Marcos Maniacs

Paul,

The only bellhousing that works for the five speed is from a Capri 
MkII 3.0 litre or something to that effect.  Very few were made.  
I'm going to repair the existing gearbox and maintain the 
originality of the car.  Mine even still has the optional "radio 
suppression kit".  The only change I've made is installing a CD 
player.

The Ginetta I was looking at was the one from www.goginetta.com That 
is the company started by two of the original four brothers who 
started the company.  Nice little car (very little) but no creature 
comforts such as roll-up windows, etc.  Yes, the Beck Lister would 
be fun but again impractical.  Guess I'll just wait until I win the 
lotto and get a Lamborghini Miura SV.  Then maybe I'll stop 
dreaming! 

Back to the gearbox........  I think I have a Ford Type 5 gearbox (4-
speed, 3 rail box).  Anyone confirm that??  Used with Capri 3.0.

Don Lattimer
#3m5759
Willits, CA


--- In MarcosManiacs@y..., "Paul Weidner" <pweidn@c...> wrote:
> Don,
> I have a 1974 Capri 2.8 V6 drivetrain in #8083, I know thats 
> different than your Essex 3 Litre, but since it's still Ford, the 
> bell housings may match...
> The reason I mention it is that the European Ford T-9 5 speed is a 
> direct bolt in replacement for the Capri 4 speed.
> The only car Ford imported with it was the Merkur, and only 500 of 
> those were 5 speeds, however Pierce Transmission imports them and 
> sells a conversion kit for changing MG's to 5 speeds.  I contacted 
> them and they would sell the tranny alone, reconditioned for I 
> believe about $700.00.   The website is www.piercemanifolds.com 
and 
> you'd have to verify that the bell housings are the same.   I was 
> going to do the switch, but after I got the other problems sorted 
out 
> I decided it wasn't worth the $$$.
> 
> As far as #4, are you looking at the kit with the Mazda mechanicals
> (www.motoamericainc.com), or the built car with Ford Zetec engines
> (www.goginetta.com)
> 
> Personally, I think you should go for the Beck Lister...
> http://www.kitcar.com/beck/home.html
> 
> Good luck, 
> Paul
> --- In MarcosManiacs@y..., "Don Lattimer" <donlattimer@p...> wrote:
> > Now I've done it.  On the last ride of the year (last weekend) I 
> lost 
> > 4th gear completely.  Won't even go into gear sitting at idle 
(just 
> > grinds).  It has been getting progressively worse over the last 
> > couple thousand miles.  The linkage all looks fine and the other 
> > gears engage smoothly.  
> > 
> > Question:  Can I remove the gearbox without removing the 
engine??  
> > It's a V6.
> > 
> > If I have to remove the engine/gearbox to repair I then have a 
few 
> > options:
> > 
> > 1. Repair the existing gearbox and reinstall. Chance to rebuild 
> > overdrive also. I like the originality part.
> > 
> > 2. Convert to 5 speed.  Who makes bellhousings for early model 
(pre-
> > 1970) Essex V6's??  Burton Power only has bellhousings for the 
> later 
> > Essex V6s'.
> > 
> > 3.  Install Rover 3.5 liter V8 and 5 speed.
> > 
> > 4.  Sell car and buy a new Ginetta G-4!
> > 
> > Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
> > 
> > Don Lattimer :(
> > #3m5759
> > Willits, CA