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Tue Jun 01, 2010 10:22 pm

rossi46 wrote: Around £2800 the bear gearbox I had a spec sheet sent to me last week

I have emailed bear twice thru there website and have yet heard from them or received a spec sheet. can you scan your info and forward me it.
I am in the usa, thanks

Sat Jan 28, 2012 4:01 pm

If I could afford it I'd buy everyone here a Berg 5 this thing is sweet! This post gives a general idea what it takes to get a Berg 5 installed. I'm installing it into a 59' bug or more importantly a 59' floor pan. Rumor is later years will install easier without much modification.

Receive your Berg 5 trans from the builder. Yep that's a breather hose, damn this thing is sweet! wait til' you drive it I'm talking pounding and punching lower gears all around town and cruising home keeping up with traffic listening to your big motor puuuurrrr, you did get a big motor to match up with your Berg 5 correct? just want to make sure we're on the same page if we're looking to have some fun, LOL!!!

Berg 5 mid-mount kit, yes you do need one of these don't cheap out + Berg 5 shifter.

Mid-mount assembled for viewing purposes. Berg part # GB 643F (61' - later), I know it's not for my 59' but it worked. I tried GB 643J (55'-60') but the mid-mount would sit too low causing the weld brackets to not sit fully on the frame horns. Photo comparison of each kit is shown several shots below which will make more sense.

Replace four studs with longer ones (included in above kit) to allow the mid-mount to bolt on. Yes, Berg designed the mid-mount nice and thick so it ain't going nowhere.

Install front mount and do whatever it takes to get the trans aligned (Up and Down) correctly.

May have to notch the corners to fit between frame horns.

If it doesn’t feel right go on your first instincts. Grandparents taught us things we sometimes forget, it's all wisdom.

Below shows the trans sitting WAY TOO high outside of the chassis tunnel damn! Now what do I do? Call Berg? Call Rancho? Do I have the correct mid-mount?? they do have several versions make sure you get the right one Berg was very helpful over the phone and shipping back and forth. The problem here was that if I lowered the trans where I needed it to be, the rubber-bushing studs would not line up to the holes on the front mount, the studs were actually floating in the air. Solution: fabricate a longer (to the ground) front mount, very simple to make.

Chop Chop, remember?? whatever it takes . . . I believe Berg part # B5S PLUG will cover up this hole, I recently noticed this part on their website.

New right side stud (10mm x 1.50) relocated and welded.

Like I said do whatever it takes to get proper alignment even if it means fabing your own front mount, whew that wasn't too bad now on to the next task.

Very Important:
Before moving on install the shiftrod and Berg shifter and shift through all gears making sure it shifts smoothly, you need to push the button to get to 5th, did I say 5th? that is not a typo, LOL!

Below - Comparing two different Berg mount kits to give you an idea of the differences to help your setup.
Left photo - GB 643F (61' - later) has a tighter fit on my 59' but worked out. Right photo - GB 643J (55' - 60') has a looser fit on my 59' and would not allow the brackets to be fully welded the reason I went with the F kit.

Align and weld brackets. Make sure trans is pushed fully forward and bolts tightened to get correct alignment. Keep your mid-mount at least 1/4" or more away from the frame horns you don't want that thing banging around.

Tack weld couple spots helps before welding full beads. This alignment was acceptable keeping everything nice and tight. Again, shift through all gears feeling for smooth shifts before committing to welding.

Cut under back seat for clearance, a dremel tool does the job well if you don't mind going through several cutting discs.

Install your heavy duty race axles, you did get a set right?

You know the rest, hope this was helpful.

Sun Jan 29, 2012 8:14 pm

Do they still make parts for these?

How much pounding/HP will tis modification take?

Can the 5 spd. mod be done on a bus tranny?

Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:11 pm

Yes the type 1 box is available. identical to the one in the recent post. I have the earlier design which doesn't have the new intermediate housing.
They have a bus version available also.

Tue Jan 31, 2012 12:52 am

The B5 can take just as much hp as any 4 speed with like parts. The biggest difference is if you blow it up, the B5 gets REALLY expensive to fix.

The current Type 1 Berg 5 can be installed in a pre-67 Type 2. With or without reduction boxes.