Gearbox Advice

[szkom 0]

Hi all,

 

After a slight mishap I'm in need of changing my gearbox. I've a few questions I could do with some help on.

 

My first is that I bought another 1600 engine/box combo. The box on that appears to be the BE1 with the clutch lever out of the front of the box. The seller assures me that it has reverse under fifth, I've no reason to doubt him. But do these hybrids exist?

 

My second is a request for some good pics of a 1600 BE3 box. Mine has damage to the front and the top of the box and I could do with some good reference pics to help me make sense of the damage (fire damage). I essentially can't tell if the front of the box has melted or if a cover plate has gone.

 

Thanks in advance!

[welshpug 1,666]

It may be a be3/4 from a partner van, possibly an early be3 with be1 bits fitted, look at the casing as they will have be1/3/4 stamped in various bits and if youre lucky the sticker on the rear of the bellhousing next to the diff cover.

 

Unless its had some serious heat i doubt your casing is damaged.

[pugtop 0]

Hmm, tend to agree with Welshpug here, he's seen my collection of 1.6 BE1 boxes (most of which I've junked) but I have a 1.6 BE1 box here and a 1.9 BE3. Externally they are different and it all depends on the drillings on the casing and some of the casting, as to whether they are 'changeover' boxes. The selector levers can give the game away, as BE3 rearselector arm is a round bar type whereas a BE1 has a flat bar type of lever. If you look into the large threaded round hole on top of the box (Breather hole on BE3, reverse detent on BE1 box) you will see if it will take your setup or not. The selector you can see through the hole will have a 'flat' machined into it for the revers detent if it is a BE1. If it hasn't got the machined 'flat' area, then it's a BE3 type selector.

Hope this helps.

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

The term 'Seller' sounds like Ebay, So i really would ignore what the seller says, not like if it's easy to ship back when you have the wrong box

[mikeyd 13]

not based in radstock are they--if so break a lot of 205s- bought a "deffinately 1600 be3" box that turned out to be 306 derv one !!!

[szkom 0]

Thanks guys. I have already bought the engine/box as I needed lots of other parts so no loss if I have to improvise a box from the bits I have.

 

Pugtop, thanks, I'll check when I get in the garage next.

 

Welshpug, there was some good heat and I can now see the clutch where I couldn't before. I'm hopeful mind as the hole is at the front where the clutch lever would come out if it was a BE1. Is there some kind of cover there on BE3s?

[welshpug 1,666]

I think some pictures will help.

[pugtop 0]

There is a plastic/rubber cover on the BE1 box and maybe similar on early BE3/Late BE1 boxes, where the BE3 clutch arm is fitted.

That sound like some kinda fire....was much else damaged? and what exactly caused it in the first place?

[szkom 0]

Fingers crossed it's just that cover then. In the meantime I'll fit the new engine and box to keep it rolling. Mine was getting tired anyway so it gives me chance to rebuild.

 

A fair few things got burnt. The mass flow, for example, has completely melted away, the throttle body has melted and pretty much every wire and pipe forward of the struts has gone. It's largely superficial damage. A lick of paint and a rewire will see it as good as new.

 

As for the cause I think it was electrical and most likely the battery given what I observed and subsequently can see. How or why is still a mystery as the battery was new and the wiring was in very good order.