Gear Box woes.

[Peter Jones]

Well the box is in bits. Turn out 3rd had been overselected and the one of the keys that keep the shift ring in place had poppee out and wedged itself in the selector. No harm done but it means the gear shift linkages in the car need looking at to make sure that I can't push the gearstick too deep into 3rd.

My mechanical friend John took 4 hour to get it apart 'cos it was stuck in gear and the box doesn't come apart if you cant get the selector out. It's sort of like one of those chinese puzzles, you play with it long enough it just falls apart.

So I guess that means that I'm in the market for 5 speed shift linkages to replace the dodgy modified 4 speed bits that are in there at the moment.

Oddly enough it's probably my fault for replacing all the shift bushings. With all the slop in the system it might not have happened.

We're just waiting on dif bearings now so it should be back together by next weekend.

Pete

[Peter Jones]

Well it's a couple of months on and the saga continues.

Car no 1
White 79

The gearbox went back in and after a few weeks I still couldn't get the linkages adjusted right and it was hard to shift out of 4th. Eventualy something let fly in there and now it's off the road again until I get get it to my mechanic to get it sorted once and for all. It can't be driven at the moment because it's raditor is back in car no 2.

Car no 2

The radiator and heater core were stuffed beyond repair. Hoorah, I thought, we're getting closer to the overheating problem now. Blocked tube, stuffed radiator. Nope, the head's bent too! So my friend reco'd the head (nice job too). I fitted it all back up with the radiator from car no 1 and it all fired up on about the second turn. Great! Problem solved? Guess again.

I drove it to the station for a week and it was all good, it's only a 5 min run after all. The very first time I took it for a 1/2 hour drive it boiled.

This is getting beyond a joke. I'm sorely tempted to trade the pair on a TDI EOS when they get here!

(The very nearly stationary)
Pete Jones

[worm]

Have u driven it without the thermo stat in... should run cool then.

[Golf Loon]

Sounds like a lot of pain Pete.
Sod trying to repair a stuffed gearbox, replace with a newer one. Just ask.
The other car could be thermostat or bottom end. If not thermostat, throw engine away and replace with 1.8. And you need a new radiator.
I wouldn`t even do a headgasket on a 1.6 1976 motor, its 30 years old, either rebuild it all, or replace with a newer, fresher, bigger one for less than the cost of the rebuild.
I wish I was nearer I`d come and give you a hand.

[Peter Jones]

The thermostat's long gone.

Thanks Loony it's just the time I'm short on. None of this carry on has cost me any money, it's just that I don't have the luxury of enough time to get it sorted.

I can exchange my time for my mechanics time but at this rate I'll be working off my debts forever! I can only spare Saturday mornings and it needs more hours than that to sort out.

So I'll book them in one at a time and get them properly fixed up. There's a few other issues with them both that I'll probably never get around to so I'll get them done too.

Funny thing is I drive these by choice. I have the option of salary sacrifice vehicles at work but I'd rather be driving the golf with all its issues than a new LPG Falcon with headlights you can't turn off. (They're hard wired on and you can't turn them off it's a "safety" thing).

Thanks everyone.

Pete

[Golf Loon]

You are a crazy man. New car, or 30 year old golf with issues. Not many would make the choice, but I understand. I know you like em, not many people would do a 1800km parts run in a weekend in a 30 year old car with no radio either.

[roccodingo]

Funny thing is I drive these by choice. I have the option of salary sacrifice vehicles at work but I'd rather be driving the golf with all its issues than a new LPG Falcon with headlights you can't turn off. (They're hard wired on and you can't turn them off it's a "safety" thing).

I understand this 110% pete, I am the same mate.. all the new stuff sucks cause it's designed NOT to last more than a few years...

I will go to the grave in one of my old rocco's..

.

[brackie]

I understand this 110% pete, I am the same mate.. all the new stuff sucks cause it's designed NOT to last more than a few years...

I will go to the grave in one of my old rocco's..

.

Yeah...My Mk1s don't get out enough. And probably will get out less for the next 3 or 4 months. You'll be hearing less from me on the forum too as 14hr days begin next week Admin and moderator's duties only.

And I remember the days when people used to flash you if you had your headlights on during the day..."Wasting the battery!!!!" How times have changed.....

[Golf Loon]

I will go to the grave in one of my old rocco's..
.

Hopefully not literally.

[Peter Jones]

I will go to the grave in one of my old rocco's..

.

Perhaps it's time you replaced the brakes!

(Sorry couldn't resist!)

Pete