Club 80-90 Forums

Have had the whole engine and box out and everything off the van.

Now replaced the engine but using the original gearbox.

I'm trying to refit the linkages for the second attempt. I have tried fitting it in different orders to find my problem to no avail.

Gearbox is in and mounted. When I fit the selector piece to the side of the box, using the keyed splines it goes on OK and bolts on properly.

The issue I have is that if I leave the ball and socket joint together, it leaves the gear linkage pointing at a downward angle towards the ground rather than to the other half tof the linkage.

If I separate that and bolt the mount to the front side of the gearbox, it's as if the relay lever (that the ball sits in) is too short. It's definitely the longer diesel version, I've measured it and in any case it was on fine before - but with the linkage rods in alignment it pops the ball right out.

At no point have I removed the pin and separated the relay lever and rear linkage rod, they're exactly as they are.

I know I'm missing something really simple and will end up kicking myself... Advice?

Same engine, same gearbox, same gearbox, same linkage, same gearstick - ie nothing changed ?

Loosen the two bolts holding the rear bush plate to the side of the gearbox, mate the cup and ball with the ball in the vertical position, pull the skirt of the boot down over the cup to about 10mm from the bottom of the cup, push the linkage up so the cup and ball are fully mated and lock off the two bolts

visually check the front of the linkage is in the middle of the gate or blocks at the front and gear stick moves freely across the gate in the neutral position

should be right as long as you didn't split the linkage or loosen the central pinch bolt

or you haven't bent the rear half of the linkage by having it hanging down and catching on something moving the van or getting the engine and box in or out, or if you left the box in and didn't support the engine end of the box

That could be a good shout actually! It's been a few weeks since I stripped it and I can't be certain I took the linkage off before removing the engine.

Dropping things and breaking stuff is after all my raison d'etre.

Once I've finished sulking I'll have another look next week. Thank you... Will report back.

Have you moved the gear stick out pf position

mioba wrote: ↑28 May 2026, 19:02 Have you moved the gear stick out pf position

Yes, it was dismantled and split down. I marked the splines between front and rear linkage and they line up perfectly.