# What's my transmission worth? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 8, 2006, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-my-transmission-worth/379509 "2006-11-08T02:54:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-my-transmission-worth/379509/1 "2006-11-08T02:54:08Z")
The MGB is finally coming together. Two and a half years with the lazy body guy. A year and a half with a hobbyist. I finally turned it over to an actual restoration guy. He’s had it for a couple of months, and expects to finish before year’s end. But there was a snag… He wanted to have the engine and transmission in this weekend. Only my overdrive transmission is a '62-'64, and the car is a '66. It will fit, and it would work, only there are two problems: 1) He can’t know the condition unless he tears it down. 2) It’s not strictly proper for the car. So I’ve opted to buy a rebuilt overdrive transmission from the proper year. So I’ll have an extra transmission. It’s a '62-'64 with overdrive. Very desireable. It may or may not need to be rebuilt. The bad news is its unknown condition. The good news is that it’s fairly hard to find a pre-'67 overdrive transmission for less than about $3,000. (The one I’m getting will cost less than that, but it was a lucky find.) So how much can I expect to get for the '62-'64 on eBay? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-my-transmission-worth/379509/2 "2006-11-08T05:26:15Z")
Johnny, I was unaware that there was a difference between the early and the '66 box. Guess I will have to go check the parts list. Anyway, assuming that box will fit into my early '67 I might be interested. As far as what it is worth, since you have never had it in a car, you can’t vouch for it’s condition. It could have a bad layshaft (not uncommon) bad snycros (more common) or O/D problems (I would expect some issues with the OD sitting for so long) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-my-transmission-worth/379509/3 "2006-11-08T14:28:35Z")
From _Original MGB_: > [@](#): > > (I)n October 1964, the first motion shaft input spigot was increased in diameter from 0.62in to 0.85in and the gearbox casing was modified. In December 1965 the second gear synchromesh was improved, and in September 1966 the reverse selector and detent were modified… An improved larger diameter layshaft supported on four rather than three bearings was introduced in March 1967, together with caged needle roller bearings. > > \ > > The all-synchromesh gearbox was introduced on the MGB in late 1967 from the start of the production of the Mark II model… So if your car is a Mk.I it will probably fit by using an adapter. But the post-'64 transmissions were more robust. I think that the person who would want it would have a '62-'64 car, possibly with the original three-main bearing engine, who wants to have overdrive but still be period-correct. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-my-transmission-worth/379509/4 "2006-11-08T14:34:14Z")
Is that the infamous LaycockDeNormanville electric Overdrive? That thing has a built-in self-destruct mechanism-the solenoids fail, and your car jerks back and fourth between OD and 4th! I’d suggest disconnecting it! ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-my-transmission-worth/379509/5 "2006-11-08T19:31:12Z")
Overdrive-smoverdrive Put in one of those lovely smooth-case, non-syncro MG transmissions we all know and love. _ducks_ ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-my-transmission-worth/379509/6 "2006-11-08T21:28:55Z")
I’ll give you $12.79. I will make a lamp out of it to go with my Fiat Transmission lamp. It will bring Feng Schwing to the living room. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-my-transmission-worth/379509/7 "2006-11-09T01:21:05Z")
[QUOTE=Seven] Overdrive-smoverdrive Put in one of those lovely smooth-case, non-syncro MG transmissions we all know and love. [/QUOTE] Ah, but you see I’ve driven non-o/d MGBs on the freeway. ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-my-transmission-worth/379509/8 "2006-11-09T04:24:55Z")
I would think that it is worth a decent amount (don’t know an exact figure because I am a triumph guy) but it is already pulled, you don’t have to buy a crappy frame or otherwise to get the part you want, there is no waste. My father, brother, and I are slowly restoring my TR3A, but it is taking so long because I don’t want to end up with another two chassis sitting around that I am going to have to do something with when it is over… That is my two cents…