BBX

Here comes the funny part! We do it in the street baby! I still have way too much 79 stuff in the garage...

BBX

So when's the party? Will the LSD go from the auto to the manual?

danglerb

Sean, I think its time to hide Blythe's wrenches. Maybe modify his ratchet to only put parts back on and not take anything off.

This car with an AT will be dandy for DE, autox, and time trails. "Maybe" after driving it a couple seasons you might be better off in a 5 spd, but this is going to be a MUCH easier to learn in car.

Swapping in a 5 spd isn't easy or cheap, some new parts are going to be needed. You will for months convert this car back to non driving state.

The 79 is a poor choice for a donor car on a 87. The 87 should get at a minimum a Borg syncro tranny, 85+, and 80+ clutch.

You still really have no idea what the tranny out of the 79 is, or its internal condition. Whats the ID on the bottom (use a mirror).

4drgl

I'll give you points!! I built my jetta in an apartment parking lot!!! I did it at night, in the dark with one of those lights that you strap to the top of your head!! Took me a week, and the apartment manager never noticed!!! I pulled the entire motor/tranny out, built the new motor in my living room of a (1 bed/1 bath apt) and drug it out to the parking lot about 10/11 pm and bolted her up in the dark!

Hard part was re-wiring the car in the dark.... That was moderately challenging to say the least! I even left the motor sitting next to the dumpster and called a scrap metal guy to come pick it up!! The maintenance guys noticed the motor but never figured out where it came from or where it went!!!


I know alllll about apartment complexes and how to hide your project! Good luck!

atb

A/T to manual isn't a problem, but late model to early model I believe is. To put the older LSD's into the new trans cases you use a spacer, I think that means if you want to put a late model LSD into an older tranny you'd have to do some machining. Just a guess.

mark kibort

If you are racing it, the 87 all the way. the older boxes can be ok, but they dont compare to the durability to the newer gear boxes. 85 and later is the way to go.
I havent been using any cooler with my 87 gear box and it is perfect after 135 hard racind days. the transmission shifts as well the the first lap of a race or the end.

BC

The early boxes will hold good power. Has anybody even broken one? I will put 600 though it soon, hopefully it will be okay. Hence my signature.

BBX

Your going to put 600hp through an early box?

Tom. M

I've got a 82 2.75 box in my track car (91 engine 330hp and 380ft-lbs). First track event, I generated enough heat to lock the box up (couldn't get it into gear after several laps at the track). Synchro's are marginal at best and it's a bear to shift. I swapped in the Redline lightweight shockproof oil (only holds 3.8 liters in the older boxes), and it helped but the extra heat generated in a track situation has me looking for a 85 and up box...and I'll likely add a cooler to it too..

Tom. M

I do want to add though, my track car has the single disc clutch in it and I am wondering if the extra mass is compounding problems (keeps the tranny spinning more than the double disc) and the combo of old style synchro and larger mass doesnt work?

Probably for a street car, it would work fine..just use a double disc clutch..

BBX

What changes were there in the torque tubes? Were the earlier tubes different? Will a newer trans fit an older TT?

Tom. M

I haven't verified, but I think mine is S4 all the way back to the tranny..

BC

At least for a while.

With a cooler of course. And I rebuilt it. And I powdercoated it black for that extra 20hp. (laughing at myself)

GlenL

See post #6.

Look in your PET to see all the parts that changed.

The basic answer is "no."

86'928S MeteorGrey

Don't waste your time with the old tranny Blythe... Nothing could suck worse than having all of the prep for a track day go down the drain... It sucks to watch races from the stands with a fire suit on. Dangler has it right. Prep the car for race with the auto tranny. When the time comes, a 5 speed will pop up and you will be ready, and so will you. The tranny will be a small part after all else is finished.