[Spits] what parts should I take?

[jimmuller at rcn.com]

> I've just bought a 1979 Spitfire that's too rusted to
> restore, but has an overdrive gearbox that I'd like to
> install in my 1978 Spit. Does anyone have a list of all the
> things I'll need to take off the old car to make the swap?

>From memory, sort of.  The gearbox itself, the driveshaft, the speedometer cable, the shift knob and the complete mounting stuff that extends backwards from the top of the box to hold the shifting mechanism, the vertical H-bracket that acts as the rear engine mount, and the horizontal plate that sits across the frame members at the back end of the tranny onto which sits the H-bracket.  You'll need the wiring which feeds the solenoid and obviously the solenoid and lock-out switch, but those two items should be attached to the gearbox anyway.  Of all these the horizontal frame plate that supports the rear engine mount is the one most likey to be ignored because one wouldn't guess that such a piece is different between OD and non-OD unless one has looked at it.
--
Jim Muller, been there, done that