Hello all,
I though it right to add a few words together regards the recent EQW Gearbox removal. Firstly I must add that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the standard 'box being removed and this venture was purely out of an economical solution for the planned annual mileage I commute. This topic was discussed earlier on within this thread where to me, it was clear I had 4 options available for me to consider:
- Swap to a 6-speed 'box. Should I choose a 6-speed 'box then it would have been the MYP variant due to being totally happy with the performance of the same 'box fitting to Project OEM. Unfortunately this option was rejected due to the costs involved to adapt the EQW and MYP 'boxes to suit this Mk20 ABS Module A2. The figured quoted to mate the EQW and MPY parts was around £1250 plus the initial outlay of a MYP 'box.
- The second option was to investigate adding the euro-conversion which adds the 6th gear to the standard EQW 'box. This was also rejected due to this modification being about the economical gains and this was more expensive the option 1 above.
- The option of fitting a MZN 'box did appeal to me as there is some great information available on here regards the use of this gearbox and of course it can be found for little money compared to a 6-speed 'box. After having used the MYP 'box for so long in Project OEM I really have got on with the ratio offered in 6th and knew the ratio in 5th in the MZN isn't quite as economical. Remembering this modification is all about MPG/economy this option was also rejected but it received a strong silver medal.
- The most obvious option to me was to further investigate the JDD gearbox, mainly due to the ratio it offers in 5th being so close to 6th in the MYP 'box; remembering this venture is all centred around the best possible MPG I could gain during the planned annual mileage. Having already digested the JDD comments and content on the clubs pages relating to the JDD 'box, I was aware of the potential gaps between some of the gears that can be assisted by a remap I started searching for a suitable low mileage JDD gearbox to be installed in this lovely A2.
Back in February the search commenced and not long afterwards a suitable low mileage candidate that was available on eBay for £150 (delivered) was located. A cheeky offer of £100 (delivered) was subsequently accepted, 3 days later it arrived on a pallet ready to be placed in the boot and taken to a local member for the preparation works to begin. During the preparation stage a new seal along with fresh fluid was added:
The amazing guide on the JDD installation provided by Kraig
@kraig22 was utilised:
Good day all I wanted to help out the forum , so I've done a write up for the Jdd conversion on the 1.4 tdi Let's begin the mods to the Jdd box First you will need to remove two clunks of material one on the side gear mount The next chunk is the lower dog bone mount . Next you will need two...
www.a2oc.net
I knew the guide was followed to the letter as the actual member who produced the above guide was the very same person conducting the preparations along with installation for me. Thank you so much Kraig. Your time, knowledge and friendship is of course always appreciated. You'll not be surprised to read that the gearbox has been performing perfectly the last month or so. You Sir are an absolute legend.
The preparatory works were completed by Kraig in a very quick time and all that was required was a date to be set for the actual installation to commence. Due to commitments and availability the installation was some months later but of course worth the wait...
This brings us to early August where I dropped EUD off at
@kraig22 Towers. the following evening the phone rang to let me know the car sporting the economical JDD gearbox conversion was ready for collection. Super chuffed with the service provided, again many thanks Kraig.
Some of you who have read up the benefits of the JDD gearbox will know that it is of course quite economical, I have personally been experiencing some 50-70 miles further on a 34L tanks which is just awesome. There are a couple of noticeable gaps between the gears but nothing you wouldn't be accustomed to in a matters days driving around, to me totally useable along my commute and local errands .
As stated earlier, I really like the MYP 'box in Project OEM and thought I preferred the shorter shift pattern but after jumping in that A2 last week I can confirm that I truly prefer the feel of the standard EQW/JDD shift pattern in comparison. That said I'd not discard the idea of a switch to a MYP 'box in this A2 in a few years if a bargain MYP presented itself along with a more economical conversion was available; probably not going to happen though. For now I'm absolutely chuffed with how the JDD feels, responds and of course how much more I get from a tank whilst driving exactly the same throughout my commute.
So what financial benefits can I expect? These are my rough calculations (and will be rough as I try not to do math in public) that have been put together and will of course be specific to my driving style (frugal) and financial outlay. Anyone reading this who decides upon this conversion with probably have varying figures:
£100 JDD gearbox
£20 2x 1L gearbox oil
£10 New genuine seal (might have been £20 but cannot find the invoice)
£50 preparations and installation fees
£180 all in to purchase and a friend to conduct the install for me.
So far I have seen a 50-70 mile increase over a full tank and should this continue to be the case then based on this mileage increase, after some 9 tanks I should have a clocked up enough miles to consider I've benefitted from a free full tank. I generally fill up 3 times over 2 weeks therefore in 6 weeks, by the mileage achieved I gain this free tank of fuel compared to running an EQW 'box. By the time I've used up my third free full tank (some 18 weeks) then the gearbox has more than paid for itself and thereafter I'll be reaping the financial benefits of the conversion, remember that these figures are rough and can easily go up or down due to many contributing factors, either way though, for me this has got to be a positive financial outcome.
I truly cannot thank Kraig enough for the time spent on his back in the rain underneath this A2 when he could have been relaxing with his lovely family. Thanks mate.
Kind regards,
Tom
this is going to be an unreal machine. Think there is one for sale still in Bradford.....I mustn't
I've seen him on fb
