automatic?

[Wombelina]

Hi everyone,

I'm having thoughts about putting an automatic gearbox from a R5 in an R4

Anyone know if this would be reasonably straightforward?

Thanks )

 

[bison]

I think there's an automatic version available in the South American made R4's?. so it must be possible, as long as your engine turns in the correct direction.
Alan.

 

[malcolm]

I don't know the answer, other than the Renault 5 Mk1 1108cc and larger engines turn in the same direction, but some modification might be needed to the front crossmember similar to the 5 speed conversion, and you'd need to mount the change lever. Probably a bit of a pain. Try Derek from Renaultspeed and see what he thinks.

The R4 is prone to a heavy clutch due to an un-lubricated lever in the gearbox. See http://www.renault4.co.uk/tech-clutch-seize.htm Maybe try spraying that with WD40 every week and see if it starts to get better.

 

[pepper]

You'd probably have to find a complete automatic Mk1 Renault 5 and then take the whole lot from one of those.

There was one doing the rounds on ebay recently...

I'm sure they were a larger engine too.

You would then have to work out how to mount the auto gear lever, there would be quite a bit of other rejigging required to get one to fit.

I don't know how heavy the clutch is on your car, or how bad your DH's arthritis is, but mine is the lightest of all the vehicles I drive.

 

[Lobster]

R5 autos had the 1.4 engine so you'd probably need to transplant that into the R4 as well. Fairly sure the front cross member would require work to get it to fit and they are a fair bit heavier than the R4 box which might cause issues too. Plus there would be loads of other bits that would need sorting.

In short, whilst its not impossible I can't see it being easy. And thats before we consider how reliable the auto box itself is...

 

[pepper]

I'd say budget a £1000 for an automatic gearbox rebuild at the same time as they are so unreliable, you may as well get it sorted before putting it in!

 

[petak]

I would say that old clutch is problem.
For start you can try to change clutch cable. If cable got rusted inside tube then it can do big resistance.
Maybe it will help and should not cost to much

 

[johnjolly]

R5

There's a nice R5 auto on eBay right now, look under Renault 5 classic car

 

[pepper]

To be fair there is nothing wrong with an automatic Renault 5! It would be a shame to take a good Renault 5 apart just to make an auto 4...

I love Renault 4's, I love Renault 5's if its an auto Mk1 then it would be a cool car to own!

 

[bobbyg]

ive just joined as im looking for a 16 tx or tl for my retirement project but just read your comments for the renault 5 auto,id say rip it to bits as mine could`nt pull a skin off a rice pudding and found it quite dangerous at juntions and roundabouts with many a near miss,my first r5 850cc was far quicker off the mark,,(dam why did i sell that)