What gearbox would you recommend....l

[Chiefy]

[Aidan]

ok as stated you have the 1.6 n/a diesel gearbox in there so your cheap option is a good preloved DU or ABD petrol four speed or indeed the DT or ABB petrol 4 speed or indeed any of the petrol 4 speed boxes would be a big step up (12 % or more betterer ) and provide a sound base to build a bespoke box on in the future when funds allow. Or rebuild yours to provide slightly longer fourth gear on a petrol final drive, changing the crown and pinion and fourth gearset.
If you need new tyres then Ralph and others can advise on gains to be had by changing tyre size upwards

[Chiefy]

Great stuff! I have a 4speed box here with 33k on it which needs a clean up from sitting outside for a good while... I will get the code off it and go from there, I will need to swap the bell housing I'm guessing?
Also having not worked in a '25 before, can the box be dropped with the engine in situe?

[phil_b]

Yes, gearbox can be dropped with the engine in situ, but the engine does need to tilt downwards at the gearbox endt (rock on the rubber engine mounts) to allow the gearbox clearance to slide from clutch etc. On mine I had to take of the silencer to allow enough tilt as the silencer fouled the rear cross member and didn't allow enough movement. This will depend on what exhaust system you have, mine is standard JX systen fitted onto an AAZ conversion. We have a ABN coded gearbox in ours which allows a decent cruising speed especially with larger rear tyres, 70mph at 3500rpm.

[Chiefy]

Well sorry for the late update (had surgery)! I got the chance today to have a look at the 1.9 gearbox for the code but can't find it anywhere it's not in the same place as the box fitted to my van.... All there is are some numbers..... 25 03 3!!! Any clues? I'm stumped

[Aidan]

ok if there is a rib in the case just before the 23 03 3 then the code will be in front of the rib and probably be 2 letters or 1 letter 1 digit
eg 8L

and the 23 03 3 means it was built 23 March 1983 and it will have the fine toothed 4th and 5th gears in it but it has the later selector shaft and synchro sliders

[Chiefy]

ok if there is a rib in the case just before the 23 03 3 then the code will be in front of the rib and probably be 2 letters or 1 letter 1 digit
eg 8L

and the 23 03 3 means it was built 23 March 1983 and it will have the fine toothed 4th and 5th gears in it but it has the later selector shaft and synchro sliders

Ah, so it's a 5 speed box? that will need a 5 speed selector rod and bit n bobs before I can fit it? I will try and get the code tomorrow but I'm struggling to get over the surgery as quick as I'd hoped

[Aidan]

could be a four speed I don't know without the code, sorry if I confused matters

[Chiefy]

could be a four speed I don't know without the code, sorry if I confused matters

Ah! No worries Aidan, I really appreciate all the advice you have given me
I'm under the weather so might be a few days to report back

[Chiefy]

Well I can't for the life of me make out the code looks like a -2 so I'm thinking dz? But that's a diesel box so that can't be right as it was a 1.9 petrol doka it came from
Also the RJES site doesn't list all the info for it

[Chiefy]

Just wanted to say..... Aidan is a mechanical rock star he has been very patient with my pm questions and has helped me decipher the riddle of what box I have
Thanks mate, really appreciate it

[sciroccotune]

I recently went to a ABD box from an DM? And I have to say it's much better. Still not the fastest can on the block but got us to France, round and back with no problems and a reasonable turn of speed. Next yer I will add bigger tyres and will be happy with that

[Chiefy]

WELL ITS FITTED what a difference in every gear! The whole driving experience is soooooo much more settled and enjoyable

[discipleofsketch]

WELL ITS FITTED what a difference in every gear! The whole driving experience is soooooo much more settled and enjoyable

Excellent - so what box was it in the end?

[Chiefy]

Couldn't make it out but thanks to Aidan it was narrowed down to one of a couple, final drive was 4.85 as opposed to the 5.85 on my old box