[Spits] OD question

[jimmuller at rcn.com]

Greg M asked:
> A friend in Texas needs a trans for his '76 Spitfire 1500
> and found an OD trans from a '75. As both are behind a 1500
> is this a direct bolt in or might the mounts or drive shaft
> be different ?

It is not a direct bolt-in.  Several things are different.

The driveshaft is shorter.
The speedometer drive is different,
The rear engine mount, which is actually at the back end of the tranny or OD, is different.
The OD unit's rear mount requires a unique plate which sits across the frame and is bolted to holes in the frame where the non-OD unit was bolted.

If the donor car is still available, do make sure he gets all those parts, especially the frame plate which is easily forgotten (though presumably one could be fabricated if necessary).
--
Jim Muller, who had done that conversion