505 GTi Wagon auto vs man diff ratios

[Simon W]

Hi everyone,
I 'm trying to nail down which ratios apply to the diff of a Series 2 505 GTi wagon with a manual (BA7/5) gearbox. Haynes book useless for this. Is it true that manuals differ from autos (autos have a taller diff)? Appreciate the actual ratios for each if anyone has that info. Also, were LSDs standard on any particular badge, or was that a variable...like so many other things?
thanks,
Simon

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[Demannu]

Other way around. Autos have a much shorter diff.

Autos are 4.88:1.
Manuals are 4.22:1.

Every 505 GTi Wagon that I have dismantled or had anything to do with has had an LSD. Sedans are more hit and miss though when it comes to scoring an LSD.

[Simon W]

Thanks Scotty. All the best with your GTD engine replacement...sounds costly, as I don't imagine the engine is easy to get hold of. Sent you a PM the other day before seeing your post about the overheat...realise you are not selling the GTD. Do you know how many of them were ever brought into the country? I'd love to get one, but that seems very unlikely!
Regards
Simon

[Demannu]

I've been meaning to reply to your PM... I would have gotten around to it eventually!

There were no GTD wagons brought into Australia, and no manual ones made anywhere. There are a couple of turbodiesel wagons getting around in Australia now though, and there are a couple more on the way.

So despite some earlier thoughts of selling the wagon, I can't imagine I'd cope without it, so I'm keeping it. However, for the right price, I'd be happy to perform another conversion for any interested parties...

[Simon W]

I'll bear a conversion in mind...but first things first, I have to get myself another wagon (Gti preferably) as I managed to deal mine a death blow last Tuesday. For now I'm getting around in a 4 x 4 that's more like a truck than a car (as it should be), but it's not good for doing a car's job...missing the pug.
Regards
Simon

[Demannu]

Was the 'death blow' inflicted to the mechanics of the vehicle or the body?

[Simon W]

Body unfortunately...left front windscreen pillar absolutely mangled.

[Simon W]

Hence my query re the diff; there seem to be a couple of good 505s around, but they're auto and I'm not an auto person; If I bought an auto GTi, I'd be looking to convert to manual BA7/5 and would thus need a diff...although the one in the dead car is a bit worn, but it could be shimmed assuming splines ok I guess.

[Demannu]

Make sure you have a read of the various posts around that explain the difficulties of converting from auto to manual when starting with a 4 speed auto 505 wagon......

[Simon W]

I'll do that Scotty, if I end up going that way...at the moment I may have sourced a manual anyway, but if needed, I should have everything to convert one. I'm sure there's a few things that can catch a bloke out on this, it's a pug after all!