New transmission=fun driving

[scubachris]

I forgot how fun it is to drive my car with a working transmission. Just got it back yesterday after my my transmission mechanics guys installed a new transmission form Autoricambia. Besides Allison Automotive, these guys are the tits.

A Fiat haiku
Leaves fall to the ground
a fiat growls menacingly
I laugh with delight

God bless Fiat and Balvenie!

[SeattleSpider]

I am a new member and just added my first post (aside from the intro post) about these new transmissions and would love your input. Here is my post:

I have a 1980 Spider that I have been fixing up over the years and love to take road-trips in it. This summer I decided to see the Rockies: Glacier, Yellowstone, the Tetons, Rocky Mountain National Park. Everything was going great until . . . I lost some teeth in my transmission in small-town Wyoming - AH!

I am now looking at rebuilding or replacing the transmission. I have looked at the Lada Niva transmission being sold by Vicks, and the Polski Fiat transmission being sold by AutoRicambi and am wondering if anybody can give me an idea of their comparative worth. I am told the Lada Niva is a toughened transmission, but that there are some adaptation issues. The Polaski appears to be a bolt in. In both you use your existing bellhousing; in the Polaski you use your existing shifter box/extension (?). Any word from people who have purchased either of these. Any thoughts generally would be helpful.

[vandor]

Fwiw the Lada Niva used the same transmission as the other rear wheel drive Ladas, and if you do research on the Niva you will find that the transmission is considered a weak point.