Date:         Tue, 26 May 1998 10:37:50 -0300
Reply-To:     Tim Smith <smitht@UNB.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Tim Smith <smitht@UNB.CA>
Subject:      5 spds FS
Comments: To: Modl6971 <Modl6971@AOL.COM>
Comments: cc: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hi all,

There are true 'street' 5 spds avail from VW-South Africa, with Audi 5
cylinder bellhousings attached.  These are the 105mph versions and need the
130HP to get there.  Indian Vic (list vendor) had some FS for $2200US a
while back. Not very close in layout to Syncro 5spd, which is more a 4spd
with low gear extension added to the box.  So no way will you ever get a
6spd Syncro :(  You would need to change the bell. + input shaft likely, and
I'd wonder about the output drive/CV flanges also, better to find a turbo
Audi 5000 or 200 engine and do a total swap of the drivetrain.

        There is/was also a '82-83 diesel 5spd. but with gear ratios suited
to diesels, so not for high speed, more a stump puller first gear if I got
it right. If anyone has the gear ratios for this trans I'd like them for my
spreadsheet, thanks.  Likely the diesel version could be rebuilt into a gas
suitable version, but you'd need the correct pinion shaft + ring gear,
likely get expensive very fast.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned....   why not swap over just the 4th gear
set to get a higher top end/lower cruise RPM?  Way smaller/cheaper fix,
maintains town driveability in 1-2-3 gears.  Parts availability????  I can
see passing situations where dropping fom 4th to 3rd would jump the RPMs
high. I had a tiny Peugeot 204 convertible that had this kind of gearing,
worked beautifully, but the vehicle was way lighter and the 1100cc engine
pulled a lot higher RPMs.

bye, Tim