Help!! my 4spd transmission broke

[marco0658]

Hi, my name is Marco and I have an '81 VW Diesel Rabbit. My manual transmission just crapped 3rd gear out on me and I'm trying to find a replacement. Locally I've found 4 options. What do I need to swap these?
1. $250 '81 rabbit trk. 5spd. transmission diesel with all the linkage to swap it (only the transmission)

2. 2nd gen parts car golf manual

3. $150 a '93 engine and transmission combo. Can I swap the tranny to my 1.6 diesel? (newer is better)

4. $125 for a 4spd gas tranny

Is it better to replace my tranny with another diesel tranny? Do the prices seem high? And is the vacuum pump connected to the tranny do the gas model have some way of connecting it?

Thanks marco

[FineFrank]

First, find out which tranny you have right now. There'll be a two or three letter code on the bottom of the tranny.
Second, find the tranny code(s) of the transmissions you're looking to buy. Compare the gear ratios (I can't recall the list url for codes, someone chime in).
Thirdly, decide what available tranny best fits your needs and buy that one.
 I have a terribly low geared four speed (GC) that works great, because I drive almost exclusively around town. And if I were to change it, I'd probably stay with what I have if I could.

[marco0658]

Frank I found this number on the bottom of the bell housing ff27041. I don't know if its the code. What's the problem with gas transmissions It's not like I was keeping up with traffic in my 4 spd. I figure at least the 5spd will have overdrive ('93- option 3). I'm still looking for other choices but what do I need to put the '93 tranny in. Can I swap my cv joints in speedo cable? Can I use a mk2 or mk3 5spd shifter and linkage since find in a mk1 is a pain in the *##. Can I use my clutch cable ? what about the flywheel/ clutch of the '93 can it be used with my diesel?

Thank you Marco

[Jetta Fan]

Here's the link for the transmission ratios and other useful info about the code you found on your tranny.

http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/VW_020_transmission.shtml

[marco0658]

Weird according to this ff means I have a 5spd and 27041 = april  27, 1981.  He He  :shock: now I have 2 broken gears.

Thanks Marco

[Jetta Fan]

It's worse than you thought.  :lol:

[marco0658]

Are mk2 and mk3 tranny the same thing or am I wrong

Thanks marco

[burn_your_money]

ff 27041- I found this number on the bottom of the bell housing.

This is the code on the bottom of your 4 speed? Because that is a 5 speed code, which means you have some linkage problems if you can't reach fifth.
What exactly happened to third?

A mk3 tranny will not bolt into the mk1. It is missing various studs that the rear mount bolts to. See http://www.brokevw.com for info on the different mounts.

Do not buy a gas 4 speed, your engine will be screaming on the highway and you'll have massive blowby, possibly resulting in a runaway.

A 5 speed gasser trany isn't so bad, check out the gear ratios on http://www.scirocco.org/gears

I would not upgrade to the 210mm clutch combo. It's useless on a NA. Keep the 190mm, it's lighter which will get you faster revs

copied from my post on vortex

[marco0658]

What exactly happened to third?

I just got the car running (for 3 months) after being parked for years by PO. Trans started Grinding so I changed the oil with a Hypoid GL-5 couldn't find gl-4. The haynes manual said to put 1.25 liters so I did. after a few day of driving and some grinding in third it broke

http://www.Brokevw.com says

Proper fill capacity on all the 020 trans, regardless of the manufacture date, is 2.1 US Quarts or 2.0 Liters

. what kind of oil do you use that doesn't have to be specially ordered?

thanks Marco

[burn_your_money]

Synchromesh is what I use. Made by Penzoil