Transmission compatibility

[hengy]

Hi all...

Please forgive my newbie ignorance. I am considering a 1977 Spider that is for sale not too far from me. Has the normal transmission fork issue in that it will not stay in 2nd. The current owner says that he has been driving it without using 2nd for a year with no issues. In another ad, I there is another chap who is parting a 1982 Spider. He said that the tranny worked well before parting. Question is this... will the 1982 tranny marry up with the 1977 engine without major modification? I was thinking that this would be a quick way to get all FOUR gears in the car. I realize that this may open up a whole new can of worms, but just wondering!

Thanks for your help!!

Mike

[Tobi]

Hey Mike, the transmissions are the same, not sure about the bell housing but you can easily switch them.
You will have all "FIFE" gears in the car.
Make sure to replace the flex joint (guibo) while you are at it.
http://www.autoricambi.us/product/DR5-4 ... t--Guibo-/

[azruss]

all bell housings match except for the early 1438cc cars.

[juvius]

all bell housings match except for the early 1438cc cars.

Azruss is absolutely correct. I"m actually using a 1438cc transmission with a bellhousing out of a 79. Early transmissions have more sensors, but in that case you just don't use them. In your case it's just plug and play. it will bolt right in.

[FiatMac]

The '82 transmission will bolt right in to the '77. However, your speedometer will read high since the speedometer drive in the transmission is set up for the 3.9 rear end ratio of the '82. The '77 has a 4.3 differential ratio. Thus the speedometer will read about 10% high.

[redcars]

Just because the transmission is in an 82 does not mean it came from an 82. It could have been replaced from one from another year. My 82 has a earlier trany which I know from rebuilding it and the same for a friends 82.

[htchevyii]

The bell housings are not all quite the same, but you can swap for for existing one if you need to, just make sure you reinstall the thrust washer for the input bearing, ( a new seal would be good too).
I swapped the bell housing from my '82 for another that I had after the threads for the ball that the clutch fork attaches to stripped out. It wasn't until I went to bolt on the front exhaust bracket that I realized the bell housing was different it that location. I'm missing one of the bolts for that bracket now.