Author Topic: Will a FF tranny work on a 1.8 gasser? (Read 4814 times)

DieselSteed · « **on:** January 28, 2007, 09:15:14 am »

I recently bought an '87 Jetta 1.8 (gasser) for cheap. The reason: the heater dont heat (thanks QuickTD for your excellent input) and 5th gear will not engage and it makes a grinding/rattling noise in all gears, even neutral. So, I need to change it out. The problem is...I have a tight budget and I only have FN and FF trannys (and a 4speed "4A" I think). So my question is, can I use a Diesel tranny on a gasser or will 5th bog the motor down because of the difference in gear ratios?
BTW I plan to replace the gasser with a Diesel...Thanks anarchyX34 for your input on the conversion...

burn_your_money · « **Reply #1 on:** January 28, 2007, 07:05:49 pm »

yes you can do it. Many mk1 people use the FF and FN in thier gassers. Check the date on the tranny though, some are close ratio and some are wide. I think 82 is when the change was

RabbitJockey · « **Reply #2 on:** January 28, 2007, 09:58:43 pm »

ff and fn came on gassers from the factory i thought

burn_your_money · « **Reply #3 on:** January 29, 2007, 07:23:28 am »

Quote from: "Trev0rbr"

ff and fn came on gassers from the factory i thought

lol yeah you're right. What was I thinking....

DieselSteed · « **Reply #4 on:** January 30, 2007, 09:45:58 am »

Thanks guys...I thought the gasser ratios were different for some reason.

RabbitJockey · « **Reply #5 on:** January 30, 2007, 07:47:27 pm »

Quote from: DieselSteed

Thanks guys...I thought the gasser ratios were different for some reason.

nah but it's pretty common for people to think that, i remember at the junkyard i get my parts at the guys son was telling me how dumb this customer was at the vw dealership he works at because he wanted a gas tranny on a diesel. i was like :roll:

vwmike · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2007, 03:55:42 am »

The FF will bolt up to the engine but there are 3 bosses missing from the back of the differential meaning that the mk2 rear mount will not bolt up. Sorry, but you're going to have to find a newer trans.

DieselSteed · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2007, 12:51:48 pm »

Damn, that is some bad news... Glad to find out now rather then later. I usually have to find things out the hard way. Thanks again for the info.

DieselSteed · « **Reply #8 on:** February 04, 2007, 02:46:26 pm »

Well, I have created another dilemma for myself yet again. I found an old Mk2 Jetta by a barn by my friends house. The grill and lights are missing, but I thought it would make a good parts car if it had the 5 speed tranny I needed. The owner told me I could have the car for $100. I went to check the car and it turns out it is a turbo diesel with a tachometer and has the front and rear spoiler. A great find. I cant scrap out such a cool car. So now I have two cars to fix up. Actually I have three Jettas, a Caddy and a Rabbit and one pissed-off wife!

burn_your_money · « **Reply #9 on:** February 04, 2007, 08:03:02 pm »

A TD for $100! nice find indeed

bhtooefr · « **Reply #10 on:** February 22, 2007, 06:17:08 pm »

Note that a Mk2 diesel tranny's ratios are (at the wheels) close to a close ratio Mk2 gasser tranny's ratios. The Mk2 diesels DO have different gearing than the gassers, but it's SHORTER gearing, to make the most of what little power these things have.