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Date:         Thu, 19 May 2005 19:25:12 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject:      Re: Buying a new manual transmission - considering Go Westy final
              drive increase
Comments: To: "james@icebox500.com" <icebox500@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <d8c931460505191520641ebd94@mail.gmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

If staying with the water boxer, I wouldn't raise the final drive too much, especially if you are looking at larger tires. Stock gearing with 27 to 27.5 inch is really the limit for the engine to last. As for the 2.3, don't. The stock engine is tuned, (or de-tuned) for both emissions and survival. In stock form and tune, it can take some level of being pushed without knocking, pinging, melting pistons etc. Raising the compression, advancing the timing, etc, always seems to reduce life. If you really need more power, you need another engine. As for the engine running at 4,000 rpm, a good oil cooler will keep it happy.

Dennis

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of james@icebox500.com Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2005 6:20 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Buying a new manual transmission - considering Go Westy final drive increase

So, 3rd gear is a grinder now and its time to consider a new transmission (before it gives up the ghost in the middle of nowhere).

I have a 2.1l that is pretty healthy at this time but has 120k on it. It is possible that in the future I would consider a 2.3l upgrade from Go Westy.

That said, after talking to Lucas, it seems that the smartest(?) move would be to buy a new stock 4 speed transmission with a higher geared final drive. In combination with 15' wheels, this raises the transmission ratio about 10% based on what I've read and my conversations with Lucas.

I guess I'm tossing this all out there to get opinions on what I'm considering. The cost of the transmission built as described is about $1,950 after core charges are credited. This doesn't seem terribly out of line though I've seen transmissions range from $895 - $1,500 in various places.

I use this bad boy as an occasional daily driver, for going on trips that mix highway with 2 lane, and for whatever else pleases me.

Thoughts? Cheers? Chides?

Thanks,

James


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