1.8 GTI 5 speed gearbox buying advice needed.

I have the chance to buy a 5 speed gearbox from a 1.8GTI cabby that has been removed from a car that was broken a few years ago. The guy says it was fine when removed (as they always do) but I wondered if there is any indication of wear that I can check for as I can't actually try it out. Also wondering what sort of price I should pay.
Thanks.

Difficult to check anything unless fitted. But not to expensive. I've got a spare box in the garage, that was gonna get rebuilt but seems unnecessary as was running ok. Seem to sell for 60 to 100 notes where a rebuilt comes in at 400 to 500

As seen, then I'd offer him 50 quid if I needed it but to have hanging around as an unknown spare then 30.
If you are however planning to do a rebuild on it then maybe you can be a bit more flexible but it comes down to two things at the end.

Your wallet against his! 😉 👍🏼

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Thanks for the replies. I don't know how much longer my gearbox has as its crunching quite badly in 2nd now when cold, leaks oil and has a slight whine. I'm also finding it hard to get reverse sometimes, worse when warm. I overhauled the linkage fully last year. He has a few other bits as well so I'll see what I can do. He wants £60 for the box.

Saulty said

Thanks for the replies. I don't know how much longer my gearbox has as its crunching quite badly in 2nd now when cold, leaks oil and has a slight whine. I'm also finding it hard to get reverse sometimes, worse when warm. I overhauled the linkage fully last year. He has a few other bits as well so I'll see what I can do. He wants £60 for the box.

Well stick 40 quid in his hand and take a chance! 🤔
Remind him Christmas is coming. 😉

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Thanks for the tips. I got it for £70 with a box of other bits (some I need, some are for spares) but I'm more than happy with the deal. Just not looking forward to fitting it   . You can select all the gears and turn the input shaft and all the gears are there and he says he'll refund me if it doesn't work.

main check is wiggle the flanges, make sure there is no play or excessive lash. other thing is if it was post-84 it'll have 100mm flanges so youll need shafts to match or find later mk2/mk3 90mm

100mmm shafts won't fit 90mm Spindles,  so you may have to change the steering spindles as well.

If you have 90mm axles on your tranny, then you can use a seal kit and swap your axle cups for theirs.

In the archive section under briano's how-to's I have a R&R on removing the cups to change a differential seal.

Good point about 100mm outers, its hit n miss depending on the make of the CV joints. sometimes you get away with it, sometimes they lock up

From what I understand you cant fit early mk1 flanges on a later box, you need later 90mm flanges with the green seal carriers? one side of the casing has been machined out to take the larger seal?

So the chances are my 83 1.8 tintop has 90mm flanges and the flanges from my gearbox won't fit the new box? I'm pretty sure the new box has 100mm flanges. I'm also pretty sure my original gearbox has green seals but I could be wrong. I'm out at the moment but will check when I'm home.
Briano1234 I looked for the how to but couldn't find it.

loads of info here:
Flange Types

also here:
020 Flange

near the bottom it confirms old style flanges wont go in a new case. but if you have seal carriers you have a new style case, it may even have 100mm flanges soi be sure to check it all over carefully before you get started

rubjonny said

Good point about 100mm outers, its hit n miss depending on the make of the CV joints. sometimes you get away with it, sometimes they lock up

From what I understand you cant fit early mk1 flanges on a later box, you need later 90mm flanges with the green seal carriers? one side of the casing has been machined out to take the larger seal?

I didn't have any real issues when converting my axles from 100mm to 90 to fit the tranny I had installed (auto).
The issue I had was when I had to change the Cups again as a re-manned axle pounded and broke my TJ, and I had to frankentranny a new bell housing and all i had was 100mm cups.

(yes I fit a 90mm in to my 100mm Spindles)  I can agree that some of the new spindles have a different outer end that isn't conducive to the spindles and that I have seen one or more threads over the years about grinding them to fit correctly, as well as ones about the ears on the C-clps of replacement wheel bearing kits being too large and binding the spindle against the CV.

I think you are correct about the early 90mm cups, but www.brokevw.com would possibly have the correct answers, as Brian (not this brian) is very detailed and over here one of the best gurus on rebuilding manual trannys.

Saulty said

So the chances are my 83 1.8 tintop has 90mm flanges and the flanges from my gearbox won't fit the new box? I'm pretty sure the new box has 100mm flanges. I'm also pretty sure my original gearbox has green seals but I could be wrong. I'm out at the moment but will check when I'm home.
Briano1234 I looked for the how to but couldn't find it.

Here is the link to the how do I do it on the car.
Changing a Differential Seal | Volkswagen Owners Club Forum

Here is the link to the vwgolmk1 archive how-to section and where a variety of my how do I do thats reside (90ish cabriolets (US)) but a lot of good mk1 generally applicable.

View topic: My DIY list of things for a 90ish Cabriolet (digifant2) part 1 - The Mk1 Golf Owners Club

A good place to find the cups to axles as oem is
Transmission Ratios

To measure the axles prior to removal to determine if it is 100mm or 90, use a piece of string to wrap around the axle differential end to measure the circumference.

it is a little over 11 inches it is 90mm if just under 12 1/2", then 100mm





 

I swopped from 90mm flanges to 100mm flanges on my gearbox change so cant see why you can't change from 100mm to 90mm flanges? Good time to fit new seals anyway and a oil change, check for play in the bush on the input shaft, thrust bearing might want changing as good time to look into the gearbox for any gunk or little bits of metal. Parts aren't that expensive and straight forward to do.

All guides on brokeVW website.

have a look at the links I posted above you can see why the early 90mm flanges wont go, its because the hole on the later casing is larger on one side so there is no seal which will fit it and work with the early flange. You can go the other way because you can fit the green sleeves to adapt the early case to accept the late type large seals

Thanks for the links and advice.

Had a good look underneath today and also measured my flanges with string, about 11.5 inches so 90mm flanges. New gearbox is 100mm flanges. I have green sleeves on mine so it must have newer flanges. New gearbox also has green sleeves. Here's some pics of the flanges on the car. Also the numbers on the gearboxes, the 7g gearbox is in the car and the AUG gearbox is the spare.
 

thats handy then, swap the flanges and go

I belive an AUG gearbox is out of a Mk2 golf? Should give you slighty taller gears so a little better at motorway speeds.

Is the reversing light switch the same as your gearbox?

Don't forget to fit some new seals when changing the flanges.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Caddy-Scirocco-Golf-MK1-MK2-GTI-020-Gearbox-Drive-Flange-Seal-Kit-020498085E/161959751928?hash=item25b58db0f8:g:FE8AAOSw0j9ZVOAj


Or if changing the flanges and push rod seals and bush you will need this kit .

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Volkswagen-Golf-Jetta-Passat-Corrado-Vento-020-Gearbox-16v-8v-Oil-Seal-Set/112445735476?fits=Car+Make%3AVW&hash=item1a2e49c234:m:mqagVM8JHeafnCPANlZax-Q

Some new fully synthetic oil is also needed, 2 bottles is plenty.

https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-accessories/engine-oils-and-car-fluids/car-tranmission-oils/manual-transmission-fluids/?522776022&0&cc5_868

Good time to check condition of your clutch as well.

Thanks for all the help, tips and links etc. I'll get some bits ordered over the coming months to swap the flanges. 
I might try and locate another set of 90mm flanges if possible so that I can get the new gearbox ready for a straight swap. Anyone know if they're easy to come by?
The gearbox is out of a 1988 cabby GTI with about 80k on the clock.

mk2 golf 1.6 and pre-90 1.8 carb, also mk3 1.9 n/a diesel have the flanges you need.

But it doesnt take long to swap the flanges once you have the gear, can always practice on the new box  main thing is make something up that can help you compress the spring while you locate the circlip, couple tips on brokes site

My tool is some threaded bar, nuts and washers and a bit across the top, I don't even think you need the box section in the middle.

Make sure you have plenty of room between the tool and where the circlip is, it's easy to get the clip out but can be a right pain to get the new one back in.
Much easier doing this job with the gearbox out of the car.