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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - 5 speed conversions

Just browsing, I see that Moss are now marketing the Frontline T9 conversion kit.. £5360!!

Glad I did mine 25 years ago!
I know their kit includes a "fully reconditioned" gearbox and they have become much rarer but its still hard to see how that cost build up works out!

https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/frontline-five-speed-conversion-kit-tmk30921
GuyW

Blimey that’s expensive.
Did my conversation in 2010, was given a gearbox for nothing and bought a spare for £10.
Rebuilt the box myself, not difficult. Made my own bell housing using an old smoothcase casing that I had. Modified the type 9 input shaft to replicate the Sprite shaft. The front end of the type 9 now looks exactly the same as the Sprite.
No way would I pay over £5k for a kit.
Les Robinson

I bought a second hand, unused bellhousing from someone who had a change of plan, or change of car. I reconditioned a box from a scrapyard, with new syncrio rings and bearings, made the support subframe, fitted an avenger clutch plate, built a concentric slave system and modified the gear selector extension all in for around 5% of that Moss price. But a long time ago
GuyW

Crazy price. Do you think they sell many?

FL are overpriced on everything anyway.

Are there any other kit suppliers who may be cheaper?

£5360? Worth more than my Sprite.

Maybe I'll revert to my ribcase (all original and working parts stored in the loft), and sell my entire t9 conversion for say -- £3000m 🤣


anamnesis

There's the Barratt Engineering (wasn't he on here talking about its development?) which is £2400 and uses a Suzuki 5 speed.

https://barrattengineering.co.uk/gearbox-conversion-kits/
Jeremy MkIII

Oh and £800 for a gearbox!
Jeremy MkIII

Still expensive, but hundreds cheaper direct from Frontline.

Moss seem to like a big mark up.

Maniflow LM031 direct from Maniflow £280
From Moss £422.
G Hawkins

The Frontline 1275 kit looks like a bargain at only (from) £57.55


Dave O'Neill 2

Moss is cheaper, the Frontline prices don't include VAT !


Malc Gilliver

Don't David Manners Group own the rights to the kit anyway, or at least they hold the patterns for having the bellhousings cast?
Daniel

I had a look at David Manners. I couldn’t find a price for the whole kit but, surprisingly, the Morris Minor bellhousing was £300 and the midget £350 🤷🏻‍♂️
Dave O'Neill 2

I totally agree about the cost of the parts vs the value of the car. My car came to me fitted with Frontline T-9 conversion, front brakes and telescopic suspension for CONSIDERABLY less than the price of the parts
Karl Thompson

This thread was discussed between 04/09/2026 and 05/09/2026

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.