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bah64504
Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2012
Posts: 13
Location: MISSOURI
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 Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:17 pm Post subject: Switching gears in 4 speed transaxle |
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| I have a 74 super beetle 4 speed transaxle that I am using in a rail buggy I am building. I am wanting to know if I can replace 1st and 2nd gears with VW bus gears? I have heard this will make it stronger. If I can where could I purchase the gears and stuff to install them into my transaxle? Any help is greatlt appreciated. |
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Glenn 
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 79514
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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I don't think the 1st - 2nd mainshafts are interchangeable.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare
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bah64504
Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2012
Posts: 13
Location: MISSOURI
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:21 pm Post subject: ok |
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| well then my next question is how strong are the stock 4 speed transaxles? I am going to be putting about 235 hp behind it will it hold up at all? |
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Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 79514
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:22 pm Post subject: |
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Switch to a compete Bus tranny.
It should be easy in a rail.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare
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bah64504
Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2012
Posts: 13
Location: MISSOURI
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:25 pm Post subject: ok |
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| well thats not what I wanted to hear. so i should use like a 3 rib or something like that? where is a good place to get what I need, without losing an arm and a leg? |
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Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 79514
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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New or used?
New.... Ranch Transmission
Used.. Samba classified
If you can afford 235hp then you would be foolish to cheap out on a tranny.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare
עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי
Last edited by Glenn on Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:26 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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modok
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2009
Posts: 27668
Location: Colorado Springs
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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Your 74 bug trans has the stronger first gear already.
The only way I know of to get stronger first and second gear is aftermarket; the gears are a little wider.
The "3-rib"? naw, the earlier ones are weaker than your bug trans
The difference between bus and bug is the ring and pinion, busses have lower ratio R&P |
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bah64504
Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2012
Posts: 13
Location: MISSOURI
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:30 pm Post subject: |
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| I had the car given to me to use the engine and wiring harness and was hoping I could use the trans that I already have. |
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bah64504
Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2012
Posts: 13
Location: MISSOURI
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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| so which transaxle is the best to use for high hp? |
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modok
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2009
Posts: 27668
Location: Colorado Springs
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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| what engine is this? subaru? |
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bah64504
Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2012
Posts: 13
Location: MISSOURI
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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| ford 3.0 dohc duratec |
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modok
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2009
Posts: 27668
Location: Colorado Springs
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:41 pm Post subject: |
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Hmmm, if you take a mazda engine out of a ford and put it in a vw is it still a ford? 
The bug trans can work, IMO, if you keep the tirs 30" or shorter and it is a very light rail then building up the bug trans is maybe a good idea.........but then again why would you put a heavy engine in a light rail??? is it still light then? I donno man
you probably want an "091", the 6 rib bus. |
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bah64504
Samba Member
Joined: June 21, 2012
Posts: 13
Location: MISSOURI
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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| well my rail is 13ft long 5ft wide weighs about 5-600 lbs and has 31x10.50's. so its kind of 50-50 it seems. I am a motor guy not to smart with trans. Just dont want to shell it out on first run. |
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nsracing
Samba Member
Joined: November 16, 2003
Posts: 9744
Location: NOVA
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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Actually, only the 6-rib bus tranny you cannot use the mainshaft as it is longer than the stock bug mainshaft.
But the gears are interchangeable w/ bug to 72/73 years. You can mix and match gears and hubs and mainshafts to 73 Bus to Bug.
The late bus gears can be modified to go into earlier Bug but you have to do some grind/machine work on them. |
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modok
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2009
Posts: 27668
Location: Colorado Springs
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 8:57 pm Post subject: |
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| The late bus trans (091) makes the most sense, the stock gear ratios that come in those will match the engine ok, so all you need to do is find a good one, and then spend what $$ you have left converting to at least bus or porsche CV joints. The little BUG CV joints are likely to break with that big engine! |
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vwracerdave
Samba Member
Joined: November 11, 2004
Posts: 15600
Location: Deep in the 405
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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Start by reading the "Transmissions For Dummies" stickey found in the HBB Off-Road Forum. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=143138
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2017 Street Comp Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble, OK
2010 Sportsman ET Champion - Mid-America Dragway - Arkansas City, KS
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jsturtlebuggy
Samba Member
Joined: August 24, 2005
Posts: 4601
Location: Fair Oaks/Orangevale, CA
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:05 pm Post subject: |
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With that kind of power and torque you need to do some smart thinking instead of trying to get by with something that you are going to break right away.
Yes go with at least a 091 and start from there. Then you need to go inside it a do things like change 3rd and 4th gears to aftermarket (to get away from the fine teeth gears), chromoly pinion nut, mainshaft bearing thrust plate, chromoly 4 spider diff with chromoly cover, HD rear mainshaft, steel shift ball and a few other things or you might want to step up to a Mendeola.
And you want to use at least 930CV joints.
I have to wonder why people want large amount of HP but never want to spend money on any other part of drive train.
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Joseph
Fair Oaks/Orangevale, CA
Elrod Motorsports
Motion Tire Motorsports
Having fun with Dune Buggies since 1970
Into Volkswagens since 1960 |
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mcmscott
Samba Member
Joined: March 12, 2010
Posts: 4929
Location: sanger ca
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| Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 11:30 pm Post subject: |
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| jsturtlebuggy wrote: |
With that kind of power and torque you need to do some smart thinking instead of trying to get by with something that you are going to break right away.
Yes go with at least a 091 and start from there. Then you need to go inside it a do things like change 3rd and 4th gears to aftermarket (to get away from the fine teeth gears), chromoly pinion nut, mainshaft bearing thrust plate, chromoly 4 spider diff with chromoly cover, HD rear mainshaft, steel shift ball and a few other things or you might want to step up to a Mendeola.
And you want to use at least 930CV joints.
I have to wonder why people want large amount of HP but never want to spend money on any other part of drive train. |
When I was building a well known prostocks gear box, he winced at a 900$ weddle ring and pinion, however when I asked him how much his crank cost, he stood proudly and said about 3 k, I just don't get it |
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Bruce
Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2003
Posts: 17589
Location: Left coast, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 12:01 am Post subject: |
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| mcmscott wrote: |
| When I was building a well known prostocks gear box, he winced at a 900$ weddle ring and pinion, however when I asked him how much his crank cost, he stood proudly and said about 3 k, I just don't get it |
Here's a good rule of thumb to tell your customers. Ask them what they spent on their engine. Then multiply by 50%, that's what they need to spend on the gearbox.
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nsracing
Samba Member
Joined: November 16, 2003
Posts: 9744
Location: NOVA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 3:47 am Post subject: |
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People will build the same engine 3x over before they even think about a tranny upgrade.
Not sure if it is smart to tell people how much they need to spend. They will hand you whatever money they will hand you based on the limited info they have at the time.
When they get bit several times is when they finally learn. Yes, an educated consumer. |
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