Any one tried or have knowledge of the Berg 4 to 5 speed transmission or transaxle conversion kit? I would like to have a 5th gear, but a Mendeloa is way out of my income and outgo range.
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Any one tried or have knowledge of the Berg 4 to 5 speed transmission or transaxle conversion kit? I would like to have a 5th gear, but a Mendeloa is way out of my income and outgo range.
The Berg transaxle uses your current 4th gear as 5th gear. The other gears just have closer ratio's Besides, a Mendeola won't fit
Terry Nuckels has a Berg 5 spd and loves it. He is on "vacation" for a few days, I know he'll post when he returns.
My engine configuration is great for my use, but at straight away highway speeds I have a problem. I want to shift to another higher gear or a 5th gear. I don't do a lot of interstate driving so my engine was designed to get me around and out of the mountain curves. 4th Gear being moved into a 5th gear slot wouldn't help. I would like to reduce the engine RPM and increase the speed.
The problem with an air cooled engine is that it needs "AIR" to keep it cool. Slow the engine down too much and increase the speed will cause the the engine to overheat
It takes a lot of power to go faster, the faster you go, the harder the engine works, the harder the engine works the more heat it produces. Therefore, it needs more air to to keep it cool and that air is forced over the cylinders and cylinder heads by the fan which pushes air in direct relationship to engine speed. The more RPM's the more air you force across the engine.
Do you see where I'm going with this?
Try switching to a 3.88 or 3.44 ring and pinion. It won't solve your problem of trying to shift to a non existant 5th gear but it will slow the engine down a bit without causing it to overheat.
It takes a lot of power to go faster, the faster you go, the harder the engine works, the harder the engine works the more heat it produces. Therefore, it needs more air to to keep it cool and that air is forced over the cylinders and cylinder heads by the fan which pushes air in direct relationship to engine speed. The more RPM's the more air you force across the engine.
Do you see where I'm going with this?
Try switching to a 3.88 or 3.44 ring and pinion. It won't solve your problem of trying to shift to a non existant 5th gear but it will slow the engine down a bit without causing it to overheat.
You would want to assess your whole drivetrain if that is your overall goal.
Ring and Pinion ratio
Fifth gear ratio
tire diameter
I've had the same thoughts as you, BUT I am currently running between 3500 and 4000 RPM on freeways and passing a lot of traffic. You don't want to "lug" your engine any lower than that range for extended driving, you need the cooling air for your engine that your fan is generating at those engine speeds.
Face it, you'll never be able to cruise for extended periods at 80 MPH at 2000 RPM with an air-cooled engine.
On the other hand - having another immediate gear between 1st and 4th would be great for more advantageous torque application at the apex!
I have read that Berg 5 speeds are a little weak if lots of power is applied too often in first gear (I understand that 1st is where he adds the extra gear in his custom nose cone?) This may be more applicable to drag racers than to street driven cars? Check out Shoptalk forums for more info.
Ring and Pinion ratio
Fifth gear ratio
tire diameter
I've had the same thoughts as you, BUT I am currently running between 3500 and 4000 RPM on freeways and passing a lot of traffic. You don't want to "lug" your engine any lower than that range for extended driving, you need the cooling air for your engine that your fan is generating at those engine speeds.
Face it, you'll never be able to cruise for extended periods at 80 MPH at 2000 RPM with an air-cooled engine.
On the other hand - having another immediate gear between 1st and 4th would be great for more advantageous torque application at the apex!
I have read that Berg 5 speeds are a little weak if lots of power is applied too often in first gear (I understand that 1st is where he adds the extra gear in his custom nose cone?) This may be more applicable to drag racers than to street driven cars? Check out Shoptalk forums for more info.
I have been reading about using a Subaru 5-speed transmission.
Do a search on thesamba.com.
Do a search on thesamba.com.
I'll suggest a 3.44 with a crank power pulley that will spin a balanced race fan a bit faster and be sure to add into the equastion your tire size. ~Alan
Berg 5 speed?
Best money I've spent so far on my car.
Plan on spending $5K or so.
Feel free to email me with any questions
Best money I've spent so far on my car.
Plan on spending $5K or so.
Feel free to email me with any questions
Alan, a power pulley will spin the fan slower (smaller drive pulley=slower, larger drive pulley=faster) and I wonder if adding the 3.44 with a power pulley will cause the fan to spin way too slow?
Terry, I'm sure the 5 speed is great for ease of driving, (more gears, closer ratio's) but, isn't your 5th gear roughly the same ratio as a standard 4th gear. How many RPM's are you turning in 5th gear at 60 MPH and which ring/pinion do you have as well as tire size?
Larry,
I live in the foothills. My daily drive takes me through many elevation changes on some of the sweetest country roads in CA.
Yes, my fourth is now my fifth, but my gearing is close ratio which makes these roads even better.
Way back when I was contemplating having a car built I asked the question here if a 5 speed made sense. The general consensus was to go with a stroker instead.
As nice as it was, the addition of a 5 speed is exactly what I was looking for: the perfect formula for quick in/outs on the curves and incredible acceleration uphill.
I invite anyone who is considering this upgrade to come up and drive Penny.
I'm turning around three grand at 65 in fifth.
185/65/15 on 5.5 Mahle alloys
3.88 r/p
3.80
2.06
1.48
1.17
.089
I live in the foothills. My daily drive takes me through many elevation changes on some of the sweetest country roads in CA.
Yes, my fourth is now my fifth, but my gearing is close ratio which makes these roads even better.
Way back when I was contemplating having a car built I asked the question here if a 5 speed made sense. The general consensus was to go with a stroker instead.
As nice as it was, the addition of a 5 speed is exactly what I was looking for: the perfect formula for quick in/outs on the curves and incredible acceleration uphill.
I invite anyone who is considering this upgrade to come up and drive Penny.
I'm turning around three grand at 65 in fifth.
185/65/15 on 5.5 Mahle alloys
3.88 r/p
3.80
2.06
1.48
1.17
.089
Ok so the likelyhood is that you have a 3.88 ring and pinion (63 MPH at 3,000 RPM's with your tire size factored in as well as a .89 5th gear.)
If you dropped to a 3.44 you'd be doing 71 MPH at 3,000 RPM's
This comes back to what I originally said in a previous post. The advantage to a 5 speed is that you have more gears between 1st and 5th and they are closer ratio however the RPM's are the same if you're in 5th with a 5 speed as it would be with a traditional 4 speed transaxle in 4th gear.
If you dropped to a 3.44 you'd be doing 71 MPH at 3,000 RPM's
This comes back to what I originally said in a previous post. The advantage to a 5 speed is that you have more gears between 1st and 5th and they are closer ratio however the RPM's are the same if you're in 5th with a 5 speed as it would be with a traditional 4 speed transaxle in 4th gear.
When I spec'd it I wasn't interested in going faster...
I was interested in going quicker. ;-)
I was interested in going quicker. ;-)
Well said Terry!
Terry-
Your gear ratios are just about perfect, IMHO. I'm a flat-lander, with a .82/3.88 4th. It works for me, but I live here, and have a 2332. When I do the TBD next winter, I'll swap the .82 for a .89.
Your gear ratios are just about perfect, IMHO. I'm a flat-lander, with a .82/3.88 4th. It works for me, but I live here, and have a 2332. When I do the TBD next winter, I'll swap the .82 for a .89.
tooo good. answers before I ask the questions. Thanks
Gents,
Special CB Performance engine speced out based on my old dirt track racing days...large bore and short stroke (94.5 x 74). Like to reduce the torque feeling at 100MPH. I feel that I need to shift to a higher gear. Have no cooling problems. Remember, I'm in the North Carolina mountains. I ain't nary flatlander or as we call'em har fla'lan furineers. The Rancho has a 3.88 so Terry's close ratio may be better for me.
Special CB Performance engine speced out based on my old dirt track racing days...large bore and short stroke (94.5 x 74). Like to reduce the torque feeling at 100MPH. I feel that I need to shift to a higher gear. Have no cooling problems. Remember, I'm in the North Carolina mountains. I ain't nary flatlander or as we call'em har fla'lan furineers. The Rancho has a 3.88 so Terry's close ratio may be better for me.