At last success! I still do not know what and why, but it does seem the whole problem was something in the box was mis-alligned. With the thing fully assembled, rapid selection of the gears lined it all up and the box suddenly became freed off.

How I got the same situation with both boxes is beyond me but I won't argue. However, I now pass to another problem! Does anyone know where I can get a replacement bell houseing oil seal. This little beast is clearly marked 28x48.8x8. Nobody even acknowledges the existance of oil seals sized in decimal points of a millimeter.

Direct Fiat supply draws a blank, they don't seem to have made that size in decades. HELP, 'cos I'm rapidly going off this car!

Try Middle Barton Garage,
Or have a look at the following web sites.
www.spiderpoint.de
www.autoricambi.us

Membership Number: 10149

I got some oil seals for my fiat 130, from Engineer`s mate ltd, 01952676925, www.engineersmate.com, give them the sizes,

Membership Number: yes.

Thanks David! As far as I am concerned Middle Barton Garage are the best since sliced bread. They appear to have the required and it is en route as I type this.