Rebuilding My Triumph Spitfire Gearbox 2 - Inspection

[@mlaurenceolivier]

After watching this series of videos 19,274 times, I finally bit the bullet and pulled my transmission (gearbox and overdrive) from my 1980 Spitfire. I checked all the pieces, made mistakes, rewatched a few of these another 4,276 times, and finally got it back together about two weeks ago. I then pulled the motor to do the reinstall because doing just the transmission was a real PITA. Suffice it to say, I don’t think I could have done the whole thing without these videos. Absolute life savers for a n00b mechanic hack like me. Thank you so much for doing these!

[@midwestmotoring]

I'm really happy to hear that! Too many people just throw away the gearbox and put in a Ford unit. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, but it's just not true that the Triumph boxes are bad. Glad to hear you're back on the road, and thanks for the shout out!

[@SH-th4wy]

I appreciate that you leave the camera running as much as you do and include the occasional struggles. It help reassure us beginners that all is not choreographed dance like some other edited-down videos turn out. Very informative!

[@midwestmotoring]

I appreciate that! Mind you, I do edit out some of the bigger stupid moments. After all, I have to keep up appearances that I have SOME idea of what I'm doing....

[@kleissrod]

This is my first ever rebuild of a transmission. Wouldn't have even tried had I not seen your videos. If this goes well enough I will then start looking at the overdrive. You are certainly right. It really hasn't been that hard so far and it's kind of fun.

[@midwestmotoring]

The hardest part is always finding the springs that go flying when you take things apart.

[@Steve-in-the-uk]

Excellent video again! Cheers, Steve in the uk

[@midwestmotoring]

Thanks again!

[@philipbrooks-taylor5583]

Well, I'm darn glad I found these vid's! Just spent today starting to disassemble a Herald box (with OD), after watching part 1 of these videos. Thanks muchly, and I look forward to the next vids in the series when screaming children allow.

[@midwestmotoring]

Thank you! Technically, it's the reverse of removal, so you can probably guess how it goes back together. I'll have a video as soon as I can though! Glad it helped.

[@tjm3900]

Great video. The mainshaft tip wear is very common and a new mainshaft will cost you about £200 plus shipping. It might be preferable to talk to a good machine shop about fitting a hardened steel sleeve on the tip and perhaps opening up the end of the input shaft to accept the larger roller bearing as was used on latter gearboxes. Modern MTL syncromesh gearbox lubricants can really help the syncro rings work and reduce wear.

[@midwestmotoring]

Good call on the machine shop. I usually use MT90 from Redline, which is fantastic. Just be wary of any GL5. The fluid is excellent, but it can cause quick wear on the synchros.

[@edwardkendall3905]

Great job! These are excellent reference videos. Good camera work makes all the difference!

[@midwestmotoring]

Thanks! I'm just hoping I don't steer anyone wrong. There are some differences in various years, so keep an eye out for changes in your shop manual.

[@rodneyriga179]

Excellent Video and share of knowledge Kudos to you! you have me motivated with moving forward on removing my transmission/OD with my 79 Triumph Spitfire which was shifting fine but leaking from every gasket and seal. Thx again. Rod Riga ATL

[@midwestmotoring]

You can do it! The 79 box will be a single rail shifter on the top, so the actual mechanism to change gears will be different. The internals of the gearbox should be very similar though--and they hold up better than the early boxes, which have smaller bearings and wear more quickly.

[@ozwud9085]

Thanks! Very timely as I have my '71 GT6 3 rail 4 synchro gearbox apart. Take care not to mix up the synchro springs as they are different. The new springs I have measure at 0.345" (5 coils) for the 1/2 hub and 0.423" (6 coils) for the 3/4 hub.

[@midwestmotoring]

Glad it helped. I've said before that gearboxes are basically a bunch of gears on a couple sticks. It's nothing a half-way competent enthusiast can't do... but you're right about staying organized and understanding which part goes where!

[@StevesProjectCarGarage]

Another great video! Thank you!

[@midwestmotoring]

Thanks for watching!

[@kennolan1219]

Great video, thanks

[@midwestmotoring]

Glad you liked it! I haven't gotten the box back in the car yet, but it's done several hours on my test stand without any issues. Looking forward to smooth shifting!

[@willtopower2158]

Great information, is a reassembly of the trans and the teardown of the overdrive videos coming soon?

[@midwestmotoring]

The trans is actually about 3/4 reassembled as of today. I had to take a break from filming since the wife and I took in foster children. They're still with us, but things have settled down a bit finally!

[@markhammerbacher5013]

When I check the end float on 2nd and 3rd gears, they come up short; but, when I check the end float of the assembled gears on the main shaft, it is sufficient. Any ideas? BTW this tranny came out of my 1967 Spitfire Mk2, but it actually belonged to a Herald (GB prefix,) at some point, as did the engine (GD.)

[@midwestmotoring]

Without measuring it myself i can't help much, but the end float for the assembly is not the same as the sum of both components, so it's definitely possible to be correct on one and not the other.

[@markhammerbacher5013]

Can you tell me whose shop manual you use? Thanks.

[@midwestmotoring]

At this point I've memorized the procedure, so it's just the specs I have to look up (like clearances between gears). I have both the factory manual and a Haynes manual, so whichever is closest.

[@simonbaxter6432]

When is the rebuild video coming? :-D

[@midwestmotoring]

Soon I hope. Life got in the way a bit these last few months!

[@simonbaxter6432]

@@midwestmotoring No problem! Hope all is well!

[@lewismeza5451]

Great job i don’t see my self rebuilding one how much you charge for a rebuild?

[@midwestmotoring]

Hi Lewis. It really depends on what it needs. Figure in the ballpark of $600 for the labor (could be a little more or less depending on the individual gearbox) and then add parts. Whether it needs parts or not, everything has to come apart... so the labor won't change much. I would budget on the order of $900-$1500 as representative of the one's I've done.

[@hotttt28]

Awesome 😊

[@midwestmotoring]

No YOU'RE awesome! I mean, probably.

[@matthewmilam4760]

Thanks, useful

[@midwestmotoring]

Glad to be helpful! I meant to have the next video up by now, but we've just taken in a few foster children... including a 2-year-old... sooo... yeah. Tantrums and such.

[@royboy3597]

Wow, I watched part 1and2. You do this for a hobby only?! And not a living? You know your stuff! I have mechanical skills. I could take it apart, but putting it back together? Not likely, and not operating correctly! LOL I know you aren't a magician and can't see my transmission. But I often have to wiggle the stick left and right. While pulling back on it for 2nd. Or wiggle and push forward for 3rd. Sometimes it's hard to get the gear at all. What do you think is up? It's nice you took on some kids. Teach em how to rebuild a tranny! LOL FYI it's a 73 spitfire

[@midwestmotoring]

I'm going to guess your problem is in the top cover or in the remote. It is a hobby mostly, but I do rebuild parts as a side gig if you're interested. The top gover and shift unit could usually be done in a couple hours depending on what it needs (including a thorough cleaning).

[@royboy3597]

Thanks for getting back to me. I'll definitely keep you in mind. Thanks again.