1st Gen R50 Cooper R50 trans swap impressions

Discussion in '1st Generation: 2002–06 R50, R53 & 2004–08 R52' started by daviday, Apr 23, 2014.

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  1. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

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    #21 RallyMini370, May 7, 2014
    Nearly there!
     
  2. daviday

    daviday Active Member

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    #22 daviday, May 7, 2014
    I wish, I have to buy new tools too before the witch is satisfied apparently.
     
  3. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

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    #23 RallyMini370, May 9, 2014
    This is all you need! 14 Piece Gear Puller Set gear end nuts are 32mm, a small punch, 10mm socket with extension, hi temp gasket maker.

    This might help? [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGP6ikUH6xQ]My R65 Midlands 5 speed rebuild - YouTube[/ame]
     
  4. daviday

    daviday Active Member

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    #24 daviday, May 9, 2014
    Thanks I was actually trying to figure out how to mount my phone to my head. ;)

    First autoX is tomorrow, hopefully get to it this coming week.
     
  5. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

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    #25 RallyMini370, Jun 11, 2014
    Did you open the box up yet?
     
  6. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    #26 Crashton, Jun 11, 2014
    Only trained Rally Monkey crew are authorized to crack open a Midlands. :)
     
  7. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

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    #27 RallyMini370, Jun 16, 2014
    hahaha I think I'm the only monkey Mini owner that likes the Midland box!
     
  8. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #28 Nathan, Jun 16, 2014
    That's cause you have trained monkeys that can fix the bloody thing.
     
  9. daviday

    daviday Active Member

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    #29 daviday, Jun 16, 2014
    I haven't had the time. I'm sure I can easily make the time to crack her wide open but other things have precedence.

    Are there any vids of the sequential set up anywhere?
     
  10. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

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    #30 RallyMini370, Jun 16, 2014
    Sequential set up?
     
  11. daviday

    daviday Active Member

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    #31 daviday, Jun 17, 2014
    A f1 trans of sorts. Not sure where I saw it but could of sworn it was on the forum.
     
  12. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

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    #32 RallyMini370, Jun 17, 2014
    You could sell your soul to buy this.

    633 RALLY GEARBOX

    Only comes in 4WD though!
     
  13. daviday

    daviday Active Member

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    #33 daviday, Jun 17, 2014
    Interesting. I don't think I can afford the power necc to move all four wheels. Not now at least.

    With the current weather by me I find myself debating how much I want to sweat when I'm in the car. The car is great for what it is and I'm hoping I can keep it in the family when I get another daily, I'm just not sure how realistic that is.
     
  14. daviday

    daviday Active Member

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    #34 daviday, Jul 25, 2014
    [​IMG]

    Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do the swap myself. (Not sure if that made clear earlier in the thread.)
    And unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to really get into the old one.
    My question to you guys: Are there other bearings in between the block and this guy?
     
  15. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

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    #35 RallyMini370, Aug 2, 2014
    Nope. no bearing in the fly wheel like other gearboxes.
     
  16. cristo

    cristo Well-Known Member

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    #36 cristo, Jan 4, 2015
    I just did a Midlands to Getrag 6-speed conversion (actually, had my local MINI friendly
    shop - Swedish Motors in Marietta, PA do it) a few months ago, after the differential
    bearings bit the dust on my 11.5 year old 2003 MC with 80,000 miles. I sourced all the parts
    myself and they did the labour. Lots of extra parts besides the trans to make it work.
    I went with a Valeo flywheel and clutch conversion kit and also put a Quaife LSD in it.
    I am very satisfied with the results. The shifting is much more precise and a bit higher
    effort than the Midlands, especially going into reverse, but I'm now quite used to it.
    I'm even getting about 1-2 mpg better on highway driving, although non-highway milage
    is about the same as before or perhaps a smidge less.
     
  17. daviday

    daviday Active Member

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    #37 daviday, Jan 11, 2016
    So I never got around to opening up the midlands that this thread is referring to. I actually sent it off to Jon Waterhouse in upstate NY. Great guy to deal with and for anyone in need of replacing their midlands, this is another great contact.

    Unfortunately and ironically, not but 5 days after I sent off my old box, I downshifted into second to slow for a red light, as the light turned green, I got on the throttle then, almost immediately, I heard something so horrendous it instantly made me sick to my stomach. I knew exactly what happened. It literally sounded like a bunch of tools rattling around a metal tool box.

    Anyway, luckily I was close to home and able to leave the car until this AM. Same symptoms except slightly different noise. There's like a wholloping when the clutch is not depressed in any gear and in neutral. However when my foot is on the clutch it's quiet. Weird.
    I sourced an 05 6spd and will be piecing everything together this week. Hope to have it back together by the weekend. Not sure how likely that is but wish me luck.

    I've also attached two shots of the broken output shaft in the old box. Why there isn't a recall on this is beyond me.

    I'll try to take as many pictures of my swap as I can. The new box should be here tomorrow or wed latest.
     

    Attached Files:

  18. 00Mini

    00Mini Well-Known Member

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    #38 00Mini, Jan 11, 2016
    Good luck !!
     
  19. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

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    #39 RallyMini370, Jan 12, 2016
    wow! good job, with all my rallying abuse I couldn't break the input shaft. If you want the Midlands box gone I'll take it for the shipping cost and a few beers! I can make a spare.
     
  20. daviday

    daviday Active Member

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    #40 daviday, Jan 12, 2016
    Figuring out today. May end up talking myself out of this again.
     
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