8 replies to this topic

[mayunmarlady]

Hi,are Cooper Spi and Mpi gearboxes the same? straight swap items? My 94' Cooper engine oil drain plug threads are knackerd,someone rammed a tapered thing in there and was thinking of just gettin another 'box (or case to rebuild into) as theres an Mpi one on ebay now.Dont know if mine would be taken in exchange for a recon? Cheers

[R1minimagic]

I think so, apart from the final drive ratio, the MPi uses a 2.76 and the SPi depends on whether it comes from a Cooper or not, can't remember exactly which but something like 3.1 & 3.2.

Edited by R1minimagic, 21 January 2010 - 09:40 PM.

[Dan]

MPI gearboxes are famously made from cardboard and chocolate.

Get the thread Heli-coiled.

[grnichols]

Dan - I didn't think the Mpi boxes were even that strong!

The spi/mpi boxes are a straight swap - just remember to swap the diff over, and from memory, there might be an engine mount as well.

I believe you can also swap it for a standard 998 or 1275 non-injection box as well, as the crank sensor is located on the bell housing. Again, just keep your diff.

I'll double check that and get back to you - I know someone who is in the process of swapping a gearbox on an mpi, and I'm sure he said he was going to use a 998 box.

[Guess-Works.com]

as theres an Mpi one on ebay now

no there isn't

[grnichols]

I checked, and yes he is bolting a 998 box directly on to his mpi, and reports that it is a direct fit. Hope this helps!

[Sprocket]

there is no such thing as a 998 box. any late (rod) gearbox will fit 1275 or 998

[grnichols]

You know what I meant!

Ok - to be correct, he's fitting a late rod type gearbox (taken from a 998 engine) directly to his 1275 mpi engine, and as pointed out already, it is a direct fit.
Therefore, it is safe to assume, as pointed out by Sprocket, that these are interchangeable.

So in answer to the original question in the posting, yes you can fit an Spi gearbox to an Mpi engine, although there's really no such thing as an Spi or Mpi gearbox, (or a 998 gearbox) as they are all late rod type gearboxes and directly interchangeable. The only differences are in the diff fitted.

Everyone happy??

[Guess-Works.com]

Correct, all A+ gearboxes are exactly the same construction wise... the specification will change depending on the engine in terms of final drive ratios, eg Mpi's run a 2.7 FD, where as the Spi, coopers ran a 3.2 and non coopers ran a 3.1