Date:         Wed, 15 Aug 2012 05:45:10 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Transmission upgrade
Comments: To: ralph meyermann <ralphmeyermann@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <CAAj276xKJG46ErnvKP29c_0iiqiGmaP1W=g773aRMUd+g83R5w@mail.gmail.com>
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  Boy, I swear by the 5sp in my inline VW van.   It's never given me any
problems at all in about 100k miles now.   I love having the very low 1st
gear for rough and steep slow driving.  The spread between 5th and 4th was
just right for my original 1.8 liter inline motor (similar hp to a WBX)
With my 'new' 93 2.0 liter block I don't have to keep it wound up for hills
so much, but dropping back to 4th from 5th at about 65mph is an option.
I rarely  get slowed up for the steepest longest grades, and makes passing
a lot quicker and safer..  I'll usually shift down if I anticipate a long
climb might take my rpms below 3000 in my 5th gear.   If I have to
accelerate on a long climb  I will usually just go up to about 65mph in 4th
and leave it there until I top the hill to avoid 'lugging' the motor...
   The gearing is just right for me and I haven't seen any "Oh, that 5 sp?
They are weak...." action in my 3+ years and lots of loaded mountain travel.

On Wed, Aug 15, 2012 at 4:27 AM, ralph meyermann
<ralphmeyermann@gmail.com>wrote:

> I don't plan on mashing the throttle and running through the gears,just
> better hwy speed and ability to maintain in the hills. I have been tempted
> to put a slow moving vehicle placard on the back. Will the bell housing's
> and input shafts change over to the heavier gear boxes? I may be able to
> get the shifter assembly due to a few part's vannys avail!
>
> Velma 82diesel 1.6 na westy
>
> On Aug 15, 2012 4:51 AM, "Michael Snow" <slowmachine82@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Myself and the previous owner of my diesel Westy with AAZ 1.9TD engine
> have driven many thousands of miles with the aircooled (DK model code)
> transmission with no apparent ill effects.  I switched to the later
> (stronger) waterboxer transmission because I like the overall gearing
> better with 215/75R15 tires.  With the stock 185R14 tires, I would not
> hesitate to run the DK transmission.  FWIW, the waterboxer trans can
> be re-geared to an even higher final drive ratio (4.11:1, I think)
> than the DK.
>
> Mike
>