Gearbox replacement advice

[ast]

@Gerryn

Kristy - press ‘QUOTE’ (button top right of the post you want to reply to) which brings up that post and leaves you room to answer below it. However, you are addressing each person in your replies, so that’s also doing the right thing.

Is your car a 1.6 litre? - You seem unsure that you can use a 1.8 L gearbox? Not that I know the answer, but £1100 is far too much to pay for a replacement. You can get a good second hand engine for that. Nearest fair and honest garage I know in you neck of the woods is down at Chatham, which may mean difficulties for you, only other garage I’m aware of is Dandy Cars, but I know nothing about them at all. Sorry about that.

 

Dandy (Essex) went bust year ago, and weren’t very good then. Chatham is Kent, a fair old slog from West London.

 

Year 2000 Californias are all 1.6. Same gearbox.

[Kristy]

@Gerryn

Kristy - press ‘QUOTE’ (button top right of the post you want to reply to) which brings up that post and leaves you room to answer below it. However, you are addressing each person in your replies, so that’s also doing the right thing.

Is your car a 1.6 litre? - You seem unsure that you can use a 1.8 L gearbox? Not that I know the answer, but £1100 is far too much to pay for a replacement. You can get a good second hand engine for that. Nearest fair and honest garage I know in you neck of the woods is down at Chatham, which may mean difficulties for you, only other garage I’m aware of is Dandy Cars, but I know nothing about them at all. Sorry about that.

 

Yes, it is 1.6 litre, I thought it was very expensive, and surprised as a friend who recommended told me they were reasonable. But at least the mechanic (the owner of the garage in his 70s) told me I can keep driving and did not scare me too much into having to pay him. But I got sad, asI don’t want to part with this car, I have been enjoying it so much.

Loving this forum - grateful for such generous responses. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kristy]

Loving this forum - grateful for such generous responses.
Just found this 'quick reply button too, wondering what that will do!

[Petrel2011]

Also a bit of a trek from Twickenham, but Allan Doodes at Bulphan Service Station near Upminster in Essex has a great reputation with the N Thames area and has worked on my Mk2.5 (cambelt change). You could do worse than give him a call on 01375 891418. The run from Bulphan via M25, A13 and A128 isn’t bad.

[Mac5]

Hi Kristy, I’m pretty local to you (Hampton). Have you tried Broad Lane Garage? Not cheap, but I’ve been using them for years, although not for anything major, thankfully.

[H1S_VRB]

Welcome Kristy.  Another vote of confidence for Andrew at Autolink.  As SAZ explained, he was based in Hampshire for many years but for family & business reasons has now relocated to southern Scotland.  He has left behind a couple of ex-employees, who continue MX-5 work down here.  Give him a ring 01556 509088 - he is a thoroughly lovely chap, 110% reliable, and is one of the most knowledgeable MX-5 experts in the UK.  He will get you a decent gearbox, delivered to where ever you need it.  PM me for his ex-sidekick Paul’s mobile no. - he’s still working out of Autolink’s unit down here in Hants, and if Andrew delivers the 'box to Paul, he’ll most likely fit it for very sensible money.

HTH  Steve

[Kristy]

 

SAZ, you’ll be pleased to know I have ordered from Andy both gearbox and clutch and some other part of the catch (I am not tech savvy you can tell).

Altogether it came to £198 with the club’s discount of 7%.

I will update with full information once it is fixed (I won’t say yet who the mechanic is, but I have already booked it)! 

 

Many thanks for sharing your contacts and knowledge. 

K

 

@saz9961

@Kristy

SAZ9961, thanks for your advice, but I do not know if I can get 1.8. Plus, how do I know that this one will not be as bad as mine?

@saz9961

Just get a used box. These boxes are so robust, that used ones are worth little more than scrap weight, because of lack of demand.
eg. Gearbox 5-speed manual Mazda MX-5 mk1 1 8 USED

 

Because the seller is extremely trustworthy, and stands by what he sells. He can arrange fitting for you through a couple of MX5 specialists in Hampshire (he recently relocated his business from the Winchester area). He’ll know exactly what car, the gearbox is from, and how many miles on it.

 

My 1996 S-Special 2 has 160k miles on it, was tracked, gear box is silky smooth and silent.

 

You can use any 5-Speed Mk1 or Mk2 box on yours. You will also need to budget for a new clutch.

 

£100 for the box, £150 for a clutch kit, £200 (tops) labour.

 

I would also add that when it comes to reconditioned parts, that industry is full of thieves.

 

If you don’t want to spend too much money, you can aldd some Moly-G to the gear oil and that would quieten the gearbox down. Years back, a member had a Mk1 with a noisy differential. Mazda diagnosed a noisy differential. The owner had a choice of a new £900 diff, or spend £50 on Moly-G (azda’s recommendation).

 

On the other hand, your problem might just be a chattering clutch release bearing.

 

I would get a second opinion. Might be a bit of a drive (Winchester), but Skuzzle has a good reputation and right side of London. If he agrees that the car needs a new box, he can also source it for you.

https://www.skuzzle.com/