020 Gearbox Help

Been a good start to owning my MK1 lol….Fixed all the digifant running probs (converted to 1.8GTI digifant some years ago) Took it out for a test drive came back did a bit of fine tweeking and checked it over.  100 yrds up the road and the diff exploded     .

Are the any other main differences in 020 gearbox's apart from the driveshaft flange thickness ? can you change the drive shaft flange ?

How can you tell what ratio's are in the box or are they all the same ?

What is the best gearbox ratio's if they are different and I imagine they are.

Good pickup is key as most driving is short and twisty :roll:. I do not do much long distance work with it but it would be nice to cruise at 70 without killing it

Anyone got a spare box :mrgreen:

At least I have a digifant that ticks over

TIA

I have searched around the forum and found a link to 020 GEAR RATIOS

Fromm this I have found out my gb code is FD and is a close ratio box.

All I need to do now is find a suitable box.  Its a bit hard to know what to do in respect of ratios as I have only driven the MK1 10 miles since owning it.

Judging by your typical roads to drive on, you won't really see the downsides of the lower-geared 1.6 gearbox. Downsides: not so good on motorways, higher revs, noisier, slightly poorer economy. Advantages are: better acceleration, feels sportier to drive, etc

I'd go on availability rather than worry TOO much about ratios, so long as its a close ratio GTI box.

The flanges are interchangeable but obviously if you have the choice of 2 boxes, one with the right flanges and one with the wrong ones, it would make sense to buy the correct ones so you don't need the hassle of swapping them over.