'90 Sinka 5-speed gearing

[oasis]

I have been reading a lot in general while waiting to be able to give updates (answers, decisions, or follow-up questions) on other threads of mine. Some stuff I'm learning; some I'm relearning from when I had a Vanagon in the '90s; and some are outside my knowledge base. Whatever, I appreciate it all.

My problem with my single cab is the owner's manual is in Italian, and my Italian is a no so good a.

My 5-speed is set up where first gear is doglegged left-and-down, and the H-pattern is 2nd-thru-5th gears. It reminds me of a 914 pattern.

If memory serves me correctly, Syncros had that pattern, too, although it was a granny gear that was doglegged and one had a "normal" 1st-thru-4th as the H-pattern with normal meaning 1st-thru-4th is actually geared similarly or the same as my '85.

I only ever drove one Syncro once so correct me if I'm wrong. I never drove a 2wd Vanagon with a 5-speed but I always thought the H-pattern was 1st-thru-4th and 5th gear was doglegged right-and-up -- like all other VW 5-speeds I have owned.

The part that has me flummoxed is my 1st gear seems really low. I mean really low.

I can get moving somewhat okay from a standstill in 2nd if I'm on flat ground or slightly on a decline, but it doesn't feel like what I think I remember from my '85 in 1st.

So, to be safe, I always start from my 1st gear when at a dead stop.

Was my Italian Transporter geared differently? If so, how? And why?
_________________
Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI

[syncrodoka]

The dogleg 1st gear to a standard H pattern is the correct pattern for a 2wd 5 speed.
They came with different gear ratios. If it is a diesel they are usually geared pretty low. There is a 3 letter code on the case that will help people figure out your gear ratios from the factory.

[AndyBees]

_________________
'84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI, two trips to Alaska, 2014 & 16. 1989 Tin-top unmolested.
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine, seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. 1975 Bay hopeful.

[oasis]

Thank you, both. Always learning. When the weather gets a better and I am able, I will look for the three-letter code.

Based on the right-hand column of the chart, mine's not listed ... although all of the Euro diesels that are listed with 5-speeds are the same (except for the ring & pinion). Looking at the chart and assuming my '90 is the same as one of the Euro listings, that seems about right comparing to what I remember from my '85.

My side project will be to look up how the ring & pinion ratio works in conjunction with the gear ratios. Thanks again!
_________________
Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI

[AndyBees]

_________________
'84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI, two trips to Alaska, 2014 & 16. 1989 Tin-top unmolested.
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine, seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. 1975 Bay hopeful.

[?Waldo?]

If your doka has a 1.6TD (or had one) then it will have the 4.8 R+P That is a little bit shorter 1st than the stock WBX trans, but not outrageously. Definitely not a granny gear and should be used on all starts from a stop. The 5th gear is similar or the same ratio as the 4th gear is on a stock WBX trans so the gearing is just tighter together. If you have an upgraded engine conversion, then an R+P change to 4.57 or 4.14 can make all the gears more useful. A 4.14 swap actually results in a 1st gear slightly taller than there is with the stock WBX trans.

[hdenter]

If the OP's 1st gear is that low, I'm thinking he may have a variant closer to a DX with the 5.43 r/p.

Hans
_________________
'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[oasis]

There is nothing about my '90 that tells me anyone did anything as far as modding it is concerned. The seller had only owned it for about a year, and most of that was taken up in importing it when COVID-19 hit. I have all of his receipts, and while a fair amount of work was done, it was all repairs and general maintenance. The only mod I can spot is someone had a rack built for the bed that left some cosmetic scarring behind.

My speedo doesn't work, but if I'm doing about 3-4 MPH, I feel the engine rev is telling me to shift. At an estimated 5-7 MPH in 1st, I feel like I'm really revving.

However, I always do start from 1st if at a standstill. The two or three times I tried from 2nd "worked," but it didn't seem natural at all--and those couple of experiments were on level ground.

My memory of my '85 1.9L gas model is more than 20 years old. Nevertheless, 1st now by comparison seems really low, and 2nd now feels like 1st-and-a-half by comparison.

It's probably normal. It was a work truck.

I'm totally new to this not counting what I can compare to my '85. My Sinka seems very happy in 3rd, 4th, and 5th ... and it is much happier on the Interstate than my '85 ever was with the 1.9L. I'm still getting used to the gearing and the H-pattern, but it's a blast.

Thanks for the answers and follow-ups.
_________________
Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI

[?Waldo?]

More info would give a better picture, e.g. what engine and what trans code.

[oasis]

Thanks ?Waldo?! Maybe I'm wrong about my speed... or revs, but I didn't even think I was doing 7-8 MPH at 2000-2500 RPMs. Then again, I thought I was dealing with Interstate traffic better than the 53 MPH @ 3000 RPMs would indicate. At any rate, I like the explanation and will look further into my specific situation.
_________________
Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI

[oasis]

Oops ... didn't see the paragraph below the charts.

It's a JX turbo diesel. I don't yet know any of the other particulars.

(I was amused by the 139 MPH at 6000 RPMs.)
_________________
Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI

[hdenter]

Is there a 4.14 available for five-speed manuals?

Hans
_________________
'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[hdenter]

I have an ASS with a 4.83 out of a JX TD bolted to my stock 1.9 gas engine now in my work van. First gear is short, but not that bad. With a bit of feathering I can get it to pull out in second. It has made a world of difference in driving on hills and freeway on-ramps.

Hans
_________________
'79 triple white convertible bug
'84 sunroof vanagon
'85 weekender

[?Waldo?]

[Jake de Villiers]

What size are the tires on the vehicle?
_________________
'84 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX
'86 Westy Weekender Poptop/2.5 Subaru/5 Speed Posi/Audi Front Brakes/16 x 7.5 Mercedes Wheels - answers to 'Dixie'
@jakedevilliersmusic1
http://sites.google.com/site/subyjake/mydixiedarlin%27
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