Hi,
My 1800box in my kombi is on its very last legs and i am looking for a replacement ASAP, i have heard that a 2lt box is not as durable and that i should stick to a 1800.
my questions:
is is this true? (See paragraph above )
would it be a good idea to buy a re-con box or pay to have my original box re-coned?
i have a 1800 motor so will there be any benifit in getting a bigger box?
or is there a downside to getting a smaller one?
then would i also have to change my clutch plate too?
i know from changing my beetles that there is the 2 sizes the 180mm and the 200mm, are kombi's the same?
Cheers!

The 1800 has a 4.86 rp where the 2l has a 4.56 rp. The 2l means lower revs on the highway, but less revs/for climbing hills obviously.

The two boxes are similar in strength, but the 2l is slightly stronger due to the tall rp.
I have an 1800 box behind a Subaru in my buggy and it's fine with the extra output (150hp+) so don't worry about your stock 1800.
You can pick 1800 boxes 2nd hand for as little $150 from wrecker, I've picked up two that way. I had mine rebuilt and it cost $600. But that was a few years back.

2l litre boxes go for $500 for a crap one. Then you have to rebuild them.

A reco is between $600-1200 I understand. Volksbahn in Sydney is a gearbox reco-ing specialist, Indian, Custom offroad, Shimmo, or a variety of others can do it well too. Volksbahn replace every part that can be worn in normal use, but it's not cheap and you need an old one for exchange.

In short,
If you plan to keep ya car stock and for a long time, get a fully recoed 1800 box. If you are getting rid of it soon or don't have much cash, risk a 2nd handy from a wrecker, change the oil and add Nulon gearbox treatment. For both of these options I'd get an anti-flog out plate from indian. They go between the nose-cone and the housing and stop 1800 boxes flogging out the housing, apparently that can be an issue. They are a thin steel plate and only cost $20. Kimm swears by them. I have one myself.

If you are going to upgrade to a 2l engine or you do lots of highway driving with not much load, then it might be worth getting a 2l box, bearing in mind that this is the most expensive option. Probably be cheapest to buy a complete wreck with the 2l motor/gearbox and doing a transplant.

thanks for the info pete, i guess i have some ringing around to do.

i drive the konbi everywhere atm, its my daiily driver but i soon (ETA is 3weeks) will have my bug back on the road and it will then be used only for little trips away and when i need the room that the kombi gives me.
i plan on keeping both my vw's forever, and in another year or 2 i want to take my kombi around aust so i dont mind forking out a bit more if it means that in the long term i will be able to take it everywhere.
i guess thats why i wasnt sure about which box to get.
so i guess that if i plan to use it mainly on longer driver you would suggest going for the 2ltr?
any other advice is very welcome.
thankyou.

NeSs.

The 2L box is different. It is stronger in nearly all aspects.

I had to get an 1800 gb at short notice b/c I was about to leave for a trip from Melbourne to Brisbane. It went well on that trip but I have changed back to a 2l for several reasons:

- The 2l keeps the revs down on the highway.
- The 1800 is slightly shorter so my gearstick was closer to the dash!
- if/when I get a more powerful donk the 2l is the way to go

I got a good 2ndhand 2l box for $400 so you can be lucky.

The flywheels are different sizes - the 2l is bigger. But you can swap bell housings between the 1800 and 2l boxes to accommodate any combination.

PS. The 1800 gearbox is for sale!

Our bus has a 2L box, and there was no difference in length between that and the 1800 box.

We are running a 215mm clutch and 1800 bellhousing as the motor was an 1800. Now it is going to be Subaru 2.2L I am glad we have the 2L box. I just got the 2L box fully rebuilt and it cost over $1200. That included a new crown wheel and pinion on the diff. The guy who did the rebuild explained all of the differences between the 2L and 1800 and basically the 2L is superior in almost every way.

Who did the rebuild?

Volkwerke in Greensborough. Thoroughly recommended for gearbox rebuilds. Even though I don't take anything else there, he is set up to do VW gearboxes, knows them well, can supply all of the parts, and is a good communicator.

thanks for the help guys, i have been on the fone most of the day with everyone in the greater syd region who i know knows vw's and have been quoted about $1500 to $2000 for everything (this includes labour)
but big differences come if they are using new parts or other replacment parts when re-coing the g/box. basically if its just the bearings it will fall in that price range and if i have to get a new crown wheel and pinion, the price goes up another 500 bux or so, also been asking about the difference between the boxes and it seems that there i quite a difference in opinion as to which is better the 1800 or the 2ltr.
thank you all for your help, i have 2 weeks to think about it before my tax comes back and i can afford it, so i will keep you guys posted.