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Sun Jun 17, 2012 2:01 pm

I was at a swap meet today. A guy has a 3 rib bus tranny. I didnt think to look at the numbers on it so all I know is that it's a 3 rib and it turns by hand. He doesn't know if there is anything wrong with it. He's asking $140. I got his number.
Is it worth that for a core if it is bad?? Is a 3 rib a good one for a baja with 31's(33's someday) on it??
Thanks

Sun Jun 17, 2012 2:31 pm

convential wisdom: $100 / rib. 3 rib, $300, 5 rib, $500, 6 rib, $600

If it has 6 acorn nuts holding the side covers on: No, thank you. '68 transmissions have too many unobtanium parts

I would prefer a 6 rib or 5 rib, but if you're going to do 33s, the 5.38 gears in a 3 rib will serve you well.

3 rib: 5.38
5 rib: 4.86
6 rib: 4.56

If I ever get a day off, I am planning on dumping the 33s on my Bronco and moving down to 31-10.50-15s. consider this: the brakes do not stop the car. the brakes stop the wheel and tire. outsize tires generate more leverage. the brakes have to overcome this leverage, and the heat it generates. the brakes on the Bronco are scary. this is not a word I use often.

if you go 33" on a VW use Type 3 or disc brakes in back.

Sun Jun 17, 2012 7:02 pm

iFf your running large wheels and tires, I recomend disks, drums are ok, but disks are way better. And even if its the oddball bus,a lot of the parts, but not all will swap over to a 002. If its the oddball and it runs its worth a $150 just to thrash on till you can save up to have a 091 or 002 built to your needs. Granted a well built bus tranny is going to cost between 2 and 3K.