Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2015 08:18:12 -0700
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: regearing a manual trans
In-Reply-To: <55E9AAF4.7060003@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
"the only advantage.....?" That is a rather large understatement..
.The 5sp is a very real enhancement to the driveability of a
Vanagon...With a stock motor it may be slightly less useful than it is with
my own ABA inline Jetta gas motor, but the extra gear allows me to maintain
highway speeds with little effort and to use my low first gear for rough
off highway without riding the clutch...When the van's speed declines to
about 60-65, I simply grab my 4th gear and continue on at about 3700 rpms,
the meat of my powerband...rather than waiting and lugging along till the
revs really get low, or downshifting and redlining the motor....The spread
between 4th and 5th is perfect. The low gear is rarely used, mainly for
low traction, rough roads or starting from a stop on a steep hill.
I often hear stock motor vanagons driving along at what sounds like
maybe 1500rpms in top gear...That can't be good for the motor and it
certainly makes them easy to overtake........
On Fri, Sep 4, 2015 at 7:30 AM, Jon VO <jondvo@gmail.com> wrote:
> Ditto. About the only advantage of a (true) 5sp with a stock motor is
> the availability of more gears, and a better match to driving
> conditions. A taller final gearing will only be a benefit if there is no
> wind and low elevation.
> Jon
>
>
> On 9/3/2015 11:17 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>
>> What are you trying to accomplish? For a stock engine you can do a little
>> bit of fine tuning but there is very little benefit and if you a person
>> that likes to drive at higher speeds you will make some things worse.
>> Contrary to popular belief lowering the engine can actually reduce your top
>> speed. The stock set up is somewhat gear bound with the top speed generally
>> limited by wind resistance and available horsepower. Horse power is a
>> function of torque and speed. Lower the engine speed and you lower the
>> available horsepower. Especially on the Syncros and automatics a change as
>> small as going over 27" tire diameter makes this evident.
>>
>> Lowering the engine speed at a given road speed means more force (torque)
>> is then required to get the same work done (wind resistance and hill
>> climb). This increases cylinder pressures, bearing loads, production of
>> nasty NOx emissions along with increased tendency for the engine to go into
>> pre-ignition, (knock). On the driveline side this increased force results
>> in increased wear or some parts failures. The transmission is undersized
>> for the load and speed already.
>>
>> Dennis
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>> Of Dan N
>> Sent: Thursday, September 3, 2015 2:35 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: regearing a manual trans
>>
>> hi all,
>>
>> I understand the concept of regearing the trans with a stronger engine,
>> more HP (conversions etc..)
>>
>> but what about regearing the trans and using the plain old 2.1 WBX? any
>> benefit?
>>
>> any idea?
>>
>> thanks
>>
>> dan
>>
>
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