Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

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Citisport007
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Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by Citisport007 »

Good Day

I have an ABF setup in my mk1 with the FFZ gearbox. Car is driving fine it just feel that the gears is to short.

Is this normal for the FFZ or would you guys recommend another box.

Thank you in advance!!!
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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by SykomantiS »

Why not use the 6 speed Touran TDI box?
It has the same 1st four gears, longer 5th, and a 6th. Not sure what the box model number is though.

edit: not sure if the box I'm comparing it to is the FFZ, but I know it's the one used in the 1.4 citi (somewhere 2000 onwards I think)
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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by Boost »

Wouldnt the 02j or 02A box work?


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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by Torker »

What are you looking for - longer ratios through the gears or more relaxed cruising in 5th?
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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by MOST WANTED »

The ffz is fine. Just change the 5th to a longer ratio

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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by Citisport007 »

Longer ratios through the gears especially 3rd!!!
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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by Torker »

Citisport007 wrote:Longer ratios through the gears especially 3rd!!!
You can keep the FFZ ratios and change the final drive to 3.67 (eg AEN), that will give long ratios. Unfortunately the majority of 020 rod shift boxes have short ratios, similar to the FFZ so the solution is to customise the box for longer ratios. What wheels and tyres are you running?
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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by King8v »

Torker wrote:
Citisport007 wrote:Longer ratios through the gears especially 3rd!!!
You can keep the FFZ ratios and change the final drive to 3.67 (eg AEN), that will give long ratios. Unfortunately the majority of 020 rod shift boxes have short ratios, similar to the FFZ so the solution is to customise the box for longer ratios. What wheels and tyres are you running?
So swithching the final drive to the AEN one, makes for longer ratios throughout? And if you want just a longer 5th, then you swop out just that one? Which one to?
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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by Citisport007 »

@ Torker

195/50/15
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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by duncan »

Citisport, I was about to make the exact same thread.. I've got a stock ABF-ffz in a mk1 also and I find 1st-3rd gear/s are way to quick.... Where u from?
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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by Torker »

This will be the speeds through the gears with your setup - looking at 3rd gear, 7000rpm = 140km/h. I actually made my 2nd/3rd and 4th gear shorter in my ABF GT.

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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by blacfly »

What would be the best setup to do about 130km/h at or under 3500rpm?

And is this a good idea?

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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by Citisport007 »

Yes Torker

Can you post one of an AUG
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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by duncan »

Torker wrote:This will be the speeds through the gears with your setup - looking at 3rd gear, 7000rpm = 140km/h. I actually made my 2nd/3rd and 4th gear shorter in my ABF GT.

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Damn this looks complicated, I dont have a brain for those figures... Torker is that diagram of a FFZ box?

What boxes do you have in your cars Torker? specify motor and box please.
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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by missioner »

There are alternatives to the ever popular FFZ, first is the original box that was in the MK II Jumbo 16v, IMO probably the best choice, except they are very rare. The other one is the G3 GTi box. Both of these are 020 gearboxes and will be plug and play, so to speak. An 02A box can be fitted but will need cable gearshift mechanical to go with and a modded gearbox mounting, which is money I would rather spend putting in a LSD to keep all those lovely ABF ponies on the road.
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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by mojo786 »

Torker wrote:This will be the speeds through the gears with your setup - looking at 3rd gear, 7000rpm = 140km/h. I actually made my 2nd/3rd and 4th gear shorter in my ABF GT.
I also did that when I broke my ffz,shorter gears mean losing less rpm on high rpm changes kEeping power band healthy..next is longer 5th gear 4.2 diff and LS :evil:
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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by Torker »

Citisport007 wrote:Yes Torker

Can you post one of an AUG
Sorry don't have the AUG gearbox, if you give me the ratios I make one.

Edit - I'm lying, found this for AUG:

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Last edited by Torker on Sat Apr 05, 2014 7:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by King8v »

King8v wrote:
Torker wrote:
Citisport007 wrote:Longer ratios through the gears especially 3rd!!!
You can keep the FFZ ratios and change the final drive to 3.67 (eg AEN), that will give long ratios. Unfortunately the majority of 020 rod shift boxes have short ratios, similar to the FFZ so the solution is to customise the box for longer ratios. What wheels and tyres are you running?
So swithching the final drive to the AEN one, makes for longer ratios throughout? And if you want just a longer 5th, then you swop out just that one? Which one to?
Did you see this one Torker? Sorry i wanna get my box sorted at some point, and want to know what im talking about. :grin:
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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by Torker »

duncan wrote:
Damn this looks complicated, I dont have a brain for those figures... Torker is that diagram of a FFZ box?

What boxes do you have in your cars Torker? specify motor and box please.
I've got FFZ/AEN short ratio gearboxes in both my GT's, the ABF got standard 3.94 final drive but the 16V got 4.25 short final drive, better suited for drag racing.
Current rides:

VW Golf - 83 GT 2.1 16V 2-door with throttles
VW Golf - 78 LS 2.0 8V 4-door (2.1 ABF with throttles in progress)
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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by Torker »

King8v wrote:
King8v wrote:
Torker wrote:
Citisport007 wrote:Longer ratios through the gears especially 3rd!!!
You can keep the FFZ ratios and change the final drive to 3.67 (eg AEN), that will give long ratios. Unfortunately the majority of 020 rod shift boxes have short ratios, similar to the FFZ so the solution is to customise the box for longer ratios. What wheels and tyres are you running?
So swithching the final drive to the AEN one, makes for longer ratios throughout? And if you want just a longer 5th, then you swop out just that one? Which one to?
Did you see this one Torker? Sorry i wanna get my box sorted at some point, and want to know what im talking about. :grin:
Let me have a look at the ratios and draw up a couple of graphs.

If you swap in a longer final drive, all the ratios will be longer. When I had my first FFZ/AEN gearbox built I used the remaining stuff to built an AEN/FFZ hybrid - basically the opposite as my short ratio gearbox. I sold it to one of the guys on the forum that put it in his 2.0 Jetta 2. It had AEN 1st and 5th, FFZ 2nd, 3rd and 4th and AEN diff.

Image

Straight AEN gearbox will work as well, the 5th is pretty long...

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Current rides:

VW Golf - 83 GT 2.1 16V 2-door with throttles
VW Golf - 78 LS 2.0 8V 4-door (2.1 ABF with throttles in progress)
VW Golf - '08 Citi Storm - 1.4 for now
Hyundai - 1.4 Getz (daily)
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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by King8v »

Thanks a lot bud. Just to get an indication, what does it cost to get such work done? I know thats like asking how long a piece of string is, but just so i can get an idea.
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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by duncan »

Back to the initial question.... Best gearbox for ABF MK1? I don't think at this time I would actually have a box built/switching of gears/diff.

Refering to a complete gearbox as is, which would be best suited?
Citisport007 wrote:Good Day

I have an ABF setup in my mk1 with the FFZ gearbox. Car is driving fine it just feel that the gears is to short.

Is this normal for the FFZ or would you guys recommend another box.

Thank you in advance!!!
Since I tunned my car I took on a buddy of mine lastnight, identical motors/cars (mk1), same KW bracket, same rims even to the exact same tyres except that hes running AUG and me FFZ.

Results: 1st & 2nd gear neck on neck, 3rd gear he leaves me behind about a 2 car gap then thats how it'll stay right through till 5 gear and don't tell me its driving. NB hes box has NOT been modified!

AUG/FFZ/DDG, what else is there?
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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by Citisport007 »

So Torker witch box would you recommend?
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Re: Best Gearbox for an ABF mk1

Post by Torker »

Citisport007 wrote:So Torker witch box would you recommend?
For a daily a FFZ/AEN hybrid with 3.94 diff, for a track toy FFZ/AEN hybrid with 4.25 diff.
Current rides:

VW Golf - 83 GT 2.1 16V 2-door with throttles
VW Golf - 78 LS 2.0 8V 4-door (2.1 ABF with throttles in progress)
VW Golf - '08 Citi Storm - 1.4 for now
Hyundai - 1.4 Getz (daily)
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