Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2004 13:58:40 -0800
Reply-To: mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: Rebuilding Man. Tranny-Questions regarding taller gears??
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Looking at the newest Bentley, page 34.1a has late waterboxer 4 speed
gear ratios and 34.1b has diesel 5 speed ratios listed.
Your question about first gear is valid but the answer is that the 5
speed was originally designed for the weak 1.6 diesel. Later in other
markets it was fitted to models with more powerful engines and different
ratios were used in some of those. North America only got the 5 speed in
the rare 83+ diesel models. Other markets had it available in everything
from that time on. The discussion so far has ignored differences in r+p
ratios and that is very important to understanding driving comparisons.
I have Vanagons with both 4 and 5 speeds. The 4 speeds are much less
cumbersome to drive though I would no doubt get past that point some if
I only drove 5 speeds. 1st gear is positioned in a somewhat awkward spot
for someone used to the 4 speed shift pattern. 1st is low enough that
starting off in 2nd is reasonable on level ground. All 5 gears are
closer together than the 4 speeds and top gear is nearly the same
overall.
For completeness let me add that there were 3 waterboxer 4 speed trannys
used in North America but all had essentially the same gearing with
subtle changes. The ratios of each appear in various places in the
Bentley. The Syncro tranny is a special version of the 5 speed with a
super low 1st that is seldom used while 2-5 match 1-4 on the 4 speeds.
Mark
John Rodgers wrote:
>
> Daryl, can you give us a gear by gear comparison between the Standard
> manual tranny, and the 5 speed manual tranny, beginning with the top
> gear and working down through the lower gears. I know this may sound a
> little fuzzy, but I'm trying to understand something here.
>
> Standard 5 Speed
> 4th gear - 5th gear
> 3rd Gear - 4th gear
> 2nd Gear 3rd gear
> 1st Gear - 2nd gear
> xxx 1st Gear.
>
> Do I under stand you that the first gear in the 5 speed is lower than
> that in the 4 speed tranny???
> I have little use for that low gear now, why would I want with an even
> lower gear.
>
> Inquiring minds want to know.
>
> Thanks,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>
> Daryl Christensen wrote:
>
> >The std vanagon tranny with the tall 4th (.77) is the same as the 5 speeds
> >5th gear, but with a lower 1st (many don't even use it) and the 2,3,4 all a
> >bit taller. I am just reporting what I have heard from others...never having
> >driven one personally...
> >Daryl of AA Transaxle
> >Duvall, WA. (Seattle area)
> >1-877-377-0773 toll free
> >425-788-4070
> >aatransaxle.com
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "John Rodgers" <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
> >To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> >Sent: Friday, February 20, 2004 11:42 AM
> >Subject: Re: Rebuilding Man. Tranny-Questions regarding taller gears??
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >>Brian, I'm not really up on the effects of gear changes, but I did do
> >>some driving in tall country when I lived in NM. I think I would like to
> >>take a close look at the 5-speed conversion for a better top end for
> >>those long flat straight-aways. That would make more sense to me.
> >>
> >>Regards,
> >>
> >>John Rodgers
> >>88 GL driver
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Brian Butler wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>>I am going to have AA transaxle rebuild my Syncro
> >>>Trans.
> >>>I am considering going to a taller 3rd and 4th. Daryl
> >>>@ AA recommends that I should be OK staying stock.
> >>>Keep in mind I have 15" wheels and will be going to a
> >>>taller tire. (Haven't decided what size yet. I still
> >>>need to find out how big I can go with the STOCK spare
> >>>tire carrier without having to go with an aftermarket
> >>>carrier. Any feedback on this is also appreciated).
> >>>The motor is a 2.1L WB with some upgrades for a bit of
> >>>additional hp.
> >>>I currently live in Lake Tahoe and do a lot of high
> >>>altitude driving and long hill/mountain pass driving.
> >>>I will soon be moving down to the coast at sea level.
> >>>I don't know if these points need to be considered or
> >>>not, but wanted to include them if so. I also do long
> >>>road trips where long flat stretches of highway are in
> >>>front of me. (and I would prefer to make them
> >>>less-long, if possible ;-)
> >>>I just would like to get some more opinions on the
> >>>subject of pros/cons of taller gearing before I dump a
> >>>few grand into the rebuild and possibly regret
> >>>whatever decision I make regarding the gearing.
> >>>Thanks in advance,
> >>>Brian Butler
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >
> >
> >
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