2.9andy

Oh, yes the speedo drive. Obviously using the vr6 bellhousing you already have the hole for the speedo drive, then when fitting the diff, you take the bearing and nylon drive gear off the 02a diff, and swap it onto the 02s(02j) diff, job done. You'll just have to do the same with the front half of the g60 box

Dont forget ive used the lowest ratio version of this box here, mine is a GQP code. If you used one of the other versions it would probably be similar to a vr box with a g60 final drive, with a longer 6th. As it is i think my box is even closer geared than that combination, i did do all the gear calculators for it before but its late and i cant be bothered to do it again at the moment. The step from 1st to 2nd feels just right, so the taller ratio version would still have this, but slightly higher overall. Personally i love this one and wouldnt change it! Kev, you mentioned checking it out for yourself at the beginning of the thread, your still more than welcome to, and you can add your opinion on the box to this thread as someone who knows what they are talking about. Ive only had one corrado and havent lived vw's, but i do know i nearly sold the car because of its gearbox spoiling the drive before....!

Another update... The corrado has just done not far short of a thousand miles to and around the lake district last week, and it was bloody brilliant! The box is just what i hoped for, ideal for the technical roads through yorkshire and cumbria...it really has livened up the character of the car. In 6th on the main roads, 3.5k revs is just over 80, not exactly ticking over but it felt fine and the economy wasnt too bad. I cant believe how good these weitec coilovers are as well. They are some seriously rough roads around there and it was always composed. Impressed! I will get around to doing this write up soon, i must get the photos off the computer at work

Im afraid structually the box is the same as an 02a so similar power handling capabilities. Ok for me as i dont plan forced induction, but not so great for you i suppose! The shafts in the box are supported by another pair of needle rollers in the end casing outside of 6th, whether that would have any effect on flex of the shafts further back in the box im not sure. Would the teeth break just from sheer loadings or would it be the shafts flexing first causing loads on the wrong part of the teeth? As for the coilvers, they were second hand im afraid...look almost new though. I was looking at new ultra gt kits on there first but you really dont save much now, they have gone up massively in price. Saw these ones and thought why not!

Another quick update at last. Ive driven it! Took it for its MOT yesterday morning. Well it drives brilliantly, ratios seem absolutely spot on, im glad i didnt go for the higher ratio version of the box now. Every change 'sounds' spot on, you know when its just right and hits the sweet spot of torque in the next gear! No nasty noises luckily :grin: The best bit is the shift quality, ive left it standard throw and just filled the squidgy cable ends with a bit of polyurethane. I know my original shifter was knackered but this one seems so refined! I dont know whether its just psychological, but there seems to be a lot of traction now. Ive read the preload on the 02j diff equates to around a 10% lock so i suppose it must make some difference Also just bolted on a german ebay buy....weitec tx+ coilovers. First impressions are brilliant, i nkow they are on full soft at the mo but the ride is very nearly as comfy as standard which is saying something! Proper write up to follow with some pics when ive got a bit more time. Had a few more problems when i finished putting it back together, mainly based around the new shifter and shift tower on the box, they hit bloomin everything! I think i was talking utter rubbish about the 02a shift tower fitting as its a different design inside the box. I wish i had tried it now while i was building it, but im afraid im not too inclined to pull it apart again now. I know how much i hated the old one so the new stuff was going to fit no matter what!

A quick update for you... The gearbox is built and bolted up to the engine complete with speedo drive, and the shifter is mounted as well. Ive got 101 other things to do while its apart so i have yet to see what it goes like. Maybe the end of this weekend?! So basically yes it is possible but its not particularly straightfoward, a lot more awkward than i was expecting. I'll do a proper write up on what was needed in a while, and hopefully a bit of feedback on what it drives like

Well ive had a day on the car today and got the gearbox out.....and this is what it looks like now: Got to admit, in my ignorance of pulling apart gearboxes, i had hoped that i could leave all the shafts and gears in the main casing and just take the bellhousing off. Not so! There is a plate bolted to the bellhousing from the inside of the box so it has to come apart completely. You have to first remove the other end and remove fifth gear, then various other bits and bobs before you can lift the casing off leaving the bellhousing with all the shafts, then pull all that off to lave the bellhousing free for the 02S, and same again for that. I havent stripped the 02S yet, but things are looking very promising. The 02S has an 02J style diff with bolt in flanges, basically im hoping that vw have left the machined bit of shaft behind the diff bearing to sit the nylon speedo drive gear on (see the 02A one in the pic above) Failing that, i'll have to fit the 02A diff and output shafts but that means swapping the crownwheel and that has huge rivets that will have to be replaced with bolts. Talking of the output shafts....the 02S ones are the same type and size as the VR6 ones. The other thing is, if you already have a selector and cables in good condition, the selector shaft that bolts into the box can be just swapped over for the corrado one making things really easy. My shifter both box end and gearlever is pretty worn so im probably going to swap it all over anyway. Next update probably after the weekend. I ought to do some work this week!

Thats an interesting link, definately looks like an older bellhousing of some kind on that box, shame there isnt any more info. Well ive just pulled the corrado into the workshop this eve, so i'll be starting to pull it apart now and see what happens Your welcome to pop round if it works Kev, didnt realise you were so local to me!

Well i'll let you all know in a couple of weeks, ive bought the thing now so i might as well try and get it to fit! I realise the 4cyl and 6cyl bellhousing patterns are different, thats why i wanted to split both boxes and use the complete bellhousing from the vr6, that way it also gives me the speedo drive part as well, but whether there is anything to drive it off the 02s diff is another matter. The shifter is also designed to be bolted to a flat floor unlike the corrado one that sits up under the tunnel, so that will need a bit of fabricating to fit as well, hopefully it will sit under the tunnel ok. If it will work i'll be happy. Im fed up with the tall gearing on the vr box, and sticking in a knackered old 16v box seems a bit daft. I paid £260 for this box with the shifter and cables and its very low mileage....should feel like new if it goes in! 6 nice short gears and a light flywheel....mmm If it all goes pear shaped...anyone got a cheap 16v 02a? Im near colchester in Essex

Ive bought myself an 02S from a mk5 Golf Fsi to try and fit it to the Vr, but before i pull it all apart and render everything useless....does anyone know whether the VR 02A bellhousing will fit the 02S box? And if it does, will there be anything there that can drive the VR speedo? I should have asked before i bought it....but im impatient!