1.1 speedo gear fix?

[PROPEL]

My 1.1L transmissions all suffer from the same problem with their speedo drivegear input unit... age and oil has caused the plastic sleeve/spindle inside the housing to break off or split, and that prevents the speedo cable from turning. I doubt that a new replacement part is still available. So has anyone found a way to repair this piece or replace it with a steel sleeve or something? TIA.

[Gumby]

I've never touched a 1.1 before but I am sure a replacement can be made.

Shoot me a picture of the broken part (maybe tape it together?). I am sure that it can either be machined or if need be that a small mold can be made.

[opelgt73]

My 1.1L transmissions all suffer from the same problem with their speedo drivegear input unit... age and oil has caused the plastic sleeve/spindle inside the housing to break off or split, and that prevents the speedo cable from turning. I doubt that a new replacement part is still available. So has anyone found a way to repair this piece or replace it with a steel sleeve or something? TIA.

I've been kinda wondering about this too as the one I have is cracked. I am switching the rear end to a 3.89 ratio (from the stock 4.11). So I need to either find one made for the 3.89 ratio, which I think will be impossible, or have one custom fabricated.

[PROPEL]

So I need to either find one made for the 3.89 ratio, which I think will be impossible, or have one custom fabricated.

When I can figure out how to remove the access plug (opposite the drivegear), I'll be able to remove the gear to inspect it. I just wanted to see if there was any fix or replacement before I tried prying it out. Chris, my transmissions are GT-specific, so they are already calibrated for 3.89s. Perhaps we could use a broken one as a starting point?

How are you switching the 4.11s over to 3.89s? (It would also be possible to use a 1.9L axle and drop in Isuzu 3.90s.)

[PROPEL]

Diagram of the part in question...

[opelgt73]

hris, my transmissions are GT-specific, so they are already calibrated for 3.89s. Perhaps we could use a broken one as a starting point?

How are you switching the 4.11s over to 3.89s? (It would also be possible to use a 1.9L axle and drop in Isuzu 3.90s.)

Well I was under the understanding that the 1.1L GT has a 4.11 rear end and the 1.1L Kadett had a 3.89. So I sourced a Kadett 1.1L rear end.

[GTJIM]

"Everything takes longer to make and costs more."

The small size of the gear leads people to grossly underestimate the amount of work and time required to make one.

First, it is quite difficult to get the correct specifications from a worn or broken part - the helix angle and tooth profile of the gear has to be correct for it to work properly ... it takes the correct gear cutter and very specialist tooling to cut such a gear - even when the specs are known.

Say 4 hours to set up and cut the gear ... at a gear cutter's charge-out rate of $100 an hour - that is $400 just to get the gear cut ...

Probably well worth trying Anthont Drosos (sp?) - the Opel Parts Guy from Greece - to see it he has any NOS ones!

I could see a one-off unit costing between $800 - $1,000 to get it custom made - and that is providing a gear cutter could be found to do the job in the first place!

[Gumby]

Diagram of the part in question...

It looks like it can probably be made out of UHMW without much trouble. It's easy to machine, quite strong for a plastic, and chemically resistant to motor oils. Are you able to make up some drawings of the sleeve?

[Gumby]

I've been kinda wondering about this too as the one I have is cracked. I am switching the rear end to a 3.89 ratio (from the stock 4.11). So I need to either find one made for the 3.89 ratio, which I think will be impossible, or have one custom fabricated.

Try looking in Europe. I've seen a couple of different NOS after market gear ratios for the 1.1 rearend up on the German eBay recently. It seems those parts are more available than a 4.11 gear for the 1.9L cars. Expect shipping to run 130 - 200 dollars depending on where you are. It is also probably worthwhile to check in with GTJIM's suggestion since even if the guy doesn't have it he can probably get it without much trouble.

[opelgt73]

Chris, my transmissions are GT-specific, so they are already calibrated for 3.89s. Perhaps we could use a broken one as a starting point?

Here is the thread where I got the ratios from http://www.opelgt.com/forums/mechani...html#post65797

So did the GT come with 4.11 or 3.89? I know I have one GT and one Kadett

[73Manta72gt]

I think the 69 FSM says 3.89 ratio for 1.1L GT's..I think kadett wagons had 4.11

[trailblazer2727]

Was the 1.1 transmission used in any U.S. car? I know the 1.9's tranny was used in the early Vega.