Purpose

The Fox's stock transmissions are pretty good.  I personally have had 2 Foxes, both with the stock 4-speed transmissions.  Contrary to what you might think, the 4-speed is not all bad.  Acceleration is pretty good, you don't shift as often (so that helps when, uhh, driving competitively with 5-speed cars), the 4th gear is nice on the highway (~2600 RPM @ 100 km/h), and they're virtually bulletproof!

But to get much better acceleration, the Audi 2N's close gearing is perfect.

Although the swap over to an Audi 2N transmission is relatively easy, it isn't a 1 hour job.  You should have some automotive skills, if you plan on undertaking this yourself.

And it is highly advised that you have the Bentley manual.

Compared to the Fox 4-speed transmission, the 2N 5-speed is at least 2 seconds quicker to 60 mph.  It also provides gearing to allow the Fox to HAUL ASS from any point - just down shift until the revs are in the power band.  With the 4-speed, say you're in 2nd at 6000 rpm, when you up shift, it takes you all the way back down to like 4000 or less ! Yuck! Your power band won't start again for at lesat 500 rpm, which takes a long time to achieve with a tall gear and no power.

This page describes the swap from a Fox stock 4-speed, to a 5-speed coming from a 1986 Audi 4000 (transmission code "2N").  To find one you should search junk yards for Audi 4000s (remember to look for 4-cyl models, because the 5-cyl's transmission is different).

1. Acquire the tranny.
2. Acquire a new clutch disc, pressure plate, throwout bearing, and even possibly flywheel, depending on mileage on your car. The Fox stock clutch is the same as the one for the Audi 2N tranny, as well as a few others. T/O bearing is the same too.  If you plan on lightening the flywheel, now would be a good time.
3. I recommend changing the transmission main shaft seal (make sure you get the Audi one, not a fox one :-)   ) as well as the drive flange seals while you've got this thing going.
4. Redline Manual Tranny Fluid is VERY nice. @ $8.50 USD a quart, it's not cheap.  But then again, you're not supposed to ever have to change it.  Decreases the amount of drivetrain loss, which means an extra couple HP to the ground...
5. Be sure to aquire the Audi linakage pieces that connect to the tranny.  The only piece that you'll need from the Fox 4spd is the rod that goes from inside the car to the outside.
6. Moly grease for the inner CV flanges (where the CV mounts to the tranny).

Now that you've aquire all the needed parts lets go!

Follow the Bentley manual instructions for removing the transmission from your Fox.

Once removed, remove the interior console around the shift linkage (this maybe found in the Bentley manual, but if not...)
 

Remove the screws from the rear of the console and the second piece of console the surrounds the floor around the E-brake.  Behind the console (under the dash), there are (maybe, at least on his Fox there is), two tubes leading from the heater into the console (feeds the rear with heat, kinda sorta) need to be removed from the console.  Also make sure to disconnect any wiring for the ashtray light (YEAH, there IS a light there!), gauges you may have added, etc... The console is "clipped" to the middle dash section from the rear of the console (under the dash).  Remove console.  (don't forget to take off the shift knob first...)
Remove the circle clip from the shifter rod and remove the spring retainer and spring. Remove the two bolts from the top of the shifter tower that hold the shift ball-joint in place. Remove shift ball-joint. Unscrew shifter lever from linkage bar that passes from inside of car to outside. Remove rev gear blocked out plate from inside of shift tower. It's held on by two bolts, on the right side of the tower. Remove the shift lever, but leave the other linkage piece (lets call it the in/outside piece) on. Remove all other remaints of the Fox linage (besides that in/outside piece) from the car/linkage.

Replace clutch as per Bentley manual.  Be sure to clean all clutch friction parts with brake parts cleaner, to unsure removal of any packing grease, etc... (ANY residue left on clutch friction parts, including from fingers, can cause slippage, which can damage your new clutch).  Also, before installing new clutch, check for signs of leaking from the crankshaft seal.  If at all doubtful, replace that seal as well. Oil leaking from the engine will damage the new clutch too.

Replace the mainshaft seal on the Audi tranny, as well as the flange seals per Bentley manual's Fox instructions (same concept, slightly different parts).

You can use either the Fox drive flanges, or the Audi ones. Your choice, same size.

Drain and fill the Audi tranny fluid BEFORE installing into car (much easier this way!!).

Install the tranny per Bentley manual, using correct torques for stock Fox.  Before reconnecting CV axles to drive flanges on tranny, be sure to repack each flange with Moly grease.

On the tranny, install the linkage pieces that are attatched to the tranny shift rod.  Install the Fox in/outside rod on the shift linkage. (do not tighten bolt holding it on!)

Adjust clutch cable per Bentley manual instructions.

Back inside the car:

On the Fox in/outside rod, tilt it sideways, so that the left side of the part that would connect to a lever is  pointing up through the top of the tower.  Cut off the little piece of metal on that side (small ledge, used as
a 5th gear block out on 4speed cars).  Install Audi shift lever to Fox in/outside rod (Fox part may be able to be used, I dunno, I used to Audi one cause it's straight, 4speedd one is bent and looks like it would be
uncomfortable with a 5 spd).  Slide shifter ball-joint onto rod, then spring, then spring retainer and circle clip.  Reposition circle clip back into it's groove on shift lever.

Adjust linkage so that, for 3rd gear, the shift lever is in the middle of the tower, pointed forward.

Now here's a bit of other info too.  Rememebr that reverse on your VW USED to be push down, go left and up.  NOT any more.... Now it's UNDER 5th gear (no need to push down anymore).

Reinstall center console around shifter. Reverse removal. Enjoy!

Drive car, paying attention to shifting lever movement, adjust as you feel necessary.

The shifting points feel more natural, and the car is a LOT quicker to 60 mph now.  AND on the highway, it revs about 2700 RPM at 70mph!  The best of both worlds!!!!  Plus, you can kick it down to 3rd on the highway (between 60 and 70 mph), and literally SHOOT ahead of traffic up to about 80.  Very nice!

Big thanks to Josh, a fellow VW enthusiast for this information!!

If you have any questions, you can e-mail me, but because I haven't performed the upgrade myself, I cannot relate anything from experience; you can also contact Josh with questions about this.

E-mail me with any and all comments, and especially if you can add to this page!