i need a fifth gear!!!

hello,
i drive a Y reg 1.3l mk1 with a 4 speed box. when i'm travelling on the motorway doing 70mph (or above) for long periods of time with the engine turning at 4-5000+rpm; a, it's quite loud. b, the engine gets quite hot. and finally it uses quite a lot of fuel!
what i'm getting at is, is there a five speed box out of anything that will fit straight onto my engine or with little or no modification?
if anybody could help i'd be most grateful!!
thanks

jim

Hi m8,

You will need the gti gear linkages/gti steering rack at the very least im afraid.

Neil.

You have got two options.The first and easiest option is to fit a 3+E box in it out of the Formel E cars which have a much higher top gear,straight swap.You can fit a five speed box in it from a small engined Mk2 or a Polo.
You have to make a gearbox mount for the passenger side as the bolt fixings are completly different. Not that bad a job if you have a welder.
You will also have to remove the plastic guides under the gear lever boot to give you enough throw for the fifth gear,A bit of fiddling with adjustment on the gearbox spline from the gear lever and you should be there.The clutch and cable will be fine,but it would be worth looking at the clutch when the box is out
You cannot use a five speed from a bigger engined Golf [1.5,1.6,1.8] as they are completely different and won't fit your engine.
                  Best of luck Baller

You don,t need to change the steering rack or get the GTI gear linkage,you only need that when you want to put a five speed in a big engined car.
I have done this swap on fathers 1.3CL now owned by Peg1,the now almost famous TAFY.
                                 Baller

where would you suggest is the best place to start sourcing a 3+E box or a formel E car?
cheers

Try Crazyquiffs on this site I'm sure he would be able to help.
                       Baller

Sorry to hijack the thread but I'm in the same boat but instead have a 1.1 engined mk1 golf (50bhp). Doing 60 in the 4th gear does my head in and wish I had a 5th gear, I dont have money for a simple engine conversion and would like the 1.1 to last me throughout uni, and till I get a decent job lol.

So my question is: are there any gearboxes that would fit my engine allowing me a 5th gear. I'm very much doubting it meself lol  ops:

-Jas

The 4 speed from the 1.4 ABD engined mk3 Golf has the same ratios as the Formel E box, i.e. the same 1st and top as the 5 speed 8P box common in Polo's.

u can use five speed box from mk3 polos as well but they are getting expensive :? just use your gearbox mount and swap it over to new box'.  if you keep 4 speed selector and gear change tackle it will do a job but not ideal as fifth or reverse will be tricky u could do with getting five speed selector arm (any big block) and a decent gearbox. the 5 speed mk2 golf/golf jetta is a better bet but rare as hens teeth. trying to get one from someone off here and proving hard work.  dont forget 5 speed is better than four whatever u get :wink:

I'm also looking for a new gearbox cause mine is deafening at 70mph…is the Formel E box the best option? my brother has a Formel E and his feels so much more comfortable on the motorway, the engine isn't screaming out 'change gear you bastard'…also forgive my stupidity but would installing a Formel E gearbox give me more speed on the motorway? Im thinking cause I'd be able to go to higher speeds at lower revs?

cheers

My Formel E did around 3K at 70, whereas the Polo GT 5sp I now have does nearer 4K. It also knocked around 4mpg off the economy on a run. They are old and rare now so the mk3 1.4 4sp might be a better option.

…also forgive my stupidity but would installing a Formel E gearbox give me more speed on the motorway? Im thinking cause I'd be able to go to higher speeds at lower revs?

Not by much, VW list the Formel E 1.1 as about 3 mph faster than the standard box 1.1. The taller/longer Formel E 4th gear is more effort for the engine to get through so you will also probably not have quite the poke in 4th that you'd have with the standard box, but more refined driving at 60+ mph.

Cheers

Hi guys what gear box would I be looking for and out of what car, for the 5 speed set up on the 1.1. I'v read through the thread and correct me if i'm wrong but do I need a 3+E box or a formel E car?

If so what model of car (inc year) did the 3+E box come in and what is a formal E car :s

sorry to sound dumb i'm not good on the tech side.

The easiest 5sp to find is the 8P from a normal 1.3 mk3 Polo.

Right got hold of a 8P gearbox yesterday, can any 1 tell me what modifications or parts i require to fit to my 1.1 mk1 golf?  :dontknow:

Thanks in advance.

Apart from the mount, it'll bolt straight in. You will need to remove the bits of plastic on either side of the gearstick hole to allow the selection of your new 5th gear.

Would I need to use the mount from this 8P gearbox?  ops:

No, you have to make one. I used the bit of the Polo mount that bolts to the box, some 2" box and the tube and bush from a big block mount. Much stiffer than the small engine bush and the mount weighs half the weight of the 4sp one.

thanks yeyh is it possible you can upload a pic to show how it looks?

Another quick question, is the 8P gearbox smaller in size compared to a normal 1.1 mk1 golf gearbox? I just had a look at mine for the first time to compare them and the 8P seems rather small.

Gettin my mate to come over 2maro whos going to fit it, but just wanted to make sure it is a 8P lol. cant see no markings either. wirebrush time.