Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 14:33:12 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Organization: Cosmic Reminders
Subject: Re: 5 speeds, was: Noisy transaxle??
In-Reply-To: <5266CDB0.6060404@cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
I'm driving , around the yard at least..
a stock 83 5 speed diesel vanagon ..with the stock linkage..
I can't say it's any better than what I was able to accomplish by
modifying a 4 speed shifter box.
mine could use more lube yet I think.
And that linkage is it's a lot like the 84 and earlier sliding door
outside door handle..
'new' ...like all fresh and lubed from the factory it's 'acceptible' ..
not 'slick and easy' say, like the 85 and later sliding door handle is.
same with 5 speed shift linkage..
it works, it's not pleasant to use, and with time, lack of lube/service
and some wear..
they go from 'mostly acceptable' to 'wish this was much better.'
a 5 speed, odd as it is, is still a step up from a 4 speed.
if staying with VW vanagon transaxles .
On 10/22/2013 12:10 PM, mark drillock wrote:
> At least for a non-tdi diesel engine the 5 speed gearing is a benefit
> for sure. The close 3/4/5 gearing is great for grades and headwinds. It
> lets you hold higher speeds in varying conditions. Whether it outweighs
> the more cumbersome shift pattern is another question and the type of
> actual usage along with engine power band would be a consideration in
> that calculation. If you have the correct front shifter to go with it
> the pattern isn't as cumbersome and you certainly can get used to it
> fairly quickly. I have been driving my recently converted 84 Westy that
> has a 1.9 diesel with 5 speed. I don't use low every time I start off as
> the clumsy 1st gear position combined with the lower than usual 1st gear
> means I don't need or want to. I did not install the 5spd front shifter
> yet as I am experimenting with how necessary I will find that to be. I
> have a few more 5 speeds of different models and not enough 5 speed
> shifters to go around so I want to see if I can be happy using the stock
> 4 speed front shifter or will have to modify it in some way or switch to
> the 5 speed stuff. The problem for me is I have several vans I use
> frequently so when I switch from a 4 speed van to the 5 speed one I have
> to remember which I am in and the cumbersome shift pattern is not
> natural to me each time yet. The gearing is a good match though with
> 1.9NA, DX 5 spd.
>
> Mark
>
> ralph meyermann wrote:
>> A taller second and third would be nice
>>
>>
>
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