hey guys dose anybodt rate these boxes behind CA18det or 13b ? thinking of buying one to put behind one of these engines or should i keep the gearboxes matching original?

I was running the W58 with the 13B extend and its gear changes where superior
to the standard rx5 box by miles. I wished the ca18det could run a W series.

they are a nice gearbox. I've had a couple over the years, in toranas with turbo 6s. I know of people who have broken them with 253s. if I recall most of them wrecked 2nd gear. I dunno if that is the weak link (it's still strong, just the weakest relatively in the box perhaps) or whetheer or not it takes the biggest stress, the 1-2 full power upshift (they might go easy on first to launch without too much wheelspin, slipping the clutch a little, but the 1-2 shift is as quick as possible by most people).

I never broke one, and was running motors that made a lot of torque at full boost. I think that as long as you are considerate (not slow, just practical/reasonable) on the upshifts and don't side step the clutch with a lot of revs on board in first off the line, and it'd be fine in those appplications. If you tend to be harder off the line and so forth, they'd be borderline imo.

thanks guys im really considering getting one now but dam these prices are well over what i expected so im looking at a second hand one, how can i tell if the gearbox is worn, blown, poor shift changes. what do i look for as i have never used it but dont want to buy a dud...

cheers guys

without taking it apart you're really going to have to be lucky to get any sort of a read on its condition. On the off chance that they didn't drain the oil out ofit (which means they'd likely have to have a spare yoke to plug into the extension housing/output shaft to prevent it leaking at a minimum) you could drain it through a funnel/strainer, and look for metal particles.

Another (not perfectly reliable) yardstick can be to look at the rear tyres/general condition/etc of the other cars the person has at their house when you go to pick it up. If the rest of the cars have been thrashed relentlessly, it's probably a sign that they did the same to the gearbox. There are exceptions, and i know of people who abuse the daylights out of their a-b work hack vehicle, and treat their project car like royalty.

I suppose the only other option is to get a price on any gaskets/seals that would need to be replaced if the gearbox was dismantled, and work out an offer to make with the seller - along the lines of being able ot strip it down, get it inspected by a gearbox rebuilder (or yourself, whoever) and assessed, then re-assembled as is with new gaskets. Its not as common with gearboxes, but there have been a few unfinished project type engines where the seller has advertised that they are willing to tear down the engine for buyer inspection if the buyer shows up with a gasket set. Generally speaking such willingness is a good sign of an honest seller.