What gearbox do I have?

[WolfRichter]

Hey there Renault Riders,
I was wondering wether or not I could see what gear ratio I have, without disassembling the gearbox.
So I am still rather new to the R4 (translated: apologies this is a stupid question) but as far as I've understood there's three (common) gearing ratios: A long gearbox for the GTL, a short for the Fourgeonette and a sort of middle ground for the 4L. (I feel like I am missing some details so please feel free to shed some light of I am mistaken)
Now I am asking because in northern Germany, where I bought the car, putting the long gearing in 4Ls was a somewhat common modification because the landscape is rather two dimensional, where I live however it is more mountainous and I feel like the little 4L I have (850cc B1B with the larger carb installed on the later model years making 29hp) doesn't have the bite it ought to have.
That's why I would like to see what gearbox I have, if that mod was done to mine, so I could "downgrade" mine to a regular or maybe even Fourgeonette gearbox since I seldomly feel like the little motor reaches the top speed it ought to have. (On flat ground I can reach 120kph but that very seldomly happens)
Thank you veryuch in advance!

 

[WolfRichter]

Is it even a 4L? It came with no badge in the paperwork didn't say anything at all

 

[jjad]

There might be a metal identification tag on the top of the gearbox. I've highlighted on this photo from https://www.la4ldesylvie.fr/depose-dune-boite-de-vitesse-354-hao-sur-moteur-cleon where this tag is:

 

[laxeian]

Would not the engine be a billancourt (845cc) and therefore rotate in the incorrect direction to be fitted to a longer/later eg.GTL ie cleon gearbox?

 

[JdeW]

From 1961 to august 1973 the Billancourt engines where equiped with the 313, 328 and 334 gearboxes.
In september 1973 all R4's with Billancourt engines where equiped with the 354 square gearbox (except the raised van). The 354 gearbox was renamed in 1983 to HA0.

Indeed as @laxeian wrote the rotation between B and C engines is different and so is the construction of the differential inside the 354 gearbox. Never mix the gearboxes otherwise you end up with 1 forward and 4 reverse gears.
The first R4's with a Cleon engine where the R2370 and R2430 in 1975. Later the 3C2370 and R1128 in 1978. More R4 models with Cleon engines followed later.

Here's a list which 354 gearbox is fitted in which R4 model with either a B or C engine

https://www.la4ldesylvie.fr/images/stories/tutoriels/boite-de-vitesse/carac-354-hao/boite-de-vitesse-354-hao-renault-4.pdf

And more characteristics

Caractéristiques des boites de vitesse 354/HAO

Caractéristiques des boites de vitesse 354/HAO pour Renault 4 et Renault 5

www.la4ldesylvie.fr

 

[JdeW]

Is it even a 4L? It came with no badge in the paperwork didn't say anything at all

In the engine bay against the bulkhead there should be manufacturing plates attached.
Depending on year of manufacturing it is a diamond shape, or oval and rectangular plate or a single large plate.

Plaques constructeurs et identification des Renault 4

Plaques constructeurs et identification des Renault 4

www.la4ldesylvie.fr

Furthermore the VIN could contain the model number and production year as well

The engine also has a plate.

All these plates can identify your R4 model and from there it's possible to see which gearbox with different ratio's will fit.

 

[WolfRichter]

From 1961 to august 1973 the Billancourt engines where equiped with the 313, 328 and 334 gearboxes.
In september 1973 all R4's with Billancourt engines where equiped with the 354 square gearbox (except the raised van). The 354 gearbox was renamed in 1983 to HA0.

Indeed as @laxeian wrote the rotation between B and C engines is different and so is the construction of the differential inside the 354 gearbox. Never mix the gearboxes otherwise you end up with 1 forward and 4 reverse gears.
The first R4's with a Cleon engine where the R2370 and R2430 in 1975. Later the 3C2370 and R1128 in 1978. More R4 models with Cleon engines followed later.

Here's a list which 354 gearbox is fitted in which R4 model with either a B or C engine

https://www.la4ldesylvie.fr/images/stories/tutoriels/boite-de-vitesse/carac-354-hao/boite-de-vitesse-354-hao-renault-4.pdf

And more characteristics

Caractéristiques des boites de vitesse 354/HAO

Caractéristiques des boites de vitesse 354/HAO pour Renault 4 et Renault 5

www.la4ldesylvie.fr

Thank you a bunch! Now I know I have a 1123 (although I do not know wether it is a L or TL) with a HAO 0164 gearbox, which was originally mounted to my model.
Do I read the table correctly that only the differential gearing changes (within the HAS, B or C gearboxes respectively) and the gears themselves stay the same? (It has a large table telling what boxes fit to what plaque number and what I believe is the differential gearing and an additional extra table telling the gearbox ratios)
This would mean that the gearbox does have the longest gearing (in the differential) my model would've came with and I should be better off (fory use case) with most of the gearboxes the larger table lists?
Edit: I am really sorry for all those questions that must seem stupid to someone in the know. I however am at the beginning of my journey, if you will, and my french is horrible and my motor-english seems like it could use some work too.

 

[angel]

You are right, you have the tall geared gearbox fitted to latest 845cc cars ('84-'86).
You will be fine if you find a 119 or 120 suffix gearbox as they have the "wide" gear ratio kit (lower 1st - taller 4th).

 

[WolfRichter]

From 1961 to august 1973 the Billancourt engines where equiped with the 313, 328 and 334 gearboxes.
In september 1973 all R4's with Billancourt engines where equiped with the 354 square gearbox (except the raised van). The 354 gearbox was renamed in 1983 to HA0.

Indeed as @laxeian wrote the rotation between B and C engines is different and so is the construction of the differential inside the 354 gearbox. Never mix the gearboxes otherwise you end up with 1 forward and 4 reverse gears.
The first R4's with a Cleon engine where the R2370 and R2430 in 1975. Later the 3C2370 and R1128 in 1978. More R4 models with Cleon engines followed later.

Here's a list which 354 gearbox is fitted in which R4 model with either a B or C engine

https://www.la4ldesylvie.fr/images/stories/tutoriels/boite-de-vitesse/carac-354-hao/boite-de-vitesse-354-hao-renault-4.pdf

And more characteristics

Caractéristiques des boites de vitesse 354/HAO

Caractéristiques des boites de vitesse 354/HAO pour Renault 4 et Renault 5

www.la4ldesylvie.fr

Hey I am sorry I but I have another question: What about 334 gearboxes?
I found this sheet that says 334s would fit a 1123 however under the B1B engine it says HAG. (I however have a HAO and other than the long gearing it runs fine?)