Date:         Sun, 22 Nov 1998 17:01:08 EST
Reply-To:     Jwilli941@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Todd Hill <Jwilli941@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Definite Vanagon content- custom gear ratios
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Hello,

Let me preface this with "To the best of my knowledge"

The U.S. 5 speeds came with a 5.43 ring and pinion with
1st-5th ratios of:  4.11/2.33/1.47/1.01/.77.  There are true
European versions out there that have a 4.86 R/P and
a 4.11/2.33/1.47/1.01/.82 gear set.  The 4 speed 091-1
gearboxes that I have had apart for the watercooled Vans
all have come with the 4.86 ring and pinion and a 1st-4th
of: 3.78/2.06/1.23/.85.  The replacement ring and pinion
sets for the 4.86s are now a 4.83 ratio with a 7 tooth
pinion instead of the original 8 toothed version.  I can, and
have, built transaxles with custom gearing.  Popular
aftermarket 4th gear ratios are: .82 (same as European),
.80, .77, and .74.  These high quality gears generally run
$275 per set installed on a rebuild.  So if you needed a
rebuilt transaxle then for around $1200 you could have
a custom 4th (.80 would be as 'far' from a stock 1.23 as
I would recommend) that would net you a final drive ratio
of 3.888.  For an additional $275 you could have a custom
3rd of  1.17 along with a .77 4th.  That would net a final of
3.742.  You could then have a custom 4 speed that would
have a similar final of the 5 speeds for between $600-$1000
less.  That includes the $350 figure thrown out by someone
else for the 5 speed shift linkage.

Now don't get me wrong!  The figure that Ken Wilford is
quoting for the South African 5 speeds is very good.  But
a custom 4th, IMO, is a less expensive option that will
do just about whatever the 5 speed will.

Just my 2 cents.

-Todd Hill
 VolksWerks Transaxles
 Olympia, WA