Hi all
As I started this I thought I should contribute.
I sourced a Type 9 off Fleabay and as commented above one needs to be careful as there are several variants not all of which are suitable for transplant to our motors.
In addition I waited until one was local to me and only bought after viewing and having a waggle of the gearstick to ensure everything seemed ok. I also took the top cover off and had a peer inside to check condition. This is also an opportunity to count the teeth on the input shaft to double check the 'box is the version you want. (plus measure the input shaft length sticking out in the bellhousing)
I referred to an old (as in 10 years old) pdf copy of an article 'Taking the 5th' by Kim Henson, Full of must know info.
One thing I did fall foul of was the speedo output. DOH!!!!!! I knew it was all going too well...
As mine is a later version it has an electric speedo output. Not only is this output device as rare as hens teeth to replace (therefore it is on the to be mended list - I should have the skills for that) it seems I now have the added conundrum of what to do with the original Smiths mechanical dial and a pulsed output from the 'box .... more on this later as I figure it out,
However this wasn't just a 'get 5 gears pronto' project and I expected trials and tribulations. The Plan B can always be a standard refurb'ed box and O/D.
Whilst on the topic it seems that some of our far flung Spitfire and Triumph owning chums have used all manner of more modern and available 5 spd boxes but those Toyota variants are not readily available in the UK and bellhousing adaptors not easy to get here either. Whilst I'm up for a challenge fabricating an adaptor is not something I yearn to do (yet)
Anyways, there is info out there and folks have done many and varied transplants. Getting hold of T9 transplant and engineering info (for Spits) is tricky as the search engines throw all sorts of results back, most of which are not helpful. It has taken hours (ask the wife) and lots of beers (hurrah!) spending evenings surfing the web for pearls of wisdom.
If anybody reading would like the info and links I have collected to date then drop me a line.
Now, having inspected the box in greater detail on the bench back home - and feeling a lot happier at it's basic condition - the thinking turns to the problem of the shortened remote ie chopping about 4" off the upper casing and moving the stick location back towards the bellhousing end so it doesn't foul the Spitty handbrake.(i think any GT6 types out there have other issues too re chassis access?)
You can, if you wish, send your box off to one of the main Type 9 specialists to get mod'ed. If I were to so do I would also think about getting the box inspected and refurb'ed too? but thatwould spoil all my planned fun and the box is destined to be in bits all over the bench at some time. Never done a gearbox before.
This is where the T9 box is a good'un in that due to the kit car and racing types there are oodles of specialists out there, and spares. In my case I want to have a go at the mechanical fettling - see earlier comment about it being a Project.
I'm not rushing - plenty of reading and measuring and pondering, Not least of which is due to the fact that;
a) I can't weld (as yet)
have no TIG kit (as yet)
These minor stumbling blocks are about to be resolved with an evening class in welding and the acquisition of TIG kit (and why TIG is another long and involved story...)
In response to a comment in the thread, yes some few years back it seems that you could pick up a T9 for pennies. Now due to the wonders of the internet and particularly Fleabay everybody is aware of their 'desirability' and everybody thinks their pile of rusting crud that has sat in the weeds since 1987 is worth it's weight in gold . Advice is, be patient, buy local and take cash so you can haggle. I've seen some ludicrous prices wanted but ended up with an, I felt, reasonable sum to part with.
As for the question of 'standard' and how much Triumph is left? Each to their own. My Mk3 is not concours, it has an unleaded head, alternator, -VE earth, hi-torque starter, MX5 seats, LED lights, more relays and better fuses, electronic ignition and there will be more modern tech applied as I go on to make it safer, handle better, and last longer so I can continue to enjoy the driving experience of my little toy.
At this time it may still all end in tears - especially if I boll*x up the box mod and welding - so I have held back on the full transplant goodies and have yet to fork out for the adaptor, new clutch etc, spigot, shorted prop, mounting plate or indulged in a new 'old style' electronic speedo. At worst it will cost me some time and a modest amount and is quite enjoyable while I play. Car still has the orig box and I blat around the side roads avoiding major routes.
Alternatively, if you are really (really!) keen (and have the dosh) - throw it at a specialist and get the car back converted?
For me, I want to do this £'for nothing' and pick up news skills and experience along the way (like taking a Smiths speedo apart and converting to electronic innards!)
Will continue to update my progress - slow as it is.
Lawrence