Before I can put the new box in, I’ve got to get the old one out – and as I’m pretty sure that the hole for the gear lever is going to have to move, the first job was to remove the centre console. It was going fine, then I discovered a small box hidden away … a “Gemini 1059” 
I’m pretty sure it’s something to do with the alarm, but I’ve got to admit I’ve no idea what. 
Never mind, I pressed on and got the seats out, lifted up the carpet and with some trepidation peeled back the underlay/soundproofing stuff, as this is normally the point where an innocent Turbosporter finds a load of nasty rust … 
Hmm, quite solid. 
Of course, someone will no doubt jump up and tell me that the rot sits underneath the ridgy stuff that seems to have been glued to the floor before it was painted – but I’m not pulling that up unless I absolutely have to. 
The other side was just as good, though it did show why I’d never been troubled by the mystical “Gemini 1059” … it had been cut off from whatever it used to be connected to and the wire stopped underneath the passenger’s feet. 
Moving underneath the car, the starter came out without a struggle, so it’ll just need cleaning up and re-greasing.
The propshaft was next to come off – I’m still unsure if I’ll be needing a shorter one off a 5-speed car, as the new gearbox is longer, so we shall find out pretty soon.
And then in a final flourish, out comes the gearbox itself … or rather it would if I could work out what the Haynes means when it says “undo the spring clips on the selector rods and remove the gearstick” 
It’s a wonderfully Heath Robinson style arrangement which I’m sure will make sense when I come back to it, but if anyone’s got any ideas, please shout.
