4- to 5-speed gearbox - '89 Escort 1.3

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Sat 21 Aug 2004 22:11
4- to 5-speed gearbox - '89 Escort 1.3 - mfarrow
Hi

I'm considering, (for the second year running!) swapping the gearbox in my car from a 4-speed to a 5-speed unit, as the noise on motorways is starting to annoy!

My question is, what things need swapping apart from the gearbox? i.e. gearbox linkage, driveshafts, mounts.

Thanks for any input.




Mike Farrow
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Sun 22 Aug 2004 08:57
4- to 5-speed gearbox - '89 Escort 1.3 - jc
There's a Ford 4-speed with 3.58 FDR that will have the same effect.
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Sun 22 Aug 2004 11:13
4- to 5-speed gearbox - '89 Escort 1.3 - MW
It may seem a good idea, but is it really worth it on a car of this age?
Why not just run the car out, and accept it is not perfectly what you want. The extra gear may be quieter, but not that much. Remember a 1.3 engine in this car may not have the torque to pull a high 5th gear up a long motorway hill. You may find yourself changing down frequently. Then what was the point. If you do change it, I would pop in a full new clutch at the same time as it is so easy and cheap to do so with the gearbox out.
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Sun 22 Aug 2004 17:53
4- to 5-speed gearbox - '89 Escort 1.3 - Ford Dagenham
Hi

A friend had a 1.3 escort in the past and a 5th gear helped a lot in respect to fuel consumption and noise.

I reccomend changing the gearbox but only if you want to keep the car for a few more years at least.

it should not matter about the age of the vehicle as there are plenty of 40 year old cars about.

--
(iam not a mechanic)

Martin Winters
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Sun 22 Aug 2004 20:21
4- to 5-speed gearbox - '89 Escort 1.3 - Older_not_wiser
Back when I had 4-speed cars (Elan and others), the recommended course of action was a higher final drive ratio.
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Tue 24 Aug 2004 00:08
4- to 5-speed gearbox - '89 Escort 1.3 - Kingpin
It should work in theory but you may struggle to find a decent box from a breakers, considering age of vehicle. Also unknown quantity - you may go to all the trouble and find that there is a fault with the gearbox and the car is now missing a gear, or synchromesh missing etc!
For all the trouble I would swap the car for something with a five speed box, and possibly other extras you have wanted.
Loads of bargains around, from what others say Cavaliers are still a good buy, easier to fix than the Vectra and sturdy.
Wouldn't go near an early Mondeo, even when cheap a clutch change is complicated - Cavalier can be done in-situ without taking off the gearbox.
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