2litre-e

hi i have a project car and could do with some help on the gearbox. i have a triumph spitfire running a c20xe redtop on tb's and a type 9 gbox. i'm upgrading to a c20let and would like to go to a t5 box for the power. is the bellhousing for using the type9 and the c20xe the same as fro a t5?. at present the clearance of the gearbox ( and just about everything else is very close). are the dimensions for the t5 much bigger than the type9. if its of similar size i'll try and get one to see if its feasible. the let will be putting out between 220 and 300 bhp. it will be handy to know this as i also have a mk3 cortina gxl that will be getting the engine thats in the spit, not for at least a year though. i've owned it for 15 years and its probaly only spent 5 of those on the road, i should have a nice big garage by the end of next year then i'll get started. thanks for reading.

pacwest

T5 and T9 bellhousings are very different.

Considering that you are in the UK I'd go with a properly built T9. We run T9 boxes here in North America with turbo Sierras all day long. I think a Merkur XR4Ti weighs a lot more than Spitfire with crappy shock loading from an open diff. An uprated T9 in a spitfire will be more efficient and will have better gear selection that a T5.

I may be completely wrong though.

2litre-e

a high spec type 9 costs the earth, a lot that i've looked at on the web have been £1500-£2000 and only rated around 250bhp, then again if i have to change the prop/ bellhousing and clutch, that will probably cost 500 at least, i'm using a subaru lsd so the diff isn't a problem. i might just stockpile old type 9s if it gets too ridiculous cost wise. its not that easy to change the box , thats why i wanted to upgrade it

pacwest

My Merkur made about 250 bhp when it had a T9 in it. It weighed 3100 pounds. Stock T9.

A stock T9 would survive. But, remember the T5 is the AK-47 of gearboxes.

You need to make the decision based on gear ratios, budget, serviceability, weight etc. I currently don't own a T9 equipped car but i personallt feel they handle more power than people give them credit for. Maybe I baby my gearboxes...

cossie4i+

iTrader: (15)

The bellhousing is different where it bolts onto the gearbox but overall they both bolt to a pinto block so would be about the same size engine end.

Steve

2litre-e

i've found these dimensions for the t5, does anyone know where i can find similar for the t9, thanks

pacwest

My T9 and T5 were the same dimensions. Apart from a bit of a shifter difference of maybe 3/4 of an inch to the left for the T5 they are the same size really.

The bellhousing on a T9 bolts internally. In other words you MUST remove the bellhousing from the engine to remove the gearbox. The T5 bellhousing bolts externally so that you can remove the gearbox from the car with four bolts, leaving the bell housing in place. Must faster, lighter and easier in my books.

Speedo cables are not the same.

The external dimensions that concern you will be in the "belly" so that the bulk of the gearcase will be a bit wider. where will it be "close" for you? Width? Height? Length?

2litre-e

if the length of the box is the same then the biggest area of concern will be the width of the belly and whether or not the uj required for the prop is larger than on the t9, i would struggle to get a larger uj between the chassis rails, it clips now and then as it is. sbd say they don't make the bellhousing to go from the c20 engines to the t5 box because they are not suited, c20 revs hard and the t5 is built for torque .thanks.