Hello, I am looking to use a 1986 vauxhall astra GTE engine with a ford gearbox, i know it's possible with a type 9 box using an adaptor bell housing but does anyone know if their's an adaptor plate on the market for using the later MT75 gearbox?

86 GTE? is that 8valve?

IIRC u can use a carlton box on vaux engines which bolts straight on..

or manta 1.8

yep, but in answer to the question, no there is not an adaptor available to put the MT75 onto the vauxhall engine.

The reason is that most of the adaptor bellhousings are sold for competition use and nobody uses the MT75 for that really as all the go faster bits are made for the type 9

Manta 1.8 box is tempting though a bit rare as its a close ratio getrag box

No its not!! That's what the marketing blurb would have you believe but having owned 7 mantas I can assure you they are far from close ratio!!! Tis made by Getrag (its the getrag 240 box) but that's it, same gear cluster as used on manta GTE, early carltons, e30 3 series beemers etc etc.

Quite rare boxes now though, and better than the carlton ones as they have a std splined prop fitting instead of the rubber donut used on the carltons.

If you can get just a broken one then you are sorted though, as the internals swap over in one lump from the manta GTE box (which just has a different front casing as the bellhousings are cast-in) and the GTE boxes are ten a penny.

[Edited on 30/11/06 by NS Dev]

Not wanting to ignore anyone’s advice on gearboxes choice I have opted to use a ford type 9 five speed instead reason being I had one buried in the back of the shed can anyone recommend a good (cheap) supplier of ford to Vauxhall bell housings?

Would beg to differ, mine was definetly close ratio and backed up by Challenge Motorsport!