Crunchy 1.3 Driver Gearbox

This is a worrying thread to write as I'm anticipating a costly answer!

My '83 1.3 Driver is VERY difficult to put into any gear. Reverse is almost not worth trying for, first and second are achievable but with lots of crunching and at speed fourth is also crunchy. All this has happened in one week as last week everything was fine.

As I don't know much about gearboxes I'm assuming that the synchromesh may have gone? Can anyone back this theory up?

The clutch is fine and bites halfway down the pedal travel so I don;t think there's any problems there.

Where do I go from here? Am I looking for a new gearbox or will it be easier to find a new engine & gearbox together?

All replies gratefully received!

my limited knowledge of gearboxes would suggest it won't be the synchro, as it wouldn't go on all gears, and as far as I know there's no synchro on reverse anyway. If the synchro was going, you'd probably find two gears were difficult and two were fine. It could be selector forks, but again, that usually afflicts only one gear.

The first suggestion would be to check the linkages - they can wear quite badly and if there's a lot of slack, you may not be pushing the selectors home far enough for them to engage fully. There's a replacement bush kit available from GSF for the lever end, although when I did my son's linkages, there was a vast amount of play at the gearbox end as well. Some deft hammering of the cage and packing out of the ball with cloth soaked in grease has made a massive difference.

Secondly, I'd change the oil for a good-quality replacement - it can make a staggering difference, especially when its cold.

Thirdly, you could try a gearbox additive like Slick 50 - some people swear by it, others swear AT it  :roll:

Ours has done 150,000 miles, so they can last well

This sounds like a clutch issue even although you say the clutch is biting halfway down the pedal. Is there clearance (freeplay) in the clutch cable at the gearbox end when in neutral? Also check the cable hasn't stretched or moved in its location. Could also be the pressure plates on its way out and not seperating properly

both above defo worth ckeckin first as said before if its happening in all gears prob not the box if it does turn out to be the box i'll have one going in a couple of weeks…..