprint engine complete with all ancillaries and overdrive gearbox for sale at £300, and as I'm keen on fitting an overdrive on my Sprint it seems a good route to be almost there as even the rear crossmember is included though I'll need a suitable prop still.

Am I being naive?

[wiggybum]

Thats a good price for an engine and gearbox complete. I would go for it as once you have OD, you'll wonder how you ever managed without. Just don't be disapointed if you find out it needs rebulding and have to spend aother weekend dragging the whole lot back out again!

I think the OD and non OD propshafts are the same.

[Galileo]

I think the Sprint prop is a lot shorter with OD, than the smaller engines, but ready to be corrected. And that is the point, I'm asking questions because I'm a bit unsure of myself and the wealth of knowledge from the team here is nothing short of a force of nature!

[Henk]

Propshaft length is easy, after buying the lot just measure the length of your current box and compare it with the length of your newly acquired box and OD. The difference has to suit the sliding range of your current propshaft.

When you purchase the combi (not a bad price) don't expect too much. Probably first rebuild that box, while using your car and swap it once it's in a good known state.
The trial and error method can turn out to be a disappointment when you've to change back (maybe two times if you want to use the car in the mean time)...

Gearbox condition cannot be measured without using it, but the dirt on the magnetic sump plug tells you something. You should be able to shift in all gears. OD sump has to be clear of bronze dirt, preferably check the filter as well. The solenoid should draw about 2A and should get hot when connected for about a minute or longer.

[xvivalve]

Overdrive and non overdrive Sprint propshafts are identical; the non overdrive 'box has a rear extension which compensates for the overdrive.

[Galileo]

Brilliant news, very pleasantly surprised I don't need to mess around sourcing a prophsaft, I thought that going overdrive would somehow be more complicated!

I was thinking exactly as said, check the condition of the box (good tips there), renew any seals and depending on the state get it professionally reconditioned and keep it for when I'm ready for a swap, maybe a winter project.

[Richard the old one]

When it comes to the O/D I recommend you clean both the sump filter and the Pressure filter as it is quire easy to make up a tool to remove the pressure filter plug. I have cleaned a number of Pressure filters and I have always been surprised by the amount of very fine material that the filter has collected.

[Galileo]

Deed done, all paid for, now I just need to get it all from Ochiltree in East Ayreshire to Huntingdon! Best quote so far using Anyvan.com is £113.

The seller tells me that they were planning on putting the engine into a TR7 5 years ago, which is why it was complete with carbs etc, but apart from removing the engine from the Sprint that's as far as he got. No use for the engine right at the moment, other than it will be a very good insurance policy and source of parts for the future I'm sure.

By the way, he has 5 Sprint alloys going for £100, which I might have been interested in to make mine original if I hadn't blown the budget on an unplanned engine purchase, so I've spent enough money for a bit. I thought boats were just big holes to pour money into!