Well, i think its an LT77. Definatly a 5spd box attached to a V8 in my '85 vandenplas.

Selected reverse to back out of a parking spot, and couldnt get it into first gear, without some vicious shoving (it wasn't cold, had been driving quite happily for the past 45 minutes)

Managed to get back to mine (only 200 meters) and get it parked, but the box seems nadgered. It'll select gears, but only with more force than can be good for it. Seems to drive ok, but for the whole gear change issue. I'll try and get underneath tomorrow, but i've got no axle stands and im not enamoured of clambering underneath with just a standard jack.

Any suggestions? or is it a case of biting the bullet, and getting a new one fitted? Any friendly garages around the Wallingford/Reading/Oxford area who might be able to sort the work for me?

Is it just the clutch that's failed possibly

I agree with Royston, it sounds like the clutch but if its OK then inspect the Remote Control Assembly & it linkages or bushes.

Progressive looseness anywhere on the assy can make gearchanges increasingly difficult.



The LT77 is pretty bulletproof unless badly abused or maintained. Dont change it before you read the "radical solution" on page 3 of the PDF available here:

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Did you fix it? because mine has just done the same thing.....but I think the selector pin has dropped out.

I got it fixed. but sadly i went for the CreditCard approach (well more of a switchcard. Hey, i'm not a vehicle engineer, i'm mechanically dyslexic!), So i cant be of more help than my original post.

Me: Hello, My car is broken
Garage: Ok, please drop your trousers, you may feel a sharp stabbing pain in the wallet!


£800! I could have bought a newish gearbox for that!


Definatly wasnt a clutch, Garage said something wasnt getting lubricated correctly.