In my entire mini history (13 months now) I have always thought remote was better than rod without needing any justification. Is this true? what are the differences? and which came first?

Yes it is true (according to most people on here anyway) the rod change has two rods coming back to the gearshift from near the diff the remote change has a alumium housing that comes back to the gearshift.

The biggest advantage to the remote shift is that it acts like a second or third engine steady meaning less strain on the ones up front.

The remote change came first.

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Roads need more corners
A Deluxe(CG13DE), 2 Clubbies(998 and 1275) and 2 Morris 1100Ss

I ask because I am in the market for a new engine and have seen a few with rod change boxes.

Not being quite as much of a mini historian as most on here, I think Rod change is newer. Both have pros and cons as far as I know, you need better engine mounts for rod change as I think the remote acted as a rear engine mount.

As far as internals go i don't know much, but my rod change seems good and I'm happy with it - especaially since i put the extra heavy duty pressure plate in on saturday!!

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Bob Slattery
Duffman Says A Lot of Things - OH YEAH!!

The remote box are from earlier minis, I think first designed by John Cooper. When BMC was taken over by Leyland they decided to produce the rod change as it was easier and cheaper to produce. Deluxe's came with 3 synchro remote box (1st gear doesn't have a synchro, I have one of these for sale in the For Sale section ) and the mini K came and Cooper S's came with 4 synchro remote boxes.

IMO the remote boxes have more advantages over rodchange. The gearchange is much "tighter" than rod boxes, but you can get the rod box to be quite tight with some adjustments. The engine steady issue is no existant with remote change. I still prefer a remote box after having driven one.

Probably the biggest disadvantage of remote boxes is the fact that the parts are harder to come by and some parts are just not available new.

Just to let you know, the main reason that I am doing up this 1275 engine with remote box to replace Lillee's (perfectly good) 1098 is because it's currently a rod change box! I am sick of it! the slack is too much and I couldn't be bothered to change the parts necessary to tighten it up. It feels like a chopstick in a empty cup at the moment

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

I like the metaphor

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1965 850 Mini Van
1972 Clubman Van
Member of SDMC

But it does! about the only thing that is making the gearstick even remotely stiff is the rubber boot! It's got at least 2-3 inches of play, and that is IN GEAR! Needless to say I have to drive her very carefully otherwise I grind metal

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

Internally the gear sets are exactly the same for 4 synchro remote, and most Oz rod change boxes. Except the reverse gear is different shape.
Once a rod change shifter gets slack and sloppy it's pretty hard to fix other than by replacement.
OTOH, the ball linkages in a remote box can be hard faced, polished to size and refitted.
Of course, I'm biased.. but we do have cars with both setups.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.