mk4 gear change

[danmusic24]

having a problem with my 16v gear change it dont like 1st or reverse and there is a lot of play in gear stick.(cable change)
i have heard you can use mk4 gear change setup.there is a mk4 up my local scrap yard 1.8 20v not turbo,is it worth changing mine for a mk4 setup?
any guides or info pls?

[Dan_GTi8v]

should be a straight swap for 02a and 02j shifters. It could be worth getting the gearbox tower as well should make the gear changes feel smoother though obviously wont help with any problems caused by the gearbox itself.

[thai-wronghorse]

Yeah its supposed to improve the shifting on the crappy mk3 cable set up considerably. I looked into it myself but there's quite a bit of fettling involved and I thought id leave it until I finally get around to pulling the engine out.

[Ess_Three]

You will need the 02J gearbox end shift tower, the cables and the Mk4 gear lever/shifter box assembly.

The 02J shift tower bolts straight into the 02A gearbox.
The cables go in the same place.
You will likely have to bracket the Mk3 shift lever assembly into the Mk3 floorpan to secure it...but it will fit.

Either way, you need the whole lot....or leave it all Mk3.

[Dan_GTi8v]

do you know for fact you need the tower? only asking as I have the mk4 tower on my 02a and am still using 02a cables so surely it will work the other way as well?

[Ess_Three]

do you know for fact you need the tower? only asking as I have the mk4 tower on my 02a and am still using 02a cables so surely it will work the other way as well?

The Mk4 tower is simply better, less slop and the shift weight is a different size/shape.
Don't the cables connect differently too?
Certainly the 02J tower I have is quite different to the 02A tower and the cable connections are slighly different - 02A needs adjustment, 02J is self adjusting.
It also gives you the option of fitting the TT linkages to get the OEM short-shift.

If you are going to grab the lot, why would you not take the gearbox end too?

[Dan_GTi8v]

If available then yeah get the tower as well, I was just curious about the towers as I dont know myself.

when doing my conversion the tower on my 02a was knackered all the splines were sheered off so it wouldnt change at all, and all I had available at the time was an 02j tower but it seemed to fit the same as the 02a and the cables fitted ok so I just left it at that. My gear changes dont really feel any better so it could be I was sold an 02a tower but kells says he also has an 02j tower and its the same as the 02a

[Ess_Three]

If available then yeah get the tower as well, I was just curious about the towers as I dont know myself.

when doing my conversion the tower on my 02a was knackered all the splines were sheered off so it wouldnt change at all, and all I had available at the time was an 02j tower but it seemed to fit the same as the 02a and the cables fitted ok so I just left it at that. My gear changes dont really feel any better so it could be I was sold an 02a tower but kells says he also has an 02j tower and its the same as the 02a

There may be two versions...but the 02J tower I have is very different to the 02A I am using.
The tower is shorter and the shift weight is a completely different shape.

[Dan_GTi8v]

I've read there are 2 different shaft(?) sizes on the 02j towers, not sure what they are but one is the same as 02a and one is different, so sometimes you will need to change the piece the shaft sits in inside the gearbox, but I've never seen this other sized one. could be the one you have maybe?

Found this pic, apparently the top one is 02j and bottom is 02a, but my mk4 tower off a 1.9 diesel I'm sure looks a lot more like the 02a than the 02j in this pic. It's got me wondering now though as I also read the 02a and 02j reverse light switches are different shapes but my 02j tower has the same plug as my old mk3 one 

[danmusic24]

is the code for gearbox marked on gear box somewhere?also how are the cables run on mk4,under car or through the body,as the mk4 im looking at at scrapyard is dumped on the floor with no wheels?