Club 80-90 Forums

glad you did that,sort of thing I would do,makes you feel a real prat

scottbott wrote:glad you did that,sort of thing I would do,makes you feel a real prat

Yep - I can laugh about it now, but at the time I'm sure if Boyd wasn't made of metal he was due a right thrashing..!!

( Queue Faulty towers clip )

Smiffo PMd you re 5sp linkage
should be off the van soon after 13th Jan

New front end of linkage turned up in the week..!!

Was planning on doing this all today, but as it's pishing down out there, I settled for just doing the fuel pump instead.
But that's another story for another thread...

Anyway - I will probably start this next weekend - will keep you updated.

I'm attempting to get together the same set of parts to convert my 4 speed lever, selector and linkage over to 5-speed. Having just read through some of this thread, am I correct in thinking that it's just the forward part of the linkage that needs replacing Smiffo?

Just took apart my 5 speed diesel one and looks different to other photos I've seen in that the plastic ball joint sits above the cab floor rather than under.

Diesel and petrol bodies are different. Raised floor on the diesel. Thats only difference I know.

discipleofsketch wrote:I'm attempting to get together the same set of parts to convert my 4 speed lever, selector and linkage over to 5-speed. Having just read through some of this thread, am I correct in thinking that it's just the forward part of the linkage that needs replacing Smiffo?

You have the petrol gearbox, so yes, if you are only asking about the linkage, then the rear linkage should be the same whether 4 or 5 speed and you only need the front bit.

If you are asking if that is actually the only difference between both set-ups, then no, you will need the shift housing and gearstick too.
The 5sp stick is totally different, as is the shift housing which has aluminium guides in it.

I will be finishing mine off soon - maybe the weekend - so I will let you know how much of an improvement via an update here.

Smiffo wrote:
You have the petrol gearbox, so yes, if you are only asking about the linkage, then the rear linkage should be the same whether 4 or 5 speed and you only need the front bit.

If you are asking if that is actually the only difference between both set-ups, then no, you will need the shift housing and gearstick too.
The 5sp stick is totally different, as is the shift housing which has aluminium guides in it.

I will be finishing mine off soon - maybe the weekend - so I will let you know how much of an improvement via an update here.

Nice one - I already have the 5-speed shift housing ready to go on, but i've yet to check if it is correct for the body type (mine is an early diesel which apparently is the the same as a petrol body).

I'm currently in two minds whether to even do this, as I originally intended to have my 4-speed rebuilt instead, and i'm thinking along those lines again (I change my mind on a daily basis). In the meantime the 5-speed box with the 4-speed selector is like a lottery when it comes to changing gear!

discipleofsketch wrote:

Smiffo wrote:
You have the petrol gearbox, so yes, if you are only asking about the linkage, then the rear linkage should be the same whether 4 or 5 speed and you only need the front bit.

If you are asking if that is actually the only difference between both set-ups, then no, you will need the shift housing and gearstick too.
The 5sp stick is totally different, as is the shift housing which has aluminium guides in it.

I will be finishing mine off soon - maybe the weekend - so I will let you know how much of an improvement via an update here.

Nice one - I already have the 5-speed shift housing ready to go on, but i've yet to check if it is correct for the body type (mine is an early diesel which apparently is the the same as a petrol body).


I'm currently in two minds whether to even do this, as I originally intended to have my 4-speed rebuilt instead, and i'm thinking along those lines again (I change my mind on a daily basis). In the meantime the 5-speed box with the 4-speed selector is like a lottery when it comes to changing gear!

Yes, mine was a bit like the lottery too, which was why I started it all.
Not sure if my expectations are realistic though regarding improvements..!!

Anyway - if your existing setup has the ball joint bit around the gearstick bolted to the floor of the van inside the cab, rather than bolted to the housing under the van, then you need the shallower one I think.
If your existing setup has the ball joint bit bolted to the housing which is then bolted to the underside of the van, then you need the taller housing.

It's all to do with the ridge height in the cab of the van.
Big ridge = need for taller housing.

Update....

All re-installed this afternoon.
Huge improvement regarding reverse, 2nd and 5th.
4th is OK, but 1st and third need a bit of a tease to get in, although third is especially difficult.

I seem to need to really pull the lever back against some resistance to get third.

The whole set up feels a lot tighter - a huge improvement over the sloppy gears before - so I just need to finish the adjustments tomorrow now.

Well chuffed so far. Half way through I thought I had dived in the deep end a bit, but now I am almost there

Great thread

CovKid wrote: ↑27 Oct 2015, 15:42 You've got a 4-speed change coupled to a 5-speed box then

4-speed:

Anyone know if theres something like this for the 5 speed? seeing it 'animated' is a big help 
 

slowcoach wrote: ↑06 Mar 2021, 21:26

CovKid wrote: ↑27 Oct 2015, 15:42 You've got a 4-speed change coupled to a 5-speed box then

4-speed:

Anyone know if theres something like this for the 5 speed? seeing it 'animated' is a big help 

Not that I've seen but I guess it could be done easily enough.