Dellow Automotive 5-Speed Conversions
(This article appeared in Volume VIII Issue 1, January 2000.)By: Kurt Schley
In Australia, a popular way to convert to a 5-speed transmission is to use an aluminum-case gearbox from a Toyota Supra. These are used behind a broad variety of engines including the Rover V8's used in MGB V8 conversions. The four models of Toyota Supra box are lightweight, compact and inexpensive. The transmission face-to-shifter dimension can be found in four different variations: 18", 19", 20.5", and 21", allowing tailoriing of the installation to use the stock tranny-tunnel shifter hole. The Supra gearbox is plenty strong for service behind a V8 and it is very smooth shifting.
Basic Dimensions
Gearbox weight: 35kg
Input shaft: 21 splines by 29mm
Gearbox length: 22"
Tailshaft splines: 21
Oil capacity: 2.5L
Toyota Supra Aluminum 5-speed Transmission Gear Ratios (by series)
| Gear | W55 | W57 | W58 | W59 | Rover * |
| 1st | 3.57 | 3.28 | 3.28 | 3.95 | 3.32 |
| 2nd | 2.06 | 1.89 | 1.89 | 2.14 | 2.09 |
| 3rd | 1.38 | 1.27 | 1.27 | 1.27 | 1.40 |
| 4th | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| 5th | 0.85 | 0.86 | 0.78 | 0.85 | 0.83 |
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Dellow Automotive in Sydney Australia manufactures a conversion kit (part number S76) to mate
the Supra gearbox to the Rover engine. The kit will also fit a Buick/Olds 215. Included in the
kit are:
* bellhousing, pilot bushing, and pivot
* clutch fork
* clutch plate to suit 9.5" pressure plate
* thrust plate and carrier
* speedometer cable
* tailshaft yoke
Note: the bellhousing casting can be special ordered with a 4:30 fork entry to suit the MGB's narrow tunnel.
Dellow Automotive also manufacturers a bellhousing to mate the Buick/Olds/Rover aluminum V8 to
a Borg Warner T5 5-speed (either Ford or GM bolt pattern) as well as a large number of other
kits and bellhousings for a variety of engine/transmission combinations.
Contact Dellow at 37 Daisy Street, Revesby, Sydney, NSW 2212 Australia
Phone: (02) 774-4419 Fax: (02) 774-4783
Disclaimer: This page was researched and written by Kurt Schley. Views expressed
are those of the author, and are provided without warrantee or guarantee. Apply at your own risk.
