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Wed Sep 03, 2008 1:00 pm

My winter project is going to be building a HD trans-axle. I wanted to use a Bus originally, but the only ones I've found were Vanagons that I wasnt entirely sure how much work it would be to convert. Rhinos are $250 and thats what I'd pay for a used Bus trans anyways. I'll still hunt for a cheap one, does all teh stock parts fit in a Rhino and does it require an adapter?

Wed Sep 03, 2008 1:55 pm

I have not owned one but that wil be what I am getting next time. From what I understand is there are built stronger but there is one internal part that is weaker on the case. The stock internals will fit.

I should add here that I cant run a bus box on my 9 car.... trust me I would if it was an option.

You are better off going to a bus box though.

Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:23 pm

xirxious wrote: My winter project is going to be building a HD trans-axle. I wanted to use a Bus originally, but the only ones I've found were Vanagons that I wasnt entirely sure how much work it would be to convert. Rhinos are $250 and thats what I'd pay for a used Bus trans anyways. I'll still hunt for a cheap one, does all teh stock parts fit in a Rhino and does it require an adapter?

as far as i know those are just transmission cases man, you would still have to build a transmission. so you could have that case and just put stock internals in it and still have just a stock transmission, its a reinforced and gusseted case.

Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:12 am

They look impressive but the gusseting is done in the wrong place. I have seen many that were broke in exactly the same spot as a plain stock case. For the money you are better off trying to find a "zig-zag" case out of a late model beetle (78 I think).

Here is a pic of what I am talking about. The spine in the middle zigs over the ring gear (the weak spot) and then zags back over like a earlier case.

Thu Sep 04, 2008 12:07 pm

khaney01 wrote: They look impressive but the gusseting is done in the wrong place. I have seen many that were broke in exactly the same spot as a plain stock case. For the money you are better off trying to find a "zig-zag" case out of a late model beetle (78 I think).

Here is a pic of what I am talking about. The spine in the middle zigs over the ring gear (the weak spot) and then zags back over like a earlier case.

Works OK for a late IRS but won't for a swing obviously.

The gussets you mentioned on the Rhino.
Why are they in the wrong place?

Might be for a mid engine with the ring gear opposite the norm.
I've had a Rhino case for 15-16 years, blown up countless dog rings (it's a 2-speed)
and second gears, and at least 2 ring and pinions with nary a problem.
It does have an extra gusset over the ring gear we added years ago.
Also has the early style 4-bolt pinion bearing retainer.

I have also heard that newer Rhinos are not nearly the case the early ones were.
Just the rumor mill churning, nothing to verify that.

Thu Sep 04, 2008 1:58 pm

3 seasons of non-pampered street driving and its great so far.
Just find a good tranny man to build it.

The first asshole that built my Rhino, charged me 1200.00 for a
forty-five minute ride before it locked up!

Second guy, " Jim's Custom vw"...
hooked me up right!

Thu Sep 04, 2008 6:14 pm

Quote:

The gussets you mentioned on the Rhino.
Why are they in the wrong place?

The problem was addressed by VW in the "zig-zag" case, the pinion gear tries to "climb" the ring gear in high traction situations. This begins a crack on the side of the case where material is not thick enough to prevent it. The Zig zag case moves the spine over to better support this area while the rhino case just adds more material to an area that is already strong enough in a stock case. I'm not saying that the rhino case is totally ineffective, for some people it works perfectly, but for the money spent on just the case you can buy a complete tranny that solves the problem 99% of the time.

Fri Sep 05, 2008 7:27 am

khaney01 wrote: Quote:

The gussets you mentioned on the Rhino.
Why are they in the wrong place?

The problem was addressed by VW in the "zig-zag" case, the pinion gear tries to "climb" the ring gear in high traction situations. This begins a crack on the side of the case where material is not thick enough to prevent it. The Zig zag case moves the spine over to better support this area while the rhino case just adds more material to an area that is already strong enough in a stock case. I'm not saying that the rhino case is totally ineffective, for some people it works perfectly, but for the money spent on just the case you can buy a complete tranny that solves the problem 99% of the time.

Most cases I've seen prepped for a high HP application were gusseted on the bottom, for a rear engine car.
My Rhino case has an extra gusset welded on the top as it is a mid engine sand drag buggy.

Yeah that zig-zag case is more than adequate for most rear engine IRS applications.

Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:35 am

just curious, but i have always seen and heard of people lunching transmissions internals but ive never seen personally or even heard second had of someone busting up a case, i mean im sure its happened but has anyone actually done it? it dosent seem like its very common.

Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:47 am

runslikeapenguin wrote: just curious, but i have always seen and heard of people lunching transmissions internals but ive never seen personally or even heard second had of someone busting up a case, i mean im sure its happened but has anyone actually done it? it dosent seem like its very common.

I've never had it happen to me but have seen plenty of gear oil in places and on things it shouldn't be......... 8)

This is a Rhino case for comparison.

Fri Sep 05, 2008 12:27 pm

I couldn't find any of the cracked rhino cases laying around but here are a couple stockers:

And here is the point that all I have ever seen break started from:

Fri Sep 05, 2008 5:19 pm

I read the sticky about the transmisssion ID, but I was a litle unclear on what needs to be done to convert a side shift Vanagon tranny (the one that can be conv.) I see these rigs for sale $2-300 and supposedly have a 6 rib in them, but a 6 rib is in the $7-800. It just seems too easy that they would work. The '80-'83 Vanagons with the T4 engine are supposed to have thm, but I'm not sure how to tell the T4 from whatever else would be in them. I'm still keeping an eye out for the '76-'79 Bus ones.

Fri Sep 05, 2008 5:22 pm

I've wasted thee or four stock and rino cases.

But i've had my autocraft with all good interls for three years.
mid mount car with 2276 turbo at 25 pounds of boost