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Date:         Fri, 4 Sep 2015 10:08:14 -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
Comments: To: vw_van_fan_Mark <madvws@cox.net>
In-Reply-To:  <55E9C050.9060804@cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

Yes, the original message was about raising the gear ratios..the one I replied on was "no real advantage with a 5sp" I don't have numbers but I do seem to have similar final drive as a standard wbx. The splits between gears are remarkably well-spaced. I've had VW vans with a 4 sp... Old aircooled....they had a large "hole" in the gearing...mostly between 3 and 4, where 4th is painfully slow, lugging...you just had to wait to downshift, and your momentum is lost...with that extra gear it is not. That big, in my book, given we're trying to keep a lot of weight moving with pretty small motors On Sep 4, 2015 9:03 AM, "vw_van_fan_Mark" <madvws@cox.net> wrote:

> Don doesn't have taller gearing though. His USA model 5 speed is from a > 1983 1.6 NA diesel van, with a 5.43 r&p. The .77 5th ratio combines with > that to have nearly identical 5th gearing as 4th in the wbx 4 speed. > > His 1st gear starts off shorter than the wbx 1st and combined with his > short 5.43 makes for a 1st that is too low for some people in daily > driving so they start off in 2nd a lot. > > > Mark > > Dennis Haynes wrote: > >> Having the ABA motor you really can’t compare the gearing to one with a >> Waterboxer. The Waterboxer is a short stroke engine developing horsepower >> at higher speeds and more designed to operate at higher speeds for longer >> periods of time. Yes the inline has a higher redline (benefit of the >> overhead cam) but at any given speed the pistons are actually traveling >> further with the increased stroke. Except for the probable increase in NOx >> emissions your motor seems to benefit from the taller gearing. The stock >> Waterboxers usually do not. >> >> Dennis >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf >> Of Don Hanson >> Sent: Friday, September 04, 2015 11:18 AM >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM >> Subject: Re: regearing a manual trans >> >> "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........ >> >> >>


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