Transmission Re-geared

     It's getting there. I was about to put the header on but I noticed the shiny aluminum coating I had redone last winter looks like oatmeal in a couple of spots so back to the powder coater. The old Chinese drums won't fit on the Weddle axles, too tight. So I got a couple of the Italian ones and they fit pretty good. The Chinese ones fit perfect on the stock axles. Any how I'm going to sell the old drums with 300 miles on them.

     I have to put the header back on, the Fiberglas around the engine and hook up the wires and throttle linkage and it is ready to go. I hope the oil leaks are fixed now. Mike Gagnier in NC built a great transaxle for me. He is great to work with, very honest and much cheaper than any of the California builders I talked to.

I think you told me but I suffer from CRS these days. What R&P and gear ratios did you ultimately decide on having Mike put in ?

I cruised down to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro on Sunday. Almost ate it with some guy who decided to change lanes when I was nearly along side of him. My horn scared the crap out of him and woke him up with a start ! Lucky no body was in the lane on my left !  Our SCUBA Club had a Beach dive and picnic there also so it was a fun day. I took off at 6am and went down to Laguna Beach then up Pacific Coast Hwy all the way thru Long beach and over to San Pedro. Tons of thumbs up and a beautiful drive at that time in the morning. Hope to see you out here sometime this winter Frank........Bruce

Gear stack is 3.78-2.06-1.31-.93, 3.44 r&p. Hopefully it won't be geared too high in 4th.

That looks like a great setup!  Very close to original VW early 70's??

It is a Super Beetle 1-2, Beetle 3rd and a Weddle 4th. The 3.44 r&p is the main difference.  I could have used a 3.88 with a .82 4th and got the same overall top gear but I wanted to make 3-4 closer. I'm not sure who it was but I think it was Al B and Bruce that helped me a lot with this. We also used a white rhino case and new Weddle drag axles which wouldn't fit the Brazilian drums I had because they were too tight. That was interesting because they fit my old stock axles perfectly.  I had to get new Italian drums and they fit OK.

Did the Italian drums come pre-lubed with extra-Virgin olive oil?

They smell...well, like salad when they get hot.

Just so you guys know- the late model 3.78 (9/34 tooth) /2.06 mainshaft is not a Super Beetle only part; it was used in all type 1 transaxles starting in late '72 (I think?). The deal is it's stronger than the earlier 3.80 (10/38 tooth)/2.06 mainshaft. Now, before everybody gets their panties in a knot thinking the later shaft is a must have, the only guys I've known to break the early first gear are drag racers with a lot of power. I put 25? 30? 1/4 mile runs on a 3.80 in a heavy (2,000 lb) car running 14's as well as 20 or 30,000 street miles (with the more than occasional mustang/camaro/firechicken beat down) and it was never an issue. Most Speedster owners need not be concerned, as it's full on drag race/ dump the clutch starts without preloading the trans first that will destroy 1st gear.

That all said, there are guys that could break a crowbar in a sandbox (my brother being one of them, but that's a whole 'nother story!)

And see, back already I am!

Frank- 3.44/.93 (3.19) is almost exactly the same as the 3.88/.82 (3.18) final drive, so I think you're going to like it...

My name is Ed and I approve this gear stack.

Paid for by the Committee to Endorse Four-Speeds and 3.44 Ring & Pinion Sets

5 Speed   !!!!!!!!!     

Man. This group is like a bunch of drug addicts when it comes to talking about gear ratios. You guys can never get enough.

Stock gear ratios and a 3.44 R&P with bags of torque works real nice for me.....

4 SPEED!!!      4SPEED!!!    4SPEED............

Try typing that out three times fast!!

tebs

Teby S posted:

4 SPEED!!!      4SPEED!!!    4SPEED............

Try typing that out three times fast!!

tebs

It looks like you missed a gear. It should be:

4SPEED!!! 4 SPEED!!! 4 SPEED!!! 4SPEED.........

I'm happy with my 73 4 speed tranny matted to my 2110 on an Island that only needs 3 gears (most of the time)

TRP posted:

Man. This group is like a bunch of drug addicts when it comes to talking about gear ratios. You guys can never get enough.

And your point is?

Btw, Ted, I have an idea for a super close gearstack that'll really rip around town with a decent 5th; it will involve a little more money and sending stuff back to Berg, though. Pm me before you take your parts off the garage shelf...

Man. This group is like a bunch of drug addicts when it comes to talking about gear ratios. You guys can never get enough.

....someday we'll get back to a Nardi Horn button thread and pass a Bong.

Porsche 5-Speed-Wevo shifter.  It's the only way to fly

 Mom! Marty's showing off again!

Yeah, Stan.

Marty really likes to show off his white knob.  That is for sure. 

I've heard Marty's nickname is 'shortshifter'.

That's what she said!