Date:         Sat, 9 Sep 2000 08:05:44 EDT
Reply-To:     Wolfvan88@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Lilley <Wolfvan88@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: .457 SA five speed tranny for an overdrive 5th gear
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

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Steve,
go to
www.2weddle.com

Weddle Engineering can get them from SA.  The ring and pinion gear is .457
NOT .483 as in stock four speeds.  The fifth gear is .815 and the fourth gear
on the four is .85.

The engine RPMs are dropped @400 RPMs in fifth compared to a four.

It is basically a bolt in with the front mount needing to be shortened (they
can tell you by exact amount ).  The stock shifter bolts on.  First gear is
found by pushing down, pull left and pull back.  Like going to reverse but
pulling back.

I like this shifting because it put 1st and reverse on the same plane and
REAL easy to go back and forth into each IF you get stuck and need to rock
the van to get out (I have had the need to do this several times and it has
worked each time)

Cost is around $2200.  If yours is in good working order sell it to help pay
for the 5 speed.

It comes with a four spider diff and is the strongest stock gearbox for the
Vanagon.

I am glad I spent the extra money to get mine.

I also had the .483 R&P five, the gear ratios with the .483 were too short
and the fifth is the same as the four forth so there is no RPM reduction as
with the SA five.

Robert