Dolomite sprint gearbox

[cleverusername]

Well basically I now have one, with overdrive, all the mounts and the selector. Kind of an impulse buy, so the question becomes, what do I do with it?

I have this long term idea of an engine upgrade and one of the major hurdles these days seems to be finding a decent RWD gearbox, hence the sprint box. Obviously it will fit a sprint engine, however they are like hens teeth. How about a TR engine or an 1850?

Going more left field, is it possible to mount one of these to something more modern like a K-series or Zetec? No current plans, just curious about the options.

[cliftyhanger]

Obvious choice is a TR7 engine.

If a modern engine, you would want a T9 or similar as there is stuff about to help fit it.

[tony g]

I'm currently planning an mx5 engine with sprint o/d box. It will need adaptor plate of course but I love the OD box and plan to use one should I carry on with the conversion.
Tony

[trackerjack]

I am astonished that people don't use the MX5 gearbox as its soooooooooooo cheap and is probably better than a hugely expensive type 9 Ford box which is getting rarer by the day.
However I do not know of anyone who makes a conversion plate but soon I will have a sprint block and I might see if one can be made.
I have made my own special using an MX5 engine and box and they change as lightly as any Ford box.
A 5 speed TR7 box is the same as used in the Rover SD1 but with a miserable 105 bhp and no torque to control is barely stressed.

[Carledo]

The MX5 box is very long though, as one or two Dolly/MX5 converters have found out! And it is even harder than a T9 to shorten the gearshift extension.

My Omega box has a hydraulic concentric slave which works perfectly with the stock Dolly master cylinder, is short and strong (217BHP MV6 has basically the same box) and 2hrs work saw 18ins removed from the shift extension to fit the Carledo with no body chopping at all.

Steve

[Jon Tilson]

The Sprint box will fit behind a TR7 engine and you could either replace your subframe with an 1850 one to fit it or hack the bits
off your ohv one to match.

You would need the Sprint adaptor plate. I have one spare but its had a bit cut off to fit a kit car.
If you want it its yours....

The cross member for all o-d cars is the same, but the Sprint has a different mounting bracket to the other smaller gearbox
cars that sits on the same flexible mounting.

Wasn't your old box one I built up IIRC....no thinking about it it was one Moss did for me after selling me some duff bits.
Is it not going well?

Jonners

[tony g]

As Steve says the mx5 box is very long and a fair bit of work needed to get the gear lever forward enough to work nicely. I have 2 mx boxes here but would prefer an o/d box so all parts from bell housing backwards remains stock

Tony

[cleverusername]

The Sprint box will fit behind a TR7 engine and you could either replace your subframe with an 1850 one to fit it or hack the bits
off your ohv one to match.

You would need the Sprint adaptor plate. I have one spare but its had a bit cut off to fit a kit car.
If you want it its yours....

The cross member for all o-d cars is the same, but the Sprint has a different mounting bracket to the other smaller gearbox
cars that sits on the same flexible mounting.

Wasn't your old box one I built up IIRC....no thinking about it it was one Moss did for me after selling me some duff bits.
Is it not going well?

Jonners

The problem with box is the layshaft bearing, there is noise in 1st to 3rd which disappears in direct drive. My guess is the bearing they used is duff.

To be honest I have come to expect that from car parts, especially classic parts. Too many duff batches made on the cheap in China is my guess. I know the supplies will say we don't pay enough, but in my experience more expensive doesn't mean better quality. Some parts are duff, others are good. Sometimes the same make can have duff batches, and good batches. It is just luck.

As for the gearbox I bought it, because it is complete with OD, so pretty rare. Plus I fancy an engine swap as a long term project.

[Jon Tilson]

But a box Moss built should have lasted longer. Sorry but now Peter Cox has left and its more than five years ago
I wouldn't get any comeback even if it was still mine...

Tough luck.....

Did you get any joy swapping pistons in your slave?

Jonners

[cleverusername]

But a box Moss built should have lasted longer. Sorry but now Peter Cox has left and its more than five years ago
I wouldn't get any comeback even if it was still mine...

Tough luck.....

Did you get any joy swapping pistons in your slave?

Jonners

It kind of works and it isn't getting any worse, which will do for now.

As for the gearbox, it works, it just whines in the lower gears and I don't think it is going to go bang.

If I have more time, probably the summer, I might pull it apart. I still have the non-overdrive 4 speed as well. So I could do a mix and match with the two. With new bits were needed. Infact I now have three gearboxes and one car.

[sprint95m]

Well basically I now have one, with overdrive, all the mounts and the selector. Kind of an impulse buy, so the question becomes, what do I do with it?

As has been said, the Sprint gearbox will fit any slant four if you have the Sprint backplate and gearbox adapter ring.
I don't know if a TR7 or either type of 1850 flywheel is compatible?

You need also to consider the propshaft and back axle, these are unique to Sprints.

I have this long term idea of an engine upgrade and one of the major hurdles these days seems to be finding a decent RWD gearbox

There are many options available.
The Ford type 9 is popular because it is light, compact and has a separate bell housing. It can be easily (albeit expensively) upgraded to handle lots of power and torque.
It is also compatible with Triumph clutches and speedos.
Having said that however, if I fitting a Zetec I would try to use the later Ford MT75 'box because, in standard form it is stronger and the gear lever position is adjustable.
The MT75 doesn't have a detachable bellhousing and is wider than the T9.

There are lots of gearbox options from the Japanese makers including Toyota. Their ready availability there makes them popular in Australia and the USA for instance.
For Triumphs you can be looking at commissioning a bespoke clutch plate.

Going more left field, is it possible to mount one of these to something more modern like a K-series or Zetec?

Possibly but using a Sprint 'box for this is not an option I'd consider.
Whilst a Sprint 'box is very far from bad,
there options available which are lighter, more efficient, more compact and more durable.
K-series and Zetec engines are popular in kit cars, so I would do research on kit car forums.



Ian.

[James467]

Going more left field, is it possible to mount one of these to something more modern like a K-series or Zetec? No current plans, just curious about the options.

Yes, but it would probably be cheaper to stick a T9 on there as there are companies already out there that specialise in this, bellhousings are almost available off the shelf.

I just picked up a long shaft Heavy Duty T9 for £250, rare but these are the ones to go for IMO.

[Galileo]

I'm surprised how much the type 9 is going for nowadays! I've got one in my store complete with a 1995 Zetec 2l (no cat required) to go in the Tiger Avon I was building. Really must stick that lot on eBay...

[cleverusername]

I'm surprised how much the type 9 is going for nowadays! I've got one in my store complete with a 1995 Zetec 2l (no cat required) to go in the Tiger Avon I was building. Really must stick that lot on eBay...

The problem is RWD is now exclusively for sports and high end cars. Ford were probably the last company to have a RWD setup in a mainstream car. OK I suppose you could say that the 3 series is the new Mondeo, but I doubt you can get a cheap BMW box.

So no more supply of cheap boxes in scrapyards, well unless you pull one out of an MX5 I suppose.

[cliftyhanger]

BMW stuff is generally pretty cheap. So a BMW conversion into a dolly would be one of the cheapest ways to get a modern engine in there. Some very light gearboxes too....

RX8 6 speed boxes are getting very popular, though first gear is rather low. But it means you could use a long ratio diff.... (but we are limited to the sprint 3.45 diff in reality, the 3.27 being rather fragile) Plus the RX8 uses the same clutch as teh T9, therefore later dolly 1850. And is teh same length as a T9, plus same output splines but requires a new seal if you use a T9 prop. There is a chap making adapter plates for a variety of cars on ebay (and other car forums)