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Tue Dec 15, 2015 5:14 pm

So I have been trying to understand the benefits of a freeway flyer transaxel for a baywindow bus I have. I just built a 2084 cc with duel 48 weber idfs all the usual bells and whistles. Figure horse power at around 138 or so. Now, I use this bus to hall tools of my trade so I am loaded a majority of the time so I need the low end torque to get going and going is quite good with this motor with a stage one Kennedy clutch. So, how can I get a longer rev in all gears forward. Will a 4.12 or 4.57 ring and pinion be the best way to achieve this? And using a .89 forth gear for freeway speeds. I am not trying to do high speeds lets say over 70 just like going up hills in forth gear with power in reserve.

Tue Dec 15, 2015 5:18 pm

What size tires are you currently running?

Tue Dec 15, 2015 5:22 pm

Tue Dec 15, 2015 5:25 pm

Is that 195R14?

Tue Dec 15, 2015 6:51 pm

Where do you live? I run a 2175 at 6500' + with an 002 with 195r14c. I climb lots of mountains in my area with no issues, I'm not sure a 091 or FF would preform as well in my geographic location.

I think 138 HP is a bit high, I bet it's more like 80-90 hp with 90-100 fpt. I had my 2109 in the dyno and it only put out 68 hp and 89 fpt.

Dyno or you'll never know :)

My current 2175 will on the dyno in 6 weeks, I'm sure it's not putting out over 100 hp probably more like 80-90.

Tue Dec 15, 2015 7:34 pm

195/60r15

Next time I need tires I plan to run 205 60R15

Tue Dec 15, 2015 7:43 pm

Note ; The larger tire will effect the VW speedometer ; make shure you compensate ...OR... use a phone app for your speedometer .

Tue Dec 15, 2015 7:45 pm

I live in northern California. You can calculate the horse power of a engine using this formula. 15cc divided into your total motor cc
2084 divided by 15 equals 138.93 hp. plus the additional hp using duel carburetors Your hp should be 140.60 hp. what size carburetors are you using maybe the elevation interferes with the out put of the engine how hot does your oil get my new 2084 runs around 180 at freeway speeds and I uses regular grade 87 octane. My compression ratio is set at 8.5 to one I am using O44 heads 92 mm thick walled cylinders I have just over 1400 miles on the motor I also used total seal rings which really makes a difference. I had to add additional hold back springs on the throttle to give me more control of how fast I want to go as this motor wants to hall ass even when I don't want it too.

Tue Dec 15, 2015 8:09 pm

davada56 wrote: I live in northern California. You can calculate the horse power of a engine using this formula. 15cc divided into your total motor cc
2084 divided by 15 equals 138.93 hp. plus the additional hp using duel carburetors Your hp should be 140.60 hp. what size carburetors are you using maybe the elevation interferes with the out put of the engine how hot does your oil get my new 2084 runs around 180 at freeway speeds and I uses regular grade 87 octane. My compression ratio is set at 8.5 to one I am using O44 heads 92 mm thick walled cylinders I have just over 1400 miles on the motor I also used total seal rings which really makes a difference. I had to add additional hold back springs on the throttle to give me more control of how fast I want to go as this motor wants to hall ass even when I don't want it too.

I hear what you're saying but...as a stroker driver for several years now there's no way your putting out 140.60 HP with 8.5:1 compression. Your formula can spit out what ever answer it likes, put it on a dyno and you'll really find out. Until then the numbers are hearsay. If your formula was correct my engine would be putting out 145 hp, there's absolutely no way that's correct.

What model 195/60r15 are you running? If they are anything but an AT tire I bet they don't have the proper rating for a bus. The tire sticky thread has all the information on tires you could ever ask for. Post some pics.

Tue Dec 15, 2015 9:18 pm

Hey Pete

Tue Dec 15, 2015 9:33 pm

davada56 wrote: ... You can calculate the horse power of a engine using this formula. 15cc divided into your total motor cc ...

The owner's manual for my '69 camper lists the engine size at 1584 cc and the bhp at 57. How come I'm not getting the 105.6 hp from your formula?

Aloha
tp

Tue Dec 15, 2015 9:40 pm

I would think that a 002 transaxle with a taller R&P would match your engine and get you to the 70+mph range and spin your engine in the mid 3000s. I have seen many good transaxles come from Arizona Transaxle.

Wed Dec 16, 2015 5:41 am

I am very satisfied with the freeway flyer transmission in my '70 bus. Engine is Kadron-equipped 1904. I can keep up with the convoy of beetles winding up through the Pennsylvania hills. Nice around town too. Hankook 14" RA08 tires.

Wed Dec 16, 2015 5:55 am

davada56 wrote: 195/60r15

Next time I need tires I plan to run 205 60R15

Agreed those are pretty little tires. The 205/60/15s would not be much taller.

I run 205/65/15s on my GoWesty alloys and they are about 1/2" shorter than stock. Mine are Vredesteins Comtracks and are not nearly as stiff in the sidewall as my 195R14 Hancooks RA08s are. Hard to find adequate 15" tires for a bus.

"Stock" bus tire height (compared to a 185R14) in a 15" tire would be about a 205/70/15 tire. Could you fit a 195/75/15 or a 205/75/15 in there?

That might get you the higher gearing you desire.

Wed Dec 16, 2015 7:43 am

^^^I don't think bumping the tire size up a bit is going to give the OP the 10 extra MPH he is looking for. Sure running taller tire will help your top end but only buy 1 or 2 MPH, not 10.

OP, on my (mountain) set up my sweet spot is 60 @ 3500 RPMs a do can do that up any "hill". I can even pull out on the highway from my neighborhood onto a 6% grade hill and be at 60 at the top 2 miles later. This sweet spot nets me 17-18 mpg in town and 21-23 on the highway. If you want to be going 70+ at 35-3600 you will benefit from the taller geared transaxle. If you buy one that has the stock 002 gearing and a taller R&P combined with the correctly rated taller tires you should get the outcome you are looking for.

Wed Dec 16, 2015 8:00 am

The most direct answer I can give without dancing around displacements (you have plenty of that.) and tire sizes. (which can be changed if need be faster than a gear ratio.) I would recommend a 002 with a 4.86 to 1 ring and pinion with a bug .89 fourth gear. If you war going to see allot of highway use than run your existing .82 002 fourth gear.

Using the .82 fourth will space out the shifts a little more between third and fourth with the 4.86 but it will be worth it. But if you will see more hills run the .89 the from a bug.

I have always found the 4.86 to be the "happy medium" between the 5.375 and 4.57 ring and pinions. this ratio has always served my early bay window buses with type 1 power well

mi dos centavos. :)