Date:         Thu, 25 Aug 1994 13:35:09 PDT
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         paul.uusitalo@aldus.com (Paul Uusitalo,CoSA)
Subject:      RE: 5 speed Vanagon

>I was just going through the  gopher FAQs and found them very informative.
if
>you are interested in finding out where your Van  was made check out
>the FAQ on VINs. Anyway I noticed that many of the later synchros and
>diesels? were equipped with 5 speed transmissions. Would it be wise to
>install one in a four speed system?

My Syncro has a 5-speed, but it's probably not the 5-speed you're looking
for.

Below reverse in the shift pattern is an additional ultra low forward gear
(often called a "granny gear" for reasons unbeknownst to me) for cliff
climbing, bog wading, sand duning, etc. You hit 4000 RPM at about 8-10 mph,
so we are talking serious torque action here. I imagine that the same unit
is installed on diesels to allow them to be at least conceptually driveable
in places like San Franciso, though I wouldn't want to be stuck behind one.

In any case, you have to push down to get to the gear - just as for reverse
- so it's not really useable as an additional regular drive gear.

Paul