Marina inbound, with questions

[trunnions ftw]

Looking at the fwd auto is has a nifty little alloy sandwich adapter piece than makes a sump literally child's play, I think the manual lacks that so would be a nightmare comparitively! (Still need to mount the oil pump in the sump but that's no big deal.

It looks like the gearbox only roughly shares the starter motor location as the engine so I'll likely use a B series back plate to adapt to the alloy sandwich housing on the back of the E or just do away with the alloy housing entirely depending on how it looks with a flywheel and clutch.

[ClaytonSpeed]

Is the sherpa gearbox a non O/D version on the MGB one? What are the ratios like in comparison?

[MarinaCoupe]

I have a Marina 1.8 Auto Bellhousing that mates to the BW35. The engine side matches the standard Marina 1.8 backplate. Not sure if that helps or not?

[trunnions ftw]

Yeah its a very late version of the gearbix with different clutch splines than the A60/MGB unit, it will have an awful first and second gear no doubt so will be more a 3 speed, the bw bellhousing could be useful but I think that would likely emulate the A/B series marina pattern,,still I'd wonder if the torque converter on this would slot onto a rwd type 35 splines maybe!

[MarinaCoupe]

I don’t have the torque converter unfortunately.

[trunnions ftw]

The E has a torque converter that might work with a type 35 as it drives a short shaft with a morse chain down the side,,it also is piped to recieve oil in circulation which seems to me to be quite an engineering challenge given this gearbox only went into the landcrab and later princess! But for now I'll investigate the manual gearbox and see what is the least invasive way to adapt them together but thanks for the heads up on the bellhousing, parts like that are very handy often at random.

[MarinaCoupe]

I do have a BW Type 35, that would need a complete rebuild.

[trunnions ftw]

Once I unbolt the engine off the autobox, I'll measure and count the shaft splines and seal sizes, it might actually be a generic type 35 converter possibly

[locost_bryan]

If you need to make a sump, the Maestro 1600 had a derivative of the E4, so you might be able to cut-and-shut two to make an E6 sump. Might also give more options for backplates and bellhousings. This is worth a read https://www.aronline.co.uk/engines/engines-s-series/

[BL-NUT-2004]

Glad to hear its being saved by an enthusiast was worried it would meet an unfortunate and wholly undignified end . Interesting idea with the engine and box swap, will be a very very fast little car . I presume its being modified elsewhere too? Lowered, Mini Lites etc

[trunnions ftw]

Well the hope is to just have a cruiser with easy driving manners!

The wheels are sorted for it now, so just a case of big front brakes to find next and crack on welding the thing back into a modicum of shape!

[locost_bryan]

Check the brake upgrade threads in the Technical section. If I read the tyre size correctly, those are 14" rims, so you could follow Chris's lead with Princess calipers and Audi or MX5 discs.

[trunnions ftw]

Yes 14inch mgb wheels with 185 60 14s, I have a possible plan for the brakes which I had previously forgotten about for a dolomite about but I'll have a little mock up shortly and see whether there is any translation otherwise yes incorporating vented discs from a audi or mx5 sounds a solid route as I'll literally just have legs with hubs and no brackets etc.
I previously did convert a dolomite to use 256mm scirocco discs and rover 45 calipers and the rear got the same calipers with mgf rear discs on a sprint axle, it would scrub off speed ridiculously competently!

[trunnions ftw]

Just went up this morning to stick the axle, hubs and wheels on,,could barely lift the axle at all,,not strong enough for this atm.
Still with some egyptology it got sorted.

Looking worse for wear but it's a good base to work with really, will try to straighten and save the front as best I can as I imagine front panels are difficult to find eh

[JubileeNut]

What happened to all the parts that were on it?
Has it still got all the interior trim etc?
Well done for getting it up on wheels again even if its just to move it around.
IT was complete when in the auction yard, as I guess this is the car that got crashed before it was sold at auction? I bet that person was popular!