Citi golf question, gearbox

[emery1990]

I understand these are not proper mk1's but do they share the same mechanics as them ? Asking as my brother wants to swap his 4 speed gearbox for a 5 speed, and I just wanted to know what options hes got, if any, Also same goes for lowering springs  and dampers as his is like a monster truck atm lol.

Cheers

[rubjonny]

any mk1 tintop, cabby or scirocco suspension setup would fit straight on, just be aware the really old ones had different sized springs so you might have to change these parts. ideally get a complete setup from a donor and fit it to your car with new bump stops and top mounts

as for the gearbox swap it depends what engine it has in there, some citis have smallblock engines some have big blocks. a pic would help here

[emery1990]

Thanks John, Its a 1.3 carbed engine. Ill get a pic when he comes home!

[rubjonny]

cool the citi got big and smallblock based 1.3 engines too which makes things tricky. if you have a big block 1.3 you're laughing though, loads of 5 speed boxes will bolt right in. if its a small block you need a polo box and then you have to make your own gearbox mount

[emery1990]

Ok cheers, I though big blocks and small block was engine size, ie big block beginning from 1.6 small block being under 1.6, I'm wrong then lol. How can I tell whether its a big or small block then, doubt hed bother if we need to make a mount up. would most vw 5 speeds bolt up then  that uses linkages? and not hydraulic?

[rubjonny]

no you're right that is the case on the euro mk1 and mk2 golf, its just the later SA MK1 is weird and can also have a 1.3 based on a big block which makes things more fun

smallblock 1.3 looks totally different to bigblock 1.3, bigblock 1.3 looks pretty much like a mk1/2 1.6 carb lump, smallblock looks like any other 1.3 lump you would find on mk1/2/3 golf/polo

[fishnchipsx2]

Small block leans towards the front of the car, big block leans back towards the bulkhead.