Which transmission is the better choice

[Joey]

I'm putting my '60 kombi back to stock height. The type 3 transaxle that was in the bus is toast.

Here's what I'll be running...

- Reduction boxes from a '59 single cab - 1.4:1.
- Stock size tires - 185/R15.
- 1600 DP engine.

I've got two transmission to choose from:

#1 - '62 Beetle transmission, 4th gear = 0.89:1, ring & pinion = 4.375:1
#2 - "70's Beetle/Ghia transmission (AO letter code), 4th gear = 0.89:1, ring & pinion = 4.125:1

I don't want the engine screaming at high rpms doing 60-65 mph.

Which transmission is the better choice?

Yes, I'm aware I'll have to flip the ring gear.

Thanks!
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Joey

‘60 Kombi - '74 Bus - '79 Panel - '65 Beetle

[Daddybus]

1970’s transmission should be IRS. You can convert it to swingaxle if it has a two side plate case. It also has a 12v bell housing. 1959 boxes are small nut, not as heavy duty as the big nut boxes. You’ll have to flip the ring & pinion either way. You might be better off selling everything and finding a complete bignut unit. You’ll also need stock springplates.

[Joey]

[iamdonquixote]

[Bruce Amacker]

It won't be too tall. I've run several combinations of tranny ratios, 4:12/1.26 is what I have right now in my '65 and it's really nice. (It's a stock '64 trans) Your 4.12/1.40 is lower than that.

If my math is right:

4.12x 1.40= 5.77 overall ratio
4.37x 1.26= 5.51 (65-67 big nut)
4.12x 1.26= 5.19 ('64 only big nut)
3.88x 1.26= 4.88 (my '66 which is too tall for a stock engine)

It's better to be a bit on the low side than a bit on the high side- my 3.88 really taught me a lesson.
It's a tad on the low side so you won't be cruising at 65.
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'66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus
Build threads:
'66- http://www.leakoil.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=2888&sid=54d8dedfb3822f99c7f2ea430cb4e856
'65- http://leakoil.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=4263

[Eric&Barb]

Any transaxle with .89 stock type 1 fourth gear with RGBs is going to be too low of gearing to keep up with freeway traffic without screaming the engine.
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In Stereo, Where Available!

[AS350driver]

[Joey]

Thanks for all the info!

With the '70's AO transmission I'll have the same specs. as the original transmission. The manual say 56 mph is top speed. Looks like I either need to find a Thing transmission with a 3.875 final drive or a complete big nut transmission... or leave it lowered.

.89 x 4.125 x 1.4 = 5.139. So for every one revolution of the wheel the engine turns 5.139 revolutions. Correct?
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Joey

‘60 Kombi - '74 Bus - '79 Panel - '65 Beetle

[Bruce Amacker]

[joe cool]

I think you are mistaken. Small nut is much easier to work on than big nut. You can get to all the bearings from the outside on a small nut.

[Eric&Barb]

[Joey]

I'm going to have to go with what I have for now. I'll stick to the slower back roads if I go on any long trips. I'll look for some later reduction boxes. I was hoping the info on the web was correct stating AO transmissions had a 3.875 final drive.
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Joey

‘60 Kombi - '74 Bus - '79 Panel - '65 Beetle

[Eric&Barb]

At this point like engines, any transaxle is suspect of what it has been rebuilt with. Save up your money, get the rebuilt transaxle you need, and have the better chance of getting home. It is not like the good old days when you could pull into any junk yard, pull a good used transaxle, and be back on the road the next day

Our 1960 walk thru panel camper conversion came with a transaxle that tached out at 35 MPH @ 3,000 RPM in fourth gear. So the DPO was probably doing about 5,000 RPM to do the back then national 55 MPH speed limit. Which in turn is probably why the 1600 engine that came with the bus sitting in the cargo area had a hole punched thru the top of the engine case from the rod that broke the wrist pin on #3 cylinder. That was back about 30 years ago!
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In Stereo, Where Available!