Triumph Repair: Spitfire 1500 Transmission, british car owners, spitfire 1500

Question
Howard,
 I recently installed a new clutch in the TR6 that I own, and found it to be tedious, but not impossible.  I am considering buying a Spitfire 1500 as a winter project. The owner says the tranny needs to be replaced (I guess it pops out of gear).  Is this common for the 1500?  This is a J type overdrive unit.  I know that I can buy a rebuilt tranny, but I was wondering, how difficult is it to rebuild a transmission?  Do you know of any good books that might help?  I think it would be good experience for me, but I don't want to do something that I may not succeed at.   Well at any rate, I guess if a screw it up too much then I can get a rebuilt....

DWF

Answer
Hi David,
I have no way to evaluate your capabilities at rebuilding a gearbox. They are not that complicated but without a manual there are traps that can give you trouble. Haynes and Bentley have manuals that will walk you through the procedure. The overdrive gearboxes are highly valued by all the British car owners and builders.
Popping out of gear is a common failure on all gearboxes but not any more than normal on Spitfires unless the driver has bad driving habits. Read my tech tip on making a gearbox last.
http://mg-tri-jag.net/tech4.htm
Howard