Ok... Freeway flyer trans question

Took out the CMC the other day. I forgot just how hideous the gearing is. I could probably tow a camper trailer with the gearing, however, we plan on a few road trips this year. Is this a straight up swap? I have an IRS setup, and am just curious if this is just a matter of swapping out the transnissions or if the " nose cone" needs to be kept on my 7.97 or 4.10, whatever the insane dump truck transmission is.. ;) thanks all! Keith

Basically, the nose cone is the same on all Type 1 transaxles. You have a choice, you can either have your transaxle rebuilt to accept new gears and a new ring and pinion or, you can buy a transaxle already set up with proper gearing. Several places, mainly in So. Calif. can help. Personally I like KCR in Riverside, CA. my second choice is Rancho in Fullerton, CA. It's a fairly easy swap with an IRS, Once you're removed the engine, you remove the CV's at the transaxle, remove the shifter tube from the nose cone, remove either the clutch cable or hydraulic cylinder (depending on which clutch release system you have) and then send it out or order a new transaxle. Most of the rebuilders like to have a core so plan on sending it to the rebuilder.

Kevin at KCR (951) 688-1904
Sammy at Rancho (714) 680-6737

or buy a good used 3.88 R&P IRS for $50 and be done with it.

i'd recommend new OEM rubber trans mounts while you are in there.

Mango has it right..... Dump ANY urethane mounts....They dont handle "shear" or "extension" worth a damn.... How do he know???

I'm curious about what ratios I have in my tranny though it's likely just stock. Can rpms / speeds be calculated back with the diameter of the rear tire to figure it out? Thanks.

Dave, Go to cbperformance website (Farmersville, Ca.). They list there a "fill in" equation That will enable you to calculate rpms, tire size, gear ratios, etc. Utilizing those formulas helped tremendously when I changed the gears in my 3.88. erhaps you know of this site already?????

Bob

David...OR, Rancho Performance has a calculator that allows this also. Plus if you go to their catalog they show all their gear sets available.
On researching this last month I also found an EXCEL document calculator that worked real cool for me with a graph. I believe I found it here on some of the past threads. I think I just found out who has the EXCEL DOCUMENT... jdubois77354ANTIVIRAL@comcast.net...by using that EXCEL calculator and the Rancho catalog page that shows all their gears sets you can play with plenty of options. Here's a photo of the EXCEL page with a pretty stock VW set. Once you track down the EXCEL document you can play to your hearts content. Just plug in the numbers on that left hand column. "jdubois", sorry I don't know you. You claimed on one post you can send the calculator link, somehow I found it here but can't re-track my steps.

This calculator is pretty slick and simple too, just find your gear sets at the Rancho catalog page...http://www.et-studios.com/motorsports/gears/gears.html

Rich, I would be the Jim Dubois to which you refer. And yes, many years ago I did a simple Excel spreadsheet for transmission calculation. And yes I can send it out and more than happy to share it. Nothing wonderful, just handy for me.

Just drop me an email at the address you listed jdubois77354@comcast.net More than happy to send it out, but the ones now available online may do the same things easier....and better

Jim, thanks, it worked for me last month, I was just hoping David could use it for his needs. Maybe you could just send it out to him: David Stroud...dstroud@xplornet.com

Rich, spreadsheet sent....best regards, Jim

Thanks for the spreadsheet, Jim. Thanks Rich also. Looks like I've got a bone stock swing axle tranny and it takes 3,500 rpm to get a paltry 63 miles an hour. So what is the best way to get the rpm down to say 3,000 at 70 mph ? Mango...you made it sound too easy. The Soob torque curve looks interesting 1500 rpm = 129 ft.lbs, 3,000 rpm = 139 ft.lbs and it tops out at 4000 rpm = 143 ft.lbs. Any suggestions to take advantage of this while keeping some reasonable pull off the line also?

David, on two of my cars I did 3.44 R&P and did a .82 4th gear on one and a .89 4th on the other. On my current project I did 3.88 with a .89 4th. It is yet to hit the street, the 3.44/.82 combination was very nice, but I may have overdone it bit...no need to have a 170mph 4th gear in a 125 mph aero package....but 70mph was about 2800rpm which was pretty nice

Keith if you go trans. hunting, determine if your nosecone has a two or three bolt front mount. Be sure that you buy with the same type. I swapped to a 3.88 t/axle and like it a lot. I get 70 mph at about 3600 rpm or so. You could go 3.44 r/p but you need more grunt(power) for it to be effective.

Larry, not all nosecones are created equal. The early nosecone up to '72 has a two bolt mount...the later '73 and on version has 3 bolts. They are not interchangeable either as the main front bearing is a different size one to the other...ask me how I know!

~WB

That .82 / 3.44 combo is exactly what I was thinking about, Jim. I calculated 3,000 rpm at 75 mph which is fast enough for me in my basic chassis setup. Plenty of the roads frequently travelled in our area are 50 mph hr zones and with that combo I'd be doing only 2,000 rpm but that number produces 132 ft.lbs which is 92% of max torque.

Keith,

Spend the cash on a genuine Freeway Flyer rather than a late model stock VW transaxle. There's a massive difference to the stocker and a custom unit with a perfectly mixed and matched gear set. You can also opt for a four spyder gear cluster, welded third and forth, hardened keys and shafts, HD side cover(s), HD throwout bearing shaft, plus the new bushing and bearing and such that make the built trans SUCH a pleasure.

I've had four transaxles built over the years and will continue doing so. A day vs night difference over stock late model 3.88 or otherwise.

There's s good chance that the new transaxle won't come with the nosecone. The trans is too long with it to meet the UPS box size standards, but without it they'll ship ground service just fine. The difference between Truck Freight (and the need for a loading dock at the delivery point) or plain old UPS Ground where it comes to your house and gets left on the back deck.

Buy it, you'll LOVE it,

TC

David, you don't want to be cruising at 2000rpm regardless of torque value because the fan needs to turn a little faster for better cooling. Of course you could downshift.

Giday, Syl. I've converted to a Soob EJ22 engine so the only fans I have are on the rad and heater core. A buddy next door has a Subaru so maybe I'll check with him to see how his car deals with 2,000 rpm at similar speeds. I know it's not good to lug any engine at any time.

Bill, yes you are correct about the nose cone mounts. However, he has an IRS and they all have the same nose cone.

Larry, nope. IRS covers 68 on. the three bolt n/cone came in 73. Both the nosecones in my pic are IRS. My old 2 bolt 72 on the left and a post 72 3 bolt on the right. Imagine my surprise when I lifted my "new" trans up and tried to put 3 holes on two bolts. DOH!

~WB

OOPS, my bad David. I spaced on the fact that you have gone Subie. I was remembering your car from last year's Carlisle. I have an interest in this thread because I am also considering swapping out my trans. It may be geared even lower than yours. Sixty mph takes about 3800rpm. I have no idea what the ratios are. I enjoy it 95% of the time around town and on back roads, but it's clearly not a highway cruiser. I get to work out my left leg and right arm as compared to my 1970 mostly stock bug that hardly ever saw fourth around town, but was aerodynamically limited to about 85-90 on the highway.

I just want to get this correct... Obviously the engine pops out with 4 big bolts, along with misc little hoses, etc. once out, I'll need to see what cone I have and ship it off, etc. I think I can do this drop in a day pretty easily. Of course I wish I were putting in a 2180 ;(

I swear this transmissions 1st gear is between where 1st and 3rd normally would be felt. 2nd/4th feel normal. It shifts very nice, it's just that first has always felt too far right. I'm looking forward to buying a fresh trans...

Bill, you're correct, I have so much info floating around in my brain, some it gets confused and misplaced when I haven't dealt with a subject for a while.

Bill - So no way to simply swap 2 bolt nose cone to the 3 bolt (due to bearing)? I too have a 3.88 '73 IRS with 3 bolt - but chassis is 2 bolt '70. Guess I should have cut off the chassis side from the '73! Looks like you had grinder out.

They sell adapter/front trans mounts to fit the new into the old and other way around.

I'm going to have a tranny available once it's pulled from my car to make room for my new Rancho custom. Any interest on a 3.88 r/p stock geared Wright transaxle with 3600 miles on it which came with my Beck?

"They sell adapter/front trans mounts to fit the new into the old and other way around. "

yup..Berg's got em.

Greg, Like TC said, they have adapter mounts to mate to one another. Saw them on CIP1. Didn't know that at the time so I clearanced out my n/cone to fit the bigger bearing. The one on the left is the old one after I was done grinding on it. Only the edge of the bearing sits in the shallow circular lip..only about 1/8 inch or so. The majority of the bearing lives in the t/axle case. Soooo, I made 'er fit.

~WB