My Mexico Beige Mk1 GLD

[Glynn.]

Haha best way to sum up the gld driving experience lol
Sounds like a plan dude would be good to
Cruise around with some older dubs
And possibly convince you to drive down to Sydney for nats

[hiho]

I have a beige Mk1 diesel, not as nice as yours though it has been a solid, reliable daily for three years now. I installed a 5 speed out of a Seat Cordoba, CHB code. It has PERFECT ratios for the 1.5. 4th is more or less the same as the 4speed box and 5th will have you doing just under 3000 rpm at 100, instead of 3500. In Melbourne we have numerous "pickapart" type wreckers where you can get these
gearboxes for $125-$150. Just add the 5-speed mount, speedo drive and tidy up the shift linkages and you're away!

If you are planning on keeping the 1.5D motor I suggest a bigger exhaust including replacing the concertina type flexible joint with a larger bore braided joint.

Despite the low power, I have superheated the stock brakes numerous times (mostly when I was driving the Tawonga Gap Rd daily) so better brakes is a good idea for spirited oil burning. Rear drums, booster and 22mm MC will complete the brake upgrade. This along with a rear sway bar and trailing arm poly bushes has made it a real performer.

I admire your commitment to daily drive an iconic piece of motoring history!

[Glynn.]

cheers for the gearbox info, if i could find one up here id be stoked plus someone to help with installation\
as for the exhaust what sie would yo recomend 1.75" or 2"?
i love this car driving it has brought me more pleasure than the a3 ever did . love all the weird looks and smiles you get off random people when they see and hear its little tractor engine lol
installed the brakes yesterday, she stops pretyy well instantly now, with my new rims and tyres it will even be better

[GTI4ME]

Hey bro, had a blast fitting the GTI brakes with you, let me know when you get the 5 speed and we can have a crack at it!

[Preen59]

Let me know if you want to rip an extra box out.. I'll pay you for the time and postage (And the box, of course). They're really difficult to find here, and a "who knows" condition 5spd was $700 last time I priced one.

[Glynn.]

Thanks for the help fitting them
And preen il have a look around the place and see what I can find, I vaguely remember some seats at a dodgy little wrecker in Logan lol

[sparkie]

Try these guys:

NOW WRECKING - VOLKSWAGEN

[hiho]

I forgot to mention. The CHB box has 100mm drive flanges. You will also need to do one of the following to the drivetrain:

Swap the 100mm flanges for 90mm flanges (if you can find them....)
Mod the Mk1 drive shafts to accept the 100mm inner CV joints. To do this you will need to strip the driveshaft completely and have some material removed using a lathe. THen you will have stronger inners

[Glynn.]

tbh man i have no idea or experience in removing the 4spd and installing a 5, would need someone to either do it for me, or who know exactly what to do as im not to confident when it comes to mucking around with vital parts of my car lol

[hiho]

Too bad you're not closer..... Its one of those things thats easy after you've done it once or twice....

If you do get someone to help you there are some tools and tips that will help no end:

Before you raise the car, slightly loosen the drive shaft nuts. They're 32mm i think and you'll need a large breaker bar as they are fugging tight
To remove the other end of the drive shafts, you will need a triple square drive. It looks like a double hex, but its not. Its triple square and if you use an allen key you will strip them. Get the triple square bit.
To get the drivers side drive shaft flange past the flywheel, there are some cutouts in the circumference of the flywheel to help the drife shaft flange clear it.
Use the 210mm flywheel and clutch from the Cordoba. It has a bigger clutch area and a lower moment of intertia (flywheel effect) than the stock diesel unit.
You can remove and refit the box without removing the engine. It can be fun when reinstalling the new box with the new flywheel as the later flywheels dont have the handy relief for the drive shaft flange.....

This probably makes little sense to you but if you get a mate to help, it may make sense to them and may save you hours of frustration.

[drewr]

cheers for the gearbox info, if i could find one up here id be stoked plus someone to help with installation\
as for the exhaust what sie would yo recomend 1.75" or 2"?
i love this car driving it has brought me more pleasure than the a3 ever did . love all the weird looks and smiles you get off random people when they see and hear its little tractor engine lol
installed the brakes yesterday, she stops pretyy well instantly now, with my new rims and tyres it will even be better

I have a 5spd box at my place, Glynn! Pretty sure it's from the MK2 GTI. You're welcome to come and have a look to see if it will be of any use to you? Im only telling you what I was told when I brought one of my old MK1s, may need someone who knows what's what to verify upon inspection.

[Glynn.]

Ahh man awesome, if you could Pm me the gearbox code and a price that's be much appreciated
Thanks for the info hiho
But I will seriously need some help as it doesn't make much sence at all to me unfortunately lol



Bit of an update as I got a new exhaust fitted today
Hopefully my gap order arrives next week

[h100vw]

Ahh man awesome, if you could Pm me the gearbox code and a price that's be much appreciated
Thanks for the info hiho
But I will seriously need some help as it doesn't make much sence at all to me unfortunately lol



Bit of an update as I got a new exhaust fitted today
Hopefully my gap order arrives next week

Got all the tools you would need for a gearbox swap Glynn, spline drive M8 etc. Hub nuts are 30mm, got that 2 foot bar as well.

You'll need a 9mm 12 point socket to bolt the clutch and flywheel to each other, got that too.

Gavin

[BonsaiTiger]

Glynn did I miss the pics of it on the new wheels? Can't wait to see it!

[Glynn.]

Got all the tools you would need for a gearbox swap Glynn, spline drive M8 etc. Hub nuts are 30mm, got that 2 foot bar as well.

You'll need a 9mm 12 point socket to bolt the clutch and flywheel to each other, got that too.

Gavin

Man seruously?
If you'd feel like a weekend job and a helping hand id be happy to fork out the cash to some one who knows what they are doing lol
And bonzai no pics as of yet