how to tell wide block from narrow

[evoJB]

our 8v has 330mm between the bellhousing dowels if thats any help.

[MrBishi]

Ignore the top holes. You need to measure the lower dowelled bolts.
From memory narrow is 310mm & wide 330mm.

Starions gearboxes only* came in wide block variants. For narrow you need to look at galants, sapporos, L200s etc.

*Disclaimer - There may be some uber-rare JDM Starion that I know nothing about that uses narrow.

[kiwieurospec]

If its a narrow block just use a sigma box, and put the insides of a sigma box in yours. Why don't you have yours repaired? it doesn't cost very much, I can give you a number of a gearbox guy in CHCH who works from home. My Silvia box cost $350 but much more common box for spares etc.
Daniel

[Superscan]

I was told that the gears out of a pajero box will fit (not the box) that is one reason the starion boxes are becomming so rare, Rebuilders wil scavange the starion gears to repair the more expensive pajero boxes.
Also, one of the reasons the starion box is ALOT stronger than the sig/scorp/triton box is that the main bearings in the Starion box use tapered needle roller bearings instead of the standard ball bearings. this helps stop shaft end play and generallt are alot stronger.
One way to strengthen the Starion box and stop breaking 3rd gear is to modify the input shaft. there is a bearing which connects the input shaft to the output shaft. It is just a small needle roller bearing which won't accept much load. It runs directly off the the output and input shaft (ie: the shafts surface is the bearing surface).
If this could be replaced with a stronger bearing, probably a tapered roller, this would make 3rd gear a lot less likely to break.
This would involve a bit of machining of the input shaft and research to find the right bearing but I now believe that it would make the gearbox capable of accepting quite a bit more power.


Cheers.

[MrBishi]

I take it you DO have a narrow block?

L300 is out because they use a remote shifter. I'd say look at the L200 and sigmas/galants.

[kiwieurospec]

Wide Block rwd Dash is rare, there is a Starion at Budget Auto Dismantlers
3890443, not sure about box give them a ring, L200 will be narrow block but i'm not sure about 2600 ones.
I think at this stage swap over will be quickest and easist unless u find Sigma Turbo/Sapparo Turbo etc.
Daniel

[kiwieurospec]

*Disclaimer - There may be some uber-rare JDM Starion that I know nothing about that uses narrow.

Yep my one fits in that catogory, narrow one no cable

[kiwieurospec]

Yep you can all the gearsets are the same aside from ratio differences,
There are a lot of variations in the input shaft bearing ( so i'm told )but they won't worry you,
Daniel