Gearbox needed

I have just recovered my ex wife's 1986 Mk 1 Golf GTI Karmann Convertible from the Algarve and it is in quite a state.

First and foremost it needs a new gearbox. Any help as to where I might find a reconditioned one would be most appreciated.

Should I just buy any old second hand one and arrange for it to be reconditioned myself?

Whats wrong with the box? The linkage is notorious for becoming out of alignment and giving symptoms of a duff box, difficult engaging gears, gears missing, wrong gears selected etc etc

Fifth gear disintegrated some time ago and now rattles around the box occasionally becoming lodged in other gears. I suspect the whole box is beyond economic repair and I had better just move on and find another. I can be pretty sure that this is not a linkage issue.

RogB said

Fifth gear disintegrated some time ago and now rattles around the box occasionally becoming lodged in other gears. I suspect the whole box is beyond economic repair and I had better just move on and find another. I can be pretty sure that this is not a linkage issue.

ah right, I think running low on gear oil causes 5th to die so the seals were prob leaking.