Date:         Tue, 21 Mar 2000 17:09:06 -0500
Reply-To:     John Anderson <jander14@WVU.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Anderson <jander14@WVU.EDU>
Subject:      Re: 5speed trans for 91 Vanagon
Comments: To: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
In-Reply-To:  <v01550104b4fbbc8d703f@[139.80.94.12]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>The 094's ratios are such that first is a crawler gear and not really of
>use in day-to-day driving. Unless you have a vertical driveway. I don't
>know what the gear ratios were, as the wretched Bentley manual wisely
>leaves out all specifications; what a dogbreath book. Anyway, they will

The 094 was usually 4.11, 2.33, 1.47, 1.01, .077 which in themselves
are a great slew of ratios, the problem is that the final for US market
diesels was typically 5.43.  That 5.43 with the 4.11 first makes for a
viscious crawler, capable of slogging through anything.  Highly sought
for offroading, useless for anything else.  I believe offhand but am not
sure that the syncro (same basic tranny) uses a 4.86 like a regular van
but the 4.11 is a bit lower than the typical 3.8 of a van.  Regarless
Weddle engineering has a selection of gears for the 5 spd and the
4.86 final for ($650 ouch) but that would make a nice box for a van even
using the stock 1-5.  The pattern is obnoxious, and the design of the
R and 1 is a bit odd and prone to failure with abuse if you look at
Bentley's blowups.  Personally though, that .77 5th with a 4.86 is
a dream combo for cruising as I'm concerned, gives you 96mph at
4500 rpm with 27x8.5's  I've considered the .77 in a 4 spd using the
4.83 002 ring and pinion for a bus in fact so I can keep 1 and 2 a
little low for offroading with a Lock-Right.  Anyway with the stock
gears and the 4.86 rear the speeds at 4500 would be, 18, 32, 51,
74, and 96 mph.  A useable alternative to the Porsche box which
isn't really any cheaper to build/rebuild, but may be more reliable.
First would still be a bit low but as a Subaru can easily spin the 4500
I wouldn't get too concerned.  Oh all those speeds with 27" tires.

John
(who will one day graft a syncro drivetrain under a bay)
jander14@wvu.edu