Club 80-90 Forums

Hello everyone and Thank you for taking time to read this post,
I am far from an active member on here but do regularly read through technical info etc and other peoples posts.

I have a 1984 1900cc watercooled petrol with a 4 speed manual box. (Its a Devon, box code DU)

About a month ago I was driving along and then was unable to select 3rd or 4th gear, the lever simply would not go (or force) forwards (3rd) or backwards (4th) when pulled to the right.

After dropping the linkage off to have a rummage, I spoke to a local VW specialist at Wareham Dorset and we all hoped that it could be solved with correct adjustment of the selector linkage. So it went in and then the news got worse. Apparently the problem is not the linkage and is internal to the box.

I drove the van home late at night as 1st, 2nd and Reverse all still work fine.

Now I am considering having my box reconditioned as this eliminates any risk with buying a second hand box and should be cheaper than the quote that i received for a Rancho replacement.
I will remove and re-fit the box at home unless someone near by is a better alternative.


What I am after is if anyone has any useful advice or even a recommendation for someone that could do the recon for me?

All help very welcome!

Andy (Near Bournemouth Dorset)

Aidan Talbot is very good but has a waiting list.
He did mine and I refitted it, I had a second hand box to use while I waited.

another reccomendation here
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... 7#p8112089" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also heard Bears motorsport mentioned

Thanks itchyfeet!

I had already contacted Bears and they want £800 plus Vat to recon my box, that's if i pay to ship it to them (Plus remove and re-fit myself).

JustKampers actually offer a recon service which is £749 Inc VAT and collection, delivery, for my box which is my current option.

Just spoke today to a VW/Audi specialist on Holton Heath, Poole who will recon the box for me in house but just on an hourly rate plus parts basis, could be better for me if its just a selector rod bust and bearings are not too expensive, but i won't know until I give them the box and pay them to look at it so could easily be just as if not more expensive at £69 p/hr Inc VAT, huh!!

Will send email to A.Talbot now as his site says he prefers emails than calls which is fair enough, but i don't imagine he will be less than the JK route. (Not that I don't value expertise over price but i'm not too flush ATM!!)

Just need to take a brave pill and book it with someone, oh, and remove the box.....

You often get what you pay for.

£800 for a proper recondition is right and what I paid for mg 4 speed about 2 years ago from Aidan, a spigot bearing alone is 100 quid, no point putting an old one back even if it looks ok
If you have extra damage to the case and it needs repairing or replacing the price will be more, check if these other companies are fixed price or estimates.

There is a reason Aidan has a long waiting list, it's because he is very through and replaces many parts that other reconditioners may not if they look ok.

Shipping on a pallet of about 60 quid each way is typical too.

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... e#p8055846" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

late van but will be very similar, mainly just cooling system different.

also check if you are getting your box reconed or a swap, lots of different codes many can be exchanged but have slightly different ratios.

https://web.archive.org/web/20150101225 ... fo/gbx.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

just looked at jk, it's got no bell housing so you need to swap this over too, code not mentioned so could have a slightly different ratio/code to yours.

http://www.justkampers.com/vw-t25-parts ... 900cc.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks again for the gearbox removal thread, will be doing that soon!!

That JK is the one i was looking at, They can do it as a swap if you pay the £210 deposit or as a recon to my box if I can deal with the wait (which I can) and also don't need to have the replacement for fitting at the same time as removing the old one (which I don't need!). That helps rule out any exchange problems, they do one with a bell housing for £999 but also don't need that as mine is (or should be) fine, i hope.

I emailed Aidan but his web site is showing booked up to April and not taking more bookings, also his email crashed so will have to wait for a response.

My unit has got to come out either way so will get on with that and maybe have a little investigative look at any obvious breakages, I am confident the casing is ok as there have been no horrible noises from the box so should be no reason for any fouling from inside. Fingers crossed.

Its all part of the joy of ownership of 30+ year old vehicles!! My mini is young at 17 years old and that is a money pit too!!

Did you see the one Elvis has in the for sale section, great offer I think?

kit wrote:Did you see the one Elvis has in the for sale section, great offer I think?

not bad price at all for a box from Aidan but op has said

Andy1984 wrote: (Not that I don't value expertise over price but i'm not too flush ATM!!)

I suppost somebody else may be up for a new recon Aidan Talbox box at say 700 quid and Andy 1984 buys their second hand can be tested running box at 300 quid, it's what Elvis is suggesting.

itchyfeet wrote: I suppost somebody else may be up for a new recon Aidan Talbox box at say 700 quid and Andy 1984 buys their second hand can be tested running box at 300 quid, it's what Elvis is suggesting.

I might be up for doing that, but I think I'd be looking for slightly more than £300. Mine is a recently (~2yrs) repaired box with a new 3rd/4th Weddle hub. I won't go as far as to say it's refurbished, because the hub was the only new part (plus the seals), but all the other parts (synchro rings etc) were checked prior to reassembly. I had this done by a local chap, as Aidan wasn't available. I think I'd be looking for £450. If the OP is interested in a combined deal maybe a PM is the way forward.