Can someone tell me what i need for sure 100% to swap to something with low range or dual range. I have a 1980 brat 1.6. 4speed single range with top mount starter do i need diffrent bellhousing or what???

you will need a whole ea81 or ea71 fat case engine to go with a 5spd, a driveshaft, and clutch/flywheel. 

Could u use my shaft and cut it down? Or splines diffrent?

The top mount starter is the issue. The 5 spd trans will bolt in, but not the top starter engine. A ea81 or later model ea71(86 hatch) has the side mount starter.

 

I am trying to remember bellhousing swap. The bell comes off the engine, but i believe it swaps between ea81 and ea71 fat case. I am not familiar with teh earliest gen of ea71/ea81, someone will chime in

 

Otherwise, if you swap in a 5spd, it will share the same 23 spline axle if it is from a n/a model. There may be clearance issie in the trans tunnel for the rear (BFH).

 

Otherwise, ea82 hardware swaps into an ea81 body.

The EA71 bell housing can only be swaped between the late and early EA71, bolt holes are different for the EA81.

 

To use your current driveshaft you would have to get it lengthened as the five speed gearbox is shorter than the four.

 

I believe the five speed may cause some clearance issues with the steering shaft in a 1980 Brat.The dual range four speed and EA81 just barely fit and the five speed box is s fair bit wider near the bell housing.

 

There is a write-up in the Historic forum that had pics from a member who did this swap.

Edited September 23, 201312 yr by Leeroy

Do could i just swap housing to use dual range trans? I have top mount starter

To put a dual range gearbox on your 1600 you will need the fat case bell housing. All dual range gearboxes (4 and 5) have a side mount starter.

 

Simplest would be a four speed but you will have to muck around with the shift levers or find the shifters from a 1981 EA81/dual range Gen 1 Brat.

Edited September 23, 201312 yr by Leeroy

Ok i just had heard i couldnt just do a bellhousing swap

If you can find the housing from a fat case EA71 you can.

 

Easier to swap to EA81 engine with 5spd dual range.  Easier because easier to find.  fat case EA71 not very many in hatches only mostly 2wd

Edited September 23, 201312 yr by Gloyale

Would it be hard to find ea81 and trans