swing axle gearbox questions

[simon varley]

posted also in Ghia forums, but hopefully there are more experts here

now that the box is mostly cleaned up, I've got some questions that hopefully some of the gurus here can answer.

does the serial number mean anything to anyone? Car is a 63 Ghia Coupe in Australia. Does this number tell me anything at all? Any idea what that plugged or repaired part of the case might be?

according to the books, there should be an adjustment for the selector forks. I can't see anything obvious in terms of bolts covering an adjustment nut, but I do seem to have three unplugged holes into the gearbox. Any idea what these are for?

and any idea on these two holes at the front? I'm guessing the small one in the shift rod cover is just a breather, but what about the one on the boss?

appreciate anything you can tell me. thanks.

[anthracitedub]

That serial number should narrow down the year of the box. It kind of looks like someone has placed an access hole in the case to be able to get to 1/2 shift fork adjustment... all of which are normally only accessible with the gear box carrier set up in a shift jig. It’s an old hack to drill a hole and place a plug there to be able to have some adjustment for that fork... the other two cannot be hacked into in such a manor. It’s really not advisable to perform this mod.

Those other holes should have plugs in them, the originals were made of plastic which over time rot and fall out. You can see the shift rails living inside those holes. When they are being removed during a trans rebuild there are springs and detents that are deeper inside.... those are what hold a positive position on the shift rail during use.

Those two holes on the nose cone... yes the small one is a vent... the large one is a dowel hole.