Gearbox help!!

[Blackie_No1]

I am currently running an f10/4 in my wee 1.4 nova and the lack of fifth gear is doing my head in!

I want a five speeder, but I want good lift as well as the economy of fifth for motorway driving.

My choices are between an f13/5 and an f10/5, which would be the best to go for? From what I can see in the Haynes manual they both use the same ratios, but that can't be right, can it?

[comptoncj]

If you want economy then go for the f10/5wr, as the f13 bell housing is different iirc but you could also swap the gear cluster out of an f13 and into an f10, I had an f10/5 in my nova and it dropped 60mph revs down to about 2500 in 5th

[Blackie_No1]

Would the f13 not bolt onto the 1.4 block though? As far as I have been shown the bellhousing was thinner were it meets the block on the f13?

[mowgli]

the f13 will fit where a f10 was, but not the other way round. the f13 was designed for cars with a bigger flywheel, so the starter bump is further out.

if you get one out of a gte/gsi with the cr box, then top gear will be the same. get one out of a non sporty mk3 astra & you will be running economically

[Blackie_No1]

Ah! I see now says the blind man. Surely the 1.4's aren't designed to have the smaller flywheel from factory?

[mowgli]

Ah! I see now says the blind man. Surely the 1.4's aren't designed to have the smaller flywheel from factory?

the f13 will fit all ohc petrol novas, so don't worry, just remember to mod the gearstick & fit the 5 speed shifter box on the gearbox, the 4speed one will not do......

[Blackie_No1]

I know about the gearstick mod, but what's this about the shifter box? I was on the understanding that all I needed to do was the gearstick mod????

[Blackie_No1]

Anyone?

[Jon_nova1]

the thing that comes out of the top of the gearbox to change gear?

[Blackie_No1]

That's on the gearbox and all like, if it's what I think it is?

[Blackie_No1]

Oh, and do the f13 and f10 use the same ratios?

[Blackie_No1]

Anyone?

[mowgli]

yes they do....

the f13 is simply an f10 that is made to fit the bigger engine (1600)

all the internals from 1985 onwards f10 boxes & f13 boxes are interchangeable