Club 80-90 Forums

Hi,

I have ongoing gearbox problems which although have eased off just now, will certainly be back soon !!! My van is a 1984 model and started life as a 1.9 petrol water cooled. At some point it's had a 1988 VW Passat 1.6td JX engine fitted and has also had a replacement 4 speed gearbox in the last few years. As far as I know it now has a diesel gearbox fitted - it's highest comfortable cruising speed is 55mph in 4th gear.

I've been looking for a used replacement 4 speed box (limited funds) but am unable to find a code on mine. As there's so many variants i'm not sure which i need.....

Can I fit any petrol or diesel gearbox assuming i'm not bothered about gear ratios and use my existing bell housing? If so, does it have to be from a water cooled vehicle or will an Aircooled one also fit?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Many thanks, Mark

http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/VehicleSpec ... fo/gbx.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

as far as I know code should be on the flat bottom of the box below the reverse switch like this pic..

Thanks, I'll have another good look.

In the event that I can't find one the same, does anybody know if any T25 box will fit?

Thanks, Mark

you will also need the matching gear linkage if you fit the early dk code high ratio box or a 5 speed aap box ,

aahridey wrote:Can I fit any petrol or diesel gearbox assuming i'm not bothered about gear ratios

That's a VERY big assumption. There's going to be a huge difference between ratios, and that'll make a similarly huge difference to drivability.

Have you seen the list on the Brickyard?

http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/VehicleSpec ... fo/gbx.htm

A list of all the codes with their ratios, my gearbox code was very hard to read due to all the crud, a good wire brushing helped expose a couple of letters for me.

Aaaaha... thanks for the info so far - found the code - it's an ABB which according to the Brick Yard is from a 44kw petrol van produced up to 7/1984.

So having checked the chart the gear ratios are the same as a lot of other gearboxes. So, the question remains, would other gearboxes with similar ratios fit straight in?

Thanks, Mark

ABB is a 4.57 final drive box witha 0.85 fourth gear and should fly along with a good 1.9 propelling it and happily do 70mph at around 3600rpm

but it may be there's an ABF inside the case

for a 1.9 D 1Y engine a ABD will do fine, the ABB is a dadge longer legged

so putting a diesel box in a petrol van will have what effect?

70 mph on petrol box - 3600 rpm
70 mph on diesel box = ???

Not petrol or diesel box.....specific code of box which indicates ratios...

Not as simple as d or p.

bounce-rentals wrote:so putting a diesel box in a petrol van will have what effect?

70 mph on petrol box - 3600 rpm
70 mph on diesel box = ???

petrol 5 speed ABN = Turbodiesel 5 speed 3H, exactly the same gears and gearing only difference is input shaft and bellhousing

if you fit a 1.6 or 1.7 N/a diesel box in a petrol van you get a van that accelerates really quickly car style, easy keep up with traffic in town but to do a true 70mph needs more than 4500 rpm and ear defenders and deep pockets for the fuel

fuel is expensive enough. cheers for info.