Thread: SIII 1978 SWB Hard Top

Originally Posted by Shonky

I like!

Whats the gearbox like?

LOL - I honestly couldn't say! I've driven it a fair bit now, but unfortunately I lack something to compare it to...

I would say it's ok. I think.

Fair enough.

I think generally they will start jumping out of gear first, and then after you drive them around like that for a while longer () things start making expensive noises.

Someone who is more in tune with Full synchro boxes will no doubt correct me if I am wrong though.

What are you doing on Saturday arvo/evening? I'll be driving up the Hume from Melbourne so will go almost past your place...

Thanks for the warning!

I'm 5 minutes from the Sutton Forest McDonald's/servo so I'll check what I'm up to...

Wouldn't replacing a rear diff be a nice break on that trip?

Speaking of which, I've looked at it and there appears to be a large metal thingamajig moving around quite freely in the pumpkin (I hope my auto slang is up to speed)...

Alrighty... I dunno when I will be passing through but if its a reasonable hour I might say G'Day.

I'll PM you details.

Didn't get a chance to take it apart this afternoon, will go at it first thing tomorrow.

I did take this picture though;



What's the story with the dents coming out on the right, and the small hole (punched out by something?)

Originally Posted by Shonky

... ... ....
I think generally they will start jumping out of gear first, and then after you drive them around like that for a while longer () things start making expensive noises.

Someone who is more in tune with Full synchro boxes will no doubt correct me if I am wrong though.
... ... .....

It doesn't always develop that way.
When I bought my Series III, it was jumping out of third. I replaced a few of the less expensive bits in the gearbox. That reduced, but didn't eliminate the problem. It continued like that for about 200,000km with no change and no more attention to the gearbox apart from replacing the seals on the selector shafts and replacing the pin that stops the gear lever rotating. I just learned to hold it in third. I believe Panda has developed the same technique.

So just because it jumps out of gear doesn't necessarily mean it will proceed to fall apart.

I think Series III gearboxes get a lot of undeserved bad press.

Nice one mate, I just got a Series 3 myself and they are cool.
Yours is the same color too, go the baby-**** brown.:

Im sure someone with more tech knowledge than me will give a thorough answer but that diff looks well rooted to me!
The dents coming OUT cannot be good..

BTW, that switch looks more like a fuel tank switch or something to me, not battery.
Are there wires or hoses coming out the back?

There are 3 large wires that come out the back of the panel...