6th gear onto an 8V...?

[dan98]

Hi y'all - I'm new here, seems to be a pleasant place so I thought I'd try you on this one!

My car is a green J-reg 8V with 140k which I've had a while now.
Its in good condition and i love it to bits but I really want to put a 6th gear on it for long distance cruising.
I like to cruise between 85-95 (doesnt everyone?!) but would like to keep the engine just ticking instead of buzzing madly.
I'd love to put the same ratio as the "E" gear in the 4+E that you get in the 1.8GL (ie. 100mph at 4k) - I know I may have to mod the engine slightly to up the power too in the long run.
TSR seem to do a 6th gear mod for a 1000 quids - this seems steep - anyone know of a cheaper/simpler option? It only needs to b a simple overdrive-style control, but i deffo
  DONT want to alter the existing gear setup 1 through 5 as its a new box and it rox.

Cheers dears,
Dan.

[Colin]

If TSR do the kit then talk to them, they're approachable, honest and know there stuff, Otherwise fit massive wheels and re-calibrate your speedo and up the power a bit too, to compensate for the larger wheels.

[S11EPS]

I know that Gemini used to do a 6 speed box for the Golf/Corrado, but that was a modified 5 speed item, that kept first gear ratio identical, 5th became 6th and the rest were all closely stacked in the middle.

Apparently it was pretty good, but the overall effect was to shorten the gears, not increase cruising ability, which is what you want to do.

You may find that there is a rebuild kit available, but on the basis that a car needs more torque to maintain the same rate of acceleration at a higher gear ratio, you may find that your motor will struggle.

Even though you may decide to mod your car to deliver this required torque, the gearbox you ideally want would have to be sold on the understanding that everyone who fitted it did the same, which would seriously narrow its appeal, and therefore its chances of selling.

The simplest option I can think of is to source a 1.8t 6 speeder from a Mk4, although I have no idea how much engineering is required to get it to fit and or work.

Good luck in your search mate.

[dan98]

Thanks for the replies chaps.
I figure that the TSR option may the best one then.
(you never know till you ask..)
I did at one time have a 4+E box fitted in error to the car, so I know how its gonna drive at that sort of ratio.
The 1.8 8V has plenty of torque to cruise at about 3000 rpm doing about 90mph (its eerily quiet too), but only on mways and not on dual carriageways or very hilly roads. ie. M1/M3/M4/M5/Autobahn no problem but A303 not so good.
The problem with the 4+E was that it was crap lower down with big gaps between 2nd/3rd/4th.
Now I'm back on the standard box I've got loads of go again but I'm missing that high-speed-cruising-action thing.
And because its a new box i dont want to be replacing it again, so I reckon i'll save up some wonga and go for the tsr thing.
Thanks again,
Dan.

[jazzygm]

I was thinking about something similar for my valver. It's a great car to have, but at 90 on the motorway I might as well pour the petrol down the drain. It's not good for fuel conumption running an engine at 4k constantly, and it can't be good for the engine itself  

I'd try and get the price down a bit if I were you mate... 1000 seems a bit steep for relatively small savings in petrol (future price hikes not counted for).

Keep us posted if you go ahead with it tho!

[Dizzie]

a friend has a '91 H plate 8v and he's just fitted a 2.0 bottom end along with a diesel gearbox. This is all aparent as I haven't looked under his bonnet in a long time (ooo err). He claims he can cruise at a lot lower revs now and the diesel box bolts straight on. '6 will probably confirm this.