TDI transmission on IDI

[mzak88]

Vortex has a lot of different suggestions.  All I did, you have to slot the holes at the back end of the box - the slots are slotted forward and to the outside of the box.   Remove the bottom plate on the box and remove the two front bolts.  Drill a hole in the center of these two bolts so you can tap it to M8.  I used a old vw bolt and threaded it all the way (you need about 80 mm or about 3.25" long bolt) and screw the bolt in.   You'll need a spacer to take up the difference from the MK3 to Mk4 box on this front bolt.  I estimated using the old MK3 box and put them side, by side to see what spacer I needed.  Bolt it in!

Did you retain to o2a tower? Local wreckers around here are reluctant to let me take just a tower. I've read about this before, guys are usually using 02j tower as well. 

[rodpaslow]

Yes, I did change to an 02J tower as well.  If you get it from a 4 cyl 02J trans, it's a straight replacement, take the 02A out and put in the 02J.  I replaced the bushing/bearing in the tower as well, shifter has a nice solid feel.

[vanbcguy]

If you want a really good way of using the Mk4 box on a Mk3, do this:

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?5820143-DIY-02A-gt-02J-Shifter-conversation-for-VR6-SLC-Cars

There was a Polo that used an 02J style shifter, but the outside of the shift box is identical to the Mk3 02A shift box.  You can put the 02J guts in to the Polo shift box and then fit it in to your Mk3 with no cutting, no gaps, no noise getting in.

[jaed_43725]

So I should stick with 020 and get an ACN? My biggest problem with my current tranny is the gear spread is crap. Only a 900 rpm diff between 3rd and 4th. 1st wont even produce by 4 psi boost because its so short. And 5th is stupid cause you gotta shift into it doing 40mph if you are cruising that speed, or shift into at 60mph when trying to get some speed. And then the engine spins some 3,000rpm at 60mph. That is insane. It should be like 1900 at 60mph and the gear spread should be much wider so you can stay in gear a lot longer and keep accelerating or cruise in a more appropriate gear. Of the 2 TDI's I had a 98 and 02 the tranny was great, good spread, good accel, all around nice.

Perhaps I would be suited to slowly collecting the parts to do the swap then?

[R.O.R-2.0]

So I should stick with 020 and get an ACN? My biggest problem with my current tranny is the gear spread is crap. Only a 900 rpm diff between 3rd and 4th. 1st wont even produce by 4 psi boost because its so short. And 5th is stupid cause you gotta shift into it doing 40mph if you are cruising that speed, or shift into at 60mph when trying to get some speed. And then the engine spins some 3,000rpm at 60mph. That is insane. It should be like 1900 at 60mph and the gear spread should be much wider so you can stay in gear a lot longer and keep accelerating or cruise in a more appropriate gear. Of the 2 TDI's I had a 98 and 02 the tranny was great, good spread, good accel, all around nice.

Perhaps I would be suited to slowly collecting the parts to do the swap then?

IDI has no torque @ 1900rpm..

my cars equipped with ACN/ACL/AON/ASF trannies are MUCH better to drive.. even in my gasser, i shift 5th gear @ 30mph or so..

i pull the hills in 4th with my gasser, so as not to lug it, and i do it in 5th with my diesel.. same trans in both cars..

cars both turn 2451rpm@60mph..

[mzak88]

Jeez I love my aaz/02a ctn mk3. I find the combination is perfect for me... Even with the .658 5th. But to each their own, I don't race or drive fast- just far. I drive it like a big truck, slow and cool.

[rallydiesel]

There is actually a guy in Europe that makes rod linkages to mate the 020 shifter to the 02a shift tower. The site is in german but the reviews I've heard are very good.

http://www.clausvonessen.de/

[mzak88]

There is actually a guy in Europe that makes rod linkages to mate the 020 shifter to the 02a shift tower. The site is in german but the reviews I've heard are very good.

http://www.clausvonessen.de/

I've managed to track down complete o2j set up out of an 02

[rodpaslow]

I had the rod setup on the 020 before I changed it and it was very solid shifts.  The linkage from Europe would work well too I'm sure.