Replacement gearbox for GolfL

Hello fellow golfers,
Can anyone advise on changing the gearbox on 1978 Golf Mk 1 L to a 5 speed?
Thanks in anticipation!
Trevor

Hi trev,
I believe the top gear ratio is the same on both 4 and 5 speed boxes for that model- just in case you were hoping for a more relaxed time on the motorways!
Top gear is seriously too low… There may be other gearboxes that have different ratios though.
 

here are the ratios
https://a2resource.com/eandt/ratios.html

here are the transmissions builds.
https://a2resource.com/eandt/transmissions.html

changing 4 to 5 speed requires new links and selector arms.  The  rest stays the same.

Oh and you will want to change the shifter nob from 4 to 5.

TrevorDavies said

Hello fellow golfers,
Can anyone advise on changing the gearbox on 1978 Golf Mk 1 L to a 5 speed?
Thanks in anticipation!
Trevor

The links above are for 020 series gearboxes and they WILL NOT work with a small block 1 liter motor. The 1L came with an 084 series 4 speed gearbox. You can fit an 085 series 5 speed without much hassle. Clutch and pressure plate and shift linkage from your 1L will work. You'll need to massage around the shifter to get some extra left to right clearance. The bigger issue is the gearbox mount, there is no factory part that will work. It has to be fabricated, but there are a couple of people on the internet that do it. Get on facebook and search for "085mk1gearboxmount".

There are tons of different ratios available but I'd recommend a AYZ, CWU, or CWW. They have relatively short final drive, around 4.0:1 and 4.27:1 but in 5th you should be able to drive 75-80mph at 4000rpm. I think I posted the ratios for most of the gearboxes around here somewhere. See my post here:

https://vwgolfmk1.org.uk/forum/index.php?page=topicview&type=findpost&id=1642930