Higher ratio gearbox?

Hi guys, i,ve got a clipper 1.8 carb, my gearbox has got the starting symptoms of the dreaded second gear crunch.I,ve done all the linkage bushes etc and set the adjustment but still crunches if i try and shift too fast.I,m thinking rather than have it rebuilt,to change and go for a different box with high ratios for motorway driving.I don,t need it accelerate fast just want a decent ratio.any ideas what box i,ll need?? Should i just go for a diesel box?

Will make the car boring to drive. Stick with the same. If you do want to swap to a wider spaced or higher ratios, have a look at what you have now and check out a gear ratio guide, eg on the left in the tech section.

PS its just my humble opinion but its based on owning and driving a car with a 4+E box, getting bored with it and swapping it for the proper close ratio box (was a 1.8 GTI Scirocco) and finding it much more fun to drive afterwards and still okay on the motorways. Remember it will dull the performance too, and you won't be able to change up so soon on A roads, thru towns etc anyway (so no advantage) and might need to change down to pass others on the motorway, in dense/medium traffic situations.

Wont the diesel box be too high geared? and although only tried it with a full 2 ltr engine found that yes it does blunt the acceleration and yes not as much fun it more than makes up for it it if you use the motor ways a lot.