Upgrades4MGs
Get more from your B... Drivetrain & Chassis Upgrades
Modifying the gearbox cross-member
One of the many feared jobs on the B is refitting the gearbox as many find it difficult to access the nuts to tighten them. This is a simple modification that makes life so much easier!
This involves slotting the hole on the Y carrier that sits onto the gearbox mounts (single stud) and then drilling two larger holes further out on the base of the cross-member as this will allow you to insert a long extension bar with socket and tighten up the nuts, or undo them as the case maybe. Effectively, you now have easy access to do the mounts up to the gearbox, then you fit the cross-member. It worked well on my car but not so well on JC's as the exhaust fouled the movement of the socket a bit.
The photo below shows the positions of the two holes to drill.
The photo below shows the socket on an extension bar, and the holes that still need slotting are highlighted.
I owe Michael Beswick a vote of thanks. He contacted me regarding this page we first loaded about 4 years ago as he was attempting the job. I knew the images were somewhat lacking so he kindly sent me some more following his efforts at the end of 2010.
Firstly, as shown below, the idea is that when refitting the cross-member, instead of having to fiddle in a confined space to attach and tighten the nuts on the stud of the gearbox mount, you prefit the mounts to the gearbox whilst access is easy. You then fit the crossmember and with the aid of your newly drilled access holes and various socket extensions, you can then tighten the nut onto the stud of the mount as shown.
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You'll need to drill two holes, one each side of the cross-member approximately 100mm (or a smidgen under 4") from the outer hole in the middle of the cross-member for the yoke. The hole will need to be big enough to fit your socket extension bar through, but remember you can add the socket once the extension bar has been inserted so you won't need to make the hole too big.
You will also need to slot the holes so that as you offer up the cross member, the studs, which will be facing outwards at an angle can then slide into place. The slots need to be approximately 10-15mm up from the original hole.
Making life easier...
