1776 engine and gearbox / transmission upgrade for my 69 Westy

[SGKent]

[dub_crazee]

Rich Parker those are some pretty disappointing numbers you have there

My 2276 is a basic CB kit but swapped out the cam for something much milder so the power comes in much lower. This makes it ideal for a bus with low down torque. Also stock rockers and ali pushrods. My graph is at the flywheel but yeh….still well above 100hp at the wheels.

Also what are my calculations that mean nothing on the real World? I simply stated that if you have more than 100hp you’ll have more than enough for longer ratios

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69 Beetle
71 Bay
71 911

[richparker]

[metz]

We built my 1776 for the bus specifically. It has a nice torque curve and pulls well from low rpms. It did 110hp in the bench when we tuned it. On the wheels it did above 100hp.

I find the 002 way under geared, and will look to modify this at a later stage. There's little doubt in my mind that the 1776 can handle a different R&P or longer gears if built for the application.
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68 panel
64 ghia coupe

[richparker]

Metz, what’s your elevation? I live at 8,000’ in the Rocky Mountains. A 1776 with an 002 would get swallowed climbing the mountain passes in Colorado. I can’t imagine how much slower one would be climbing up to 11,000’ with a taller R&P.

I guess if you live where there is no elevation gain and all you do is Highway driving a taller R&P would be ok. But, where I live you gotta have the torque to climb mountains. Shit, we had to cross 10 mountain passes on our last weekend trip.

Everyone has a different use for their bus. Mine is set up to perform in the mountain me while fully loaded.
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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’63 Deluxe Build

[metz]

@richparker - I'm definitely not experiencing those figures and mountain passes, but neither is the OP seeing he's based in the UK
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68 panel
64 ghia coupe

[VWsArent4Hippies]

You mentioned that you may be lowering the bus. If this is the case, plug some tire size configurations into a gearing calculator. My ‘69 is lowered a lot, so I can’t run anything larger than 195/60R15 in the rear without rubbing the top of the wheel tub. I have a 1776, and 3 rib with 4.57 R&P, and love the combo for this specific application. It pulls hills in the mountains better than a stock early bay.
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[mabbo]

Thanks again for the replies.

The real world experience I was looking for was about using a mild 1776 with a 6 rib or 3 rib with longer gearing, which was my original question...

I dont need to know about stroker engines as Im not planning on building one. Iv built and ran plenty of them in my VWs over the years... This one is staying relatively simple.

I live in the UK. I dont need anything capable of getting me up mountains. I said in my original message I was looking for better gearing for slightly improved motorway speeds. I honestly dont know where the "preconceived Porsche speeds" / 2276 etc stuff has come from?

[metz]

[sodbuster]

Okay here is my personal experience with a 1776 and a custom geared transaxle. But first let me say this. VW offered more than two (2) ring and pinion ratios for the VW type II. only two have been discussed. I am here to speak of the third and often overlooked ratio 4.86 to 1.

I own a 1971 campmobile. I run a 1776cc motor with the original three rib 002 transaxle. I run the motor with the stock 34 pict3 carb a Bosch SVDA distributor with Pertronix ignition. And an Engle 100 cam. A fairly mild combo.

I built the tranaxle with a 4.86 ring and pinion driving stock ratios. a hardened key for 3+4 slider hub welded hubs for 3+4 gears. A steel shift ball and re-enforced shift bracket. All new bearings synchros gaskets and seals. along with a new welded cross shaft and nose cone bushings.

I have run this engine transaxle combo for 16 years.

It's nothing earth shattering. It gets you there for the most part with the flow of traffic. it's not a hill beater but is does go up them. But sometimes you need to down shift.
But the combo is very dependable and that was the goal all along, dependability.

The 4.86 ratio came in 74-75 buses with 1700 and early 1800cc motors that had the 5 rib late 002. it is designed for those motors. so a 1776 type 1 based motor is a good fit IMO.
Not a drag racer but an excellent cruiser!
On a final note. A transaxle with a 4.57 to 1 ring and pinion is not a good fit for motors under 2000cc. Motors below that displacement have trouble pulling that gear and will run hotter due to the lower engine RPM that ratio induces.

Mi dos centavos.

[SGKent]

[Wildthings]

[VWsArent4Hippies]

[airschooled]

Anyone want to talk about the 1584cc single ports that do 65-70mph all day on the flats?

28hp, measured at the wheels.
Robbie
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[VWsArent4Hippies]

[SGKent]

[onehappykombi]

[aeromech]

Hi there,
I have no idea what the little tomato bus is.

Basically I think you can just follow what VW did. Over several years they increased the HP of their engines while at the same time changing the transmissions to match. Seems like where they finished was with a 2000cc engine and a 091 six rib to push the bus. It’s important that the engine power match the gearbox or you’ll have trouble.

My bus is a 1971. My engine is an 1800cc built for low end torque but it’s balanced and can easily do 70mph
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Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
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Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
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VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
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[onehappykombi]

[aeromech]

Karen and Eric? You met in Borrego Springs then broke down in SD. You stayed at their house?
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound