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Tue May 08, 2007 12:54 pm

Hi, I have reduction gears and want to get rid of them, so I can go highway speeds. How is this done?

Tue May 08, 2007 1:35 pm

Do you want to stay with the swing axle or up-grade to IRS?

Tue May 08, 2007 1:39 pm

how hard is it to switch to the irs? Or can I just buy some more axles without the reduction boxes? I have no idea. I was just told by someone that he can get his bus with reduction gears up to highway speeds just fine. I can't see it happening without hitting 4500 rpms.

Tue May 08, 2007 4:45 pm

-You can change current trans to non swing with some bug parts (axle and spring plates), but the trans has to come out to flip the ring and pinon (yes, you must flip the ring or you'll have one really low forwand gear and four reverse gears!!!).
-So... why not just go with a complete Beetle trans AND suspension.
-Converting to IRS requires welding.

Tue May 08, 2007 5:59 pm

thanks alot!! I think I'm gonna go with kcr's superstreet with freeway flyer and get like you said beetle swingaxles, I'll have to buy new spring plates found some used for $20 or new for $70 as for the beetle swingaxle I found a pair of used for $100 How's that sound? I want to put some fat knobbies on her too. Looking at 30's.

Tue May 08, 2007 6:45 pm

...or trade w/ a Thing owner who wants the reduction gears!

Tue May 08, 2007 8:11 pm

Late model buses had 1 to 1 gears in the boxes. That would be in 66 and 67 type 2's.

Tue May 08, 2007 9:49 pm

caribbeanlivin wrote: I want to put some fat knobbies on her too. Looking at 30's.

BTW, tall tires will "gear up" up the transmission. If I were you, I'd try the tall tires first (while you still have the raised suspension from the RGBs), and see if that gets you going fast enough.

If not, one of us will be glad to take those RGBs off your hands! :lol:

- Scott

Wed May 09, 2007 5:51 am

I was gonna get some bigger fatter tires anyway, so I'll give that a try if I still don't like it then I'll let yall know that I'm getting rid of them. Thanks alot yall!!

Fri May 18, 2007 7:31 pm

Hey yall, I just put some 28 inch diameter tires on my thing and I'm still having problems getting up to 65 -75. Does good in 2nd about 30 mph and 3000 rpm's. Please help!!!

Fri May 18, 2007 11:27 pm

...or trade w/ a Thing owner who wants the reduction gears!
I also would be interested in RBs

65+
Bigger motor, turbo or tail wind--aren't those old 181s single port?
Whats the rpm full throttle?
Drive it down a hill 65 and see if the rpm is were you want it.

<quote>-So... why not just go with a complete Beetle trans AND suspension.</quote>
I'm sure you will make money on a straight swap deal with someone.
If I were close by I would even help you do it to get that suspension for an offroader. If you get the final ratio were you want it you may want to leave them on. Gas it and the rear end lifts & stiffens up--kinda cool when you going to hit a big bump.

4500rpm
75mph
28 inch tires
gear ratio=5

4000rpm
75mph
28 inch tires
gear ratio=4.44

3500rpm
75mph
28 inch tires
gear ratio=3.88

Point is if you know diameter of tire mph and rpm you can calculate you final gear ratio off you car for comparison to other known cars.

gear ratio = (4th) X (ring pinion) X (reduction gear if used)
in my book it says a lot of is reduction gears are 1.38, (some 1.40 or 1.68 )

common stock gear ratio = 1.32 X 4.12 =5.43
Here my engine calculator says you would go 69mph with 28in tires @4500rpm. Dropping the wheel size to 21in gets you 50mph like below

1.32 X 4.12 X 1.38 = 7.51
Here my engine calculator says you would go 50mph with 28in tires @4500rpm

Run your car down a hill @ 65 read the rpm and calculate your gear ratio so you can (compare it with your old tire size?) and the new tire size. It will show if the tires make up for the 1.38 reduction boxes @ 65mph and Measured rpms.

Here is the free calculator program I use.
http://www.virtualengine2000.com/ProgramDownload.htm

or:
MPH x Gear Ratio
--------------------- x 336 = Engine RPM
Tire Diameter

Sat May 19, 2007 12:52 am

Also remember that if you've changed the front tyres as well your speedo will under-read

Sat May 19, 2007 1:42 am

"Also remember that if you've changed the front tyres as well your speedo will under-read"(GregZA)

Yes to use the GR calculator you will have to measure mph with stop watch and distance or trailing car--good point!!

Sat May 19, 2007 2:17 am

Thanks yall!!!! I'll give that a try in the morning ( a few hours from now). I had 195 75 15's on her and had a kilometer gauge and could see 90 kilo's @ 3700 to 4000 rpm's. Now I have 275 60 15's on her with a regular speedo and the rpm's are alot lower for all the gears but it seems like I'm only going 55-60 tops, but not sure cause the needle shakes. But 1st I can get 10-15 mph @ 3000rpm's, 2nd can get 15-30mph @3000-3500 rpm's and 3rd can get 30-40 or so mph @ 3000rpm's, but 4th sucks bad!!! It seems to bog down like I should have left it in 3rd. I'll check this morning with someone infront of me. Thanks alot yall!!

Sat May 19, 2007 2:30 am

Man is everyone up parting or working graveyard like me Friday night is backup time.

Your gear ratio with the 26.5in tires @4000rpm @56mph seems to be about about 5.63 a pretty typical # for 4th with no reduction boxes, (5.43), in a bug, but you should have gained 3-4mph with 28in tires if you had the power to do it.

"It seems to bog down like I should have left it in 3rd"( caribbeanlivin)
Need more torque for those tires.

Download and play with calculator--I'm getting old my math is not always good.

Sat May 19, 2007 5:17 am

Ferretkona wrote: Late model buses had 1 to 1 gears in the boxes. That would be in 66 and 67 type 2's.

Not true. They had 1.26 reduction and would be perfect for 30 inch tires if the center section is an oringinal bus one with a 4.12 ring &pinion.

Sat May 19, 2007 9:57 am

Well yall, I tried it out. Speedo shakes but seems to be pretty close to others even with those police speed signs. Slight down slope and reached 50 with the petal pushed with low rpm's around 3000 then started up hill where the police speed sign is and clocked @ 40-50 petal pushed with 3000 rpm's. Also got it on the highway, but everyone was passing me, (looking & smiling) but still passing me even 18 wheeler's. I didn't have any petal left and was going about 55-60 with 3000-3500 rpm's. I bought a 1914 block and have a weber progressive was going to put dual weber's on her, but if that's my speed limit. I think I'm done playing with her. My loss is someones gain. I paied 6k for her and with the longblock and wheels I have another 2k invested. Want to keep her but need highway transportation from time to time.

Sat May 19, 2007 10:44 am

I bought a 1914 block

This dose not sound right if you only get 55mph @ 3000rpm.
Maybe it's a tunning thing with your Webber or timming?

Sat May 19, 2007 2:32 pm

You're describing how my Thing ran when I first got it. Then I found out that with the pedal on the floor, the carb wasn't all the way open. Cleaned out all the gunk around the gas pedal, and could suddenly do 70.

Sat May 19, 2007 7:36 pm

Didn't look too nasty back there, but I'll check again. Thanks for the info!