Date:         Sun, 2 May 1999 08:23:35 -0700
Reply-To:     Sally Lecrone <sallee@NETRAX.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Sally Lecrone <sallee@NETRAX.NET>
Subject:      engine conversion gear ratios
Comments: To: vanagon list <vanagon@vanagon.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I'm concerned that the ring and pinion in the gas air-cooled vanagon is
to
high for my turbo diesel 1.6.  After looking at Helmut's gearing charts,

I think all the diesels used gearing that isn't that high.  If I'm
reading his chart right, it looks like a turbo diesel engine setup,
which was probably offered in Europe, ran a 4.83 gearing in the
transaxel.  The ideal setup for me, since I have a 5-speed gear box in
my westy with 5.43 gear ratio now, would be to install the ring and
pinion with that ratio.  The 1.9 water boxers used gear ratios like
that.  I'm planning on using this van to travel the country and to
Alaska when I retire and since I'm putting on a fair amount of highway
miles, I was hoping this would be a good gear ratio?  Do you know anyone

out there who has put the air-cooled gear box in a turbo diesel and if
so, how does it work out?
Jim Lecrone