Transmission advice needed: New Lada or Rebuilt OE

[kmoses]

I am going to purchase a replacement 5-speed transmission. The choices are new Lada or remanufactured OE from one of the following vendors (Auto Ricambi, Midwest-Bayless, Vicks). The question is, what route to take. My transmission will not shift into 1st., has a whine that gets louder as the engine RPM goes up in neutral, second, third, fifth and wants to pop out of fourth gear (other than that it works great).
I want a quiet, well shifting transmission. If you have purchased a new Lada or a reman. from one of the big three Fiat vendors, please let me know what you purchased, who you purchased from and if you are happy with the transmission you purchased. Thanks!

[klweimer]

Or, if you're up for an adventure, you could rebuild it. Lots of good info on the forum, and the factory service manual is pretty good if you get a nice clean copy.

I'll be interested to see what people say about the big 3 options.

Kirk

[kmoses]

I have rebuilt everything else but the transmission and the rear differential. I'm taking a shortcut and buying a ready to install transmission!

[kmoses]

I know someone is purchasing rebuilt OE and Lada 5-speed transmissions, one of our vendors told me he is selling about 20 Lada transmissions a month.

[vandor]

> one of our vendors told me he is selling about 20 Lada transmissions a month.

Hahaha! I think someone is pulling your leg! No way any vendor is selling that many, the market is not that big.

On the Lada transmission the shifter comes out much farther forward than on the 124 unit, so it necessitates the use of a weird, long, S-shaped shift lever. Not ideal...
The new Polski Fiat transmission we sell uses the stock Spider shifter extension, so everything bolts up just like on a stock 124 trans.

[kmoses]

What is the feedback on the new Polski Fiat transmissions you sell at AR? Are they holding up well, what if any are the most common complaints? Also are any of the racers using them on their track cars?

[vandor]

It would not make sense for a racer to use one, for racing the stock 5th is better, as it is closer to the 4th gear ratio. For street, however, the longer 5th of the Polski box is best. The feedback is happiness

[dom]

Is it true that the tranny from a 69 spider has a taller 5th gear?

[vandor]

No, it has a shorter one. 0.91. Later ones are 0.88.

[SeattleSpider]

I had a transmission go out last summer and did some research prior to buying a new one. It was either a Lada from Vick's, or a Polski from Auto Ricambi. I heard bad things about the Lada, mainly there is an issue with the linkage fitting. Also, a minor issue is that there is no "lock out" for reverse. I bought the Polski and so far am very happy with it. Went right in. Did this in January and have not driven it much but so far my only complaint is that the syncros are a little tight (I assume that they will loosen up with time and use). Everything else is great!

Two other points: (1) The transmission was actually a little dirty inside. Make sure you open it up and clean it well.

(2) Csaba and his partner at Auto Ricambi were a pleasure to deal with. Based upon my experience I plan to make them my "go-to" for parts from here on out.

[djape1977]

lada gearbox is perfectly fine, provided it's not a chinese piece of shit modern copy. yes, believe it or not, chinese make whole gearboxes for ladas these days, complete shit quality, lasts about 5000 miles and cost is around 250$ in europe.
HOWEVER, lada gearbox can't be equipped with 124's remote shifter, completely different rear gearbox housing. it fits only early 4 speed spiders. all 5 speed 124 spiders have remote shifter. lada gearbox puts shift lever about 15cm forward compared to 124's 5speed. i guess awkward S shaped gear lever could work...

polski gearbox - again, same problem as with lada. wrong shifter position. this can be made right, unlike with lada gearbox, by mixing parts of your old original gearbox and polski gearbox. rear housing, remote shifter and pushrods inside must be transfered from fiat 5speed into polski 5 speed.

both lada and polski have 0.82 5th gear ratio, but only polski 5th speed can be slotted into fiat gearbox.

polski gearbox is closer to fiat then lada gearbox. lada gearbox is a sort of separate evolutionary branch.

both eastern block gearboxes are comarable to fiat's in quality. not better no worse.
late polski gearboxes, just near the end of production in year 2002, had a significant upgrade in gears design which makes them considerably quieter then original fiat gearboxes

[davery]

I have rebuilt everything else but the transmission and the rear differential. I'm taking a shortcut and buying a ready to install transmission!

How about sending it out to be rebuilt?

[kmoses]

I decided to purchase a transmission rebuilt by John Logan through Midwest-Bayless. The transmission was shipped quickly, very well packaged and came with the bellhousing installed and the shifter extention. I hope to have it in this weekend, if the local shop gets my flywheel surfaced and balanced in a timely manner. My decision to go with Midwest-Bayless came down to John's great reputation and that no core was required. Keeping my old transmission will give me a chance to try rebuilding one while still driving and enjoying my car.

[baltobernie]

both lada and polski have 0.82 5th gear ratio, but only polski 5th speed can be slotted into fiat gearbox.

That 0.82 fifth gear is the cat's pajamas. 65 MPH @ 3,000 RPM with stock tires and 3.90 axle. You wouldn't think a 7 MPH improvement would be that significant, but it is.

[djape1977]

1979 lada with 4.1 diff and 0.82 fifth gear, 155kph (96mph) at 4.500rpm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeGNb0diYvQ