New Transmission

[SeattleSpider]

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.

[BERGFIAT]

I have the Lada version. It has a funky shift lever that you don't really see. It shifts better than you would think. My problem with the Vick's version I bought is that the shifter didn't quite fit through the factory console trim. Vick's thinks its trans or motor mounts that are bad. I think that the shifter doesn't go back far enough and I'm going to extend it about an inch. You will love the new 5th gear. The Auto Ricambi version would be the way I would go for the reason above.

[SeattleSpider]

Thanks BERGFIAT, I am leaning that way. Hoping to hear from someone who bought the AutoRicambi transmission. ScubaChris bought one in late July/early August of this year and liked it when it was installed. I replied to his post and am hoping to hear back from him how he likes it after a month of use.

[joelittel]

Bergfiat, can you elaborate on your comment, "you'll love the new 5th gear"

[ekstrandt]

I just had this transmission installed. I only have 100 miles on it but my opinion is that the new 5th gear is what the car should have had from the factory. The rpms are right around 3000-3200 for 55-65 mph. It installed just like original no modification needed. When it comes from autoricambi it will have an "old" tailhousing. They explained that it had to be changed as what comes from Poland does not work. Anyway very happy so far as my old transmission was shot. If you are in the market for a new transmission I think this is the way to go.

[SeattleSpider]

Thanks for your response. I went ahead and bought the Polski transmission from AutoRicambi about a week ago, and it should be arriving tomorrow. Looking forward to the new 5th gear.

Wish I could say my old transmission was shot. It seemed fine. Had about 100,000 on it. Then had 'catastrophic' failure (loss a couple of teeth) in the middle of a road trip about 1,000 miles from home. Small-town Wyoming - needless to say: no Fiat shops; no Fiat parts.

[AriK]

My worst nightmare, a breakdown as such 1000 miles from home. How did you proceed from there?

[SeattleSpider]

Well, "catastrophic' perhaps was too strong a word. I had knocking in gears 1-3 & 5. It seems 4th gear is on another shaft. I managed to drive 3-4 hours further to Ft. Collins, Colorado in 4th gear (was on the way to my niece's wedding). Car-pooled from there to the wedding in Estes Park.

I was now over 1,200 miles from home and decided that counting on 4th gear all the way might be a little too much. Rented a 10' U-Haul van (no one will rent you anything smaller to tow a vehicle) and a tow dolly and towed her home.