TheSamba.com :: View topic - getting a transmission to hold more HP/Torque

Fri Jul 09, 2010 6:43 am

My bad, kinetic. It was my poor reading comprehension that thought you were asking if the trans in a VW was a similar set-up to a Hummvee (which suggested to me that you had never looked under your car), when you were merely asking about the reduction gears ("gearboxes at the wheels"). You probably know more about Hummvees than I know about VWs.

Anyhow ... what you need to find is a thread on the installation of a Bus Box into a Bug. I know a lot of people have done it, and I'm sure there are some threads around.

Again, any misunderstanding was my fault, and I apologize. It's my policy not to "put people in their place" on the internet (unless they had it coming) ... and your queries are totally legit.

Fri Jul 09, 2010 6:45 am

kineticpersuation wrote:

I guess I was annoyed, and I apologize to everyone else for this post.

the best advice I can give is to call a transaxle builder and talk to them(or you can email)... lack of knowledge on your end is okay, they expect it, and they can be honest with you about what they think you need to handle what you have...the phonecall, or email, is free and you will get the opinion of a professional builder... I recommend KCR or Rancho, both return emails quickly...tell em what you got, tell em what you plan to do with it, and let them give you a recommendation and a quote... and they won't offend you.... :lol:

P.S. "gears" is no novice, listen to him..

Sun Jul 18, 2010 8:51 pm

Gears.. Just so you know, I wrote that at about 4am due to an insomniatic episode and after reading over it, I realize I was being overly bitchy. I thank everybody for their ideas.

Mon Jul 19, 2010 1:13 am

kineticpersuation wrote: Well, I started reading this thread for a very similar reason, I have been searching for information on what to do to a stock 1600 transaxle to get it to live through hanging a subaru ej20 turbo motor off the back.. it's 235hp. You always hope that you can find people who have been there done that so you can learn from them, but man.. some guys just love to pick on what your writing. But anyway.. If Im not doing rocket launches from the redlights everyday, how well is it going to hold up to pretty good hard riding on the interstate and in town? When it comes to doing the math on gear ratios, my head starts hurting. I'm planning on replacing my trans later, but i'd like to drive it with what i have for now. When i change it out, is a bus trans better, or a pro street , or a freeway flier style? If you can point me to a thread that will answer these, or have some good ideas, i'd appreciate it. I know If I drop the clutch and do burn outs, i'm going to break my old stock transaxle, But with that kind of horsepower, who can restrain themselves all the time? I do plan on this being a daily driver, and I work in louisiana, and live in florida, so I'd like 5 gears but hey, with the suby motor I'll have more RPMs to work with and more power. I honestly have to many variables to know where to start. Anybody want a challenge?
Thanks! :)

Yeah put a 5 speed Subaru tranny on it. That's what they come from the factory with so you know it can handle the power and the ratios are matched perfectly with the power//torque curve of the engine. Same goes for the guys running an SVX motor. Just put a 5 speed Subaru transmission on it, that?s what the factory sold them with.

You can now get these as complete reversed transmissions or just the R & P and parts to flip the diff in them and convert to 2WD.

www.subarugears.com

Sun Apr 01, 2018 8:59 pm

Very old thread. What did you guys land up with?I have a ford 2.3l turbo and a bus 094 transmission. for 1000 a transmission guy will replace a lot of parts and make it a little stronger to handle 250hp. but he said if i wanted 300hp he would have to order some stronger gears but can work in my transmission but run me about 3,000. Im almost thinking of just going for the medeola.. I have an A-Arm sandrail im building with 20 inches of travel and 5x5 trailing arms with a 930 setup.

what happened with your stories?

Mon Apr 02, 2018 1:11 am

I run a type 4 turbo hooked up to a standard 1500 box. the box is working ok on the street ,BUT, NO burnouts, etc, I just get on it after its rolling. I'm sure that under racing conditions be it off road use of trip down the 1/4 it would brake in no time.
I'm no expert on VW boxes but dry wheel hopping race starts and rapid gear changing must be the 2 big box breakers.

Mon Apr 02, 2018 9:09 am

database00 wrote: What did you guys land up with?I have a ford 2.3l turbo and a bus 094 transmission. ...

Since I have 230 hp in my own Syncro Vanagon, I was forced to develop upgraded components that wouldn't fail in 30K miles. This includes gears, mainshafts, billet housings, etc. Not at all cheap, but you get what you pay for .. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2041168