Close 3rd / stock 4th Trans? Who's running one?

[NJ John]

I've been thinking about this lately. I was thinking of a 4.12 R/P and a .93 4th. Not sure what 3rd or how the drivability of one of these combos would be. I want fun street, maybe autocross and 1/8th mile drag attemps. How bad would 1/4 mile be? I've screemed stock 3rds through the traps.
thanks
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1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[[email protected]]

I have a 3.78/2.06/1.41/.93 combo with a 3.88 r&p. I mainly built it for some 1/8th mile street racing a local group puts on at a small airport, and for that it works excellent. The rpm changes through 3rd are very linear, and consistent, and it would work well for autox also. It does have a very small rpm drop from 3rd to 4th, but everyday driving it's barely noticeable. I have a fairly small diameter tire, and I could run it out in the 1/4, but that would be pushing it. The rpm drop is more noticeable at the track, and I do loose some time by just shifting into 4th, but I'm able to keep pretty consistent times. If your pushing stock 3rds in the 1/4, you'll definitely need to shift into 4th with a shorter 3rd. My next build will have a 1.36 instead of the 1.41 to try and make a 1/4 in 3 gears.

[NJ John]

Thanks. Interesting info.

Don't forget, that the earlier factory 3rd ratio was 1.32. I talked to a guy that actually built a trans using 1.32 and .93. Kind of a half ass factory closer ratio trans.
_________________
1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[NJ John]

I was also thinking about a a close 3rd and 1.00 4th with a 3.88 R/P. A similar final drive as a 4.12 and .93 4th.
I just understand how people drive around with a 1.14 4th. Yeah, yeah, I know a 5 speed.
I just want to really enjoy my car.
_________________
1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[ALB]

I at one time ran close gears (4.37 r&p, 1.48, 1.14, 185/70-15 tire) in my Cal Look street car. With my 1750 (that alone should tell you how long ago it was! ) it ran 14.6's and I drove that thing everywhere. 4, 6, and even 8 hours on the highway was possible; it just took a little longer to get there. When it was cooler out, 4000rpm (about 60mph) was possible, but when it got really hot there were times that 3200 rpm (not quite 50mph) was the limit if oil temps were to be kept at a reasonable limit. Fantastic on the street but it sucked big time on the highway.
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On a lifelong mission to prove (much to my wife's dismay) that Immaturity is Forever!!

[mark tucker]

I have one with a 412 r&p & .93 4th with 1.48 3rd,but havent run it yet, let us know how it works.I dont have a clue as to when I will get it in my car.....if ever the way things are going,no time for my shit.

[slalombuggy]

If you are shifting into 3rd on the autocross course, you're on a BIG track. I can count on both hands the number of times I've used 3rd in 18 years and it's always been on a big open course like a runway or huge parking lot.

brad

[NJ John]

I just wanted express how versatile of a VW I wanted. The autocross in the area is small.
I have to add, timed attacks at the local .395 oval. I want to have fun!
_________________
1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[[email protected]]

[[email protected]]

I took my transmission apart 3 times changing 3rd gears and could never find one that worked great for the strip and the street. I ended up back with stock. The problem was that when I wanted to be in 3rd gear, driving between 30mph and 40mph brought the rpms up WAY too much and 4th was too low to have any acceleration. Just my .02

[-Boosted-]

Close ratio 3rd and 4th used to be popular back in the day when I first got into bugs (mid 70's) but it seems now that freeway flyers are the hot ticket. I suppose it all depends on whether or not your bug is a racer or cruiser.

[Bruce]

[NJ John]

Thats actually the guy. Thanks for chiming in BT!
_________________
1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[Sharig1979]

Currently running a 3.88 RP with 3.78, 2.06, 1.26, .77. With the turbo it's great running 1-3rd up to 100mph, still under 6k rpm. The car is ran on the street but was built for LSR. Highway cruising at 75mph at 3100 is nice and easy.

A closer 3/4 ratio wouldn't serve me well. A little taller 1st with a 3.79 RP or a different combination with a 3.64 RP. Looking into a new setup for 2013 but haven't decided yet.
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1968 Beetle, Class 11 build
1969 Beetle, New build. 1915 Turbo, EFI.
1969 Beetle, *Old build. 1915 Turbo.
~118 mph on the salt at WoS 2012, 7k in 3rd, can't wait to figure out how to drive that engine on that stuff.

1972 914/4, 1.7
1977 911S 2.7
1991 GTI 1.8 8v, 4speed-Sold