Ford Bantam Rocam 1.3 / 1.6 5-Speed Manual Transmission for Sale — South Africa

The Rocam, short for roller finger camshaft, is a simple single-cam, two-valve-per-cylinder petrol engine that Ford used in its budget models for emerging markets. In South Africa it is best known from the third-generation Bantam bakkie, which launched in 2002 with 1,297 cc and 1,597 cc Rocam engines. This used five-speed manual gearbox is listed for 1.3 and 1.6 Rocam Fords.

The Bantam was a small-business and farm favourite, and plenty were driven hard with full loads in the back. Its gearbox is a straightforward front-drive five-speed, and most workshops have had one apart at some point. Typical wear on high-mileage units includes crunching into second or third, bearing whine, oil leaks at the driveshaft seals and loose gear-shift linkage. A worn clutch or cable can make a decent gearbox feel worse than it is, so check them first.

When fitting, use fresh gear oil and replace the clutch if it is near the end. Because Ford also used Rocam engines in other models, send us your VIN and old gearbox code so we can confirm the match before dispatch.

With the Bantam out of production since 2011, a good used gearbox is often the easiest way to keep one working without hunting for rebuild parts.