Technical 131 Gearbox swap

[Twink80]

I stumbled on this and its a really well article on swapping the std 124 gearbox for a 131/Brava 5 speed
It also turns out this mod had been done to my car before I bought it. The good points were the rare Abarth shifter was fitted, the bad points were the sheet metal mods to the trans tunnel weren’t!! The carpet was just flopped over an open hole above the transmission so you could see the gearbox when the flap was lifted!

Great article well worth a read on the Fiat Mirafiori site. Finding a 131 gearbox on the other hand……..good luck!

Fiat 124-131 Transmission Swap FAQ

Date: 10/07/2005
Subject: Fiat 124, Installing a 131/Brava 5 speed transmission.
Resources: Mirafiori forum members and first hand experience.

 

[bugsymike]

I stumbled on this and its a really well article on swapping the std 124 gearbox for a 131/Brava 5 speed
It also turns out this mod had been done to my car before I bought it. The good points were the rare Abarth shifter was fitted, the bad points were the sheet metal mods to the trans tunnel weren’t!! The carpet was just flopped over an open hole above the transmission so you could see the gearbox when the flap was lifted!

Great article well worth a read on the Fiat Mirafiori site. Finding a 131 gearbox on the other hand……..good luck!

Fiat 124-131 Transmission Swap FAQ

Date: 10/07/2005
Subject: Fiat 124, Installing a 131/Brava 5 speed transmission.
Resources: Mirafiori forum members and first hand experience.

I can't remember if they did a five speed RWD Lada gearbox which may be still available, as most of it was Fiat 124 based.I rebuilt a few whilst working at a Lada Dealership, but I don't recall any major engineering flaws, but it was a long time ago.

 

[124BC1]

I stumbled on this and its a really well article on swapping the std 124 gearbox for a 131/Brava 5 speed
It also turns out this mod had been done to my car before I bought it. The good points were the rare Abarth shifter was fitted, the bad points were the sheet metal mods to the trans tunnel weren’t!!

If I am remembering correctly, only the 131 Sport/Racing 2 litre version of the 131 had the Abarth shifter as standard.
But iirc this was almost the same design as the extension housing and it's gearchange internals as used on the 124 Sport/Spider 5 speed transmission in the 1970's to early '80's. (afaik, the 2 extension housings are not interchangeable, 131 gearboxes are very different to 124 'boxes, Pininfarina Spiders from c.'83? to '85 used 131 type 'boxes).

A useful mod to do on the 124 Sport/Spider transmission is to reduce the height of the standard/stock gear lever/stick by iirc approx 50mm - this makes it feel just like the 131 Sport/Racing Abarth shifter in use i.e. slightly shorter throw but with a slightly heavier action.

 

[bugsymike]

A useful mod to do on the 124 Sport/Spider transmission is to reduce the height of the standard/stock gear lever/stick by iirc approx 50mm - this makes it feel just like the 131 Sport/Racing Abarth shifter in use i.e. slightly shorter throw but with a slightly heavier action.

I recall shortening the gear lever was a popular cheap mod on many cars in the early 70s, also conversely a gear lever extension from memory used on classic minis along with a similar length extension to the front mounts of the drivers seat to allow a more stretched out driving position for taller drivers.