autostick top end speed

[sb001]

I got into a discussion about this over on vwar, figured I might post it here.
About 7-8 years ago I had my original 69 autostick tranny (001-301-103) swapped for one I found for cheap on CL, the replacement however is a later version (001-301-103A):

I believe VW swapped to this one around 71, same year as the dual ports first came out.
With the original transmission I have fond memories of cruising on the interstate at 80mph with no problem during my high school days back in the 80s (and that was with the original 1500cc still installed!) But ever since I had the new tranny installed it seems like it has more trouble at that speed like it struggles to hold it. My first thought was that the later transmission has a different final drive that's affecting the top end so I just did some research-- and it does have a different FD ratio but it's LOWER (4.125:1 vs the 4.375:1 in the original tranny) which means it should maintain 80 MORE easily, not less.
So is it just a simple mismatch between my 1600 single port and the current transmission?

Also I just drained the gear oil out-- since this is a later autostick it does not have the single drain plug up front and you jut pull the whole pan to drain the oil:

Is it OK for me to just leave the drain pan off like this until I can source a new gasket?
_________________
I'm the humblest guy on this board.

1969 autostick sedan, family owned since new
1600 SP engine
Solex 30 PICT 3 carburetor
Bosch 113905205AE autostick distributor

[sb001]

P.S. In case anyone missed my sig line I am running a genuine Solex 30 PICT 3 and a genuine Bosch AE autostick distributor so I don't think the problem is related to poor parts quality.
_________________
I'm the humblest guy on this board.

1969 autostick sedan, family owned since new
1600 SP engine
Solex 30 PICT 3 carburetor
Bosch 113905205AE autostick distributor

[glutamodo]

Don't the old Owner's Manuals state like 78MPH for the ASS? Of course that's with the original tall skinny bias ply tires, modern shorter radials change the effective final drive ratio and top speed.
_________________
Andy T.


IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
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[sb001]

[Tom K.]

Sorry, but I bought the last gasket at FCPeuro for $2.95. evwparts has them for about $17. Buy one, and then get some gasket paper from your FLAPS to make your own in the future always using the real one as your template. Or, if your old one is in one piece, then you can use it as a template.

The draining plate can stay off as long as you are not worried about anything crawling up in your differential. Tape a cereal box over it if you are concerned. Note that gear oil will continue to drip for months.

A lower gear ratio will increase top speed for any given engine rpm, but the higher gear ratio might have been easier to spin allowing your engine rpms to be higher for your old trans than your new. But I'm just guessing here, I haven't compared them directly.
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'91 Vanagon Westfalia
'70 Beetle Convertible
'71 Super Beetle Semi-Automatic: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714131&highlight=
'65 Ghia: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=762478&highlight=

[sb001]

[JonRich55]

SB - I know you have been fighting with a vacuum issue recently, those can reduce the effective top-end power. Also as Tom mentioned, the lower FD does require more power at the higher speeds to maintain.

The one area I havent seen much discussion on is the ATF pump wear. The motor oil portion of the pump will produce less oil pressure as it wears. I would assume the ATF part does as well. If the pressure drops over the years, I wonder what the effect of lower ATF pressure at the TC does to overall performance? Is it also possible the TC is wearing, causing it to be less functional at the higher speeds?

[glutamodo]

I've never seen any stats about the ATF pump, but I suspect that VW over-designed it so that even with lots of wear it would still be able to feed the torque converter at full hydrolock.
_________________
Andy T.


IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox.

[JonRich55]

Andy - Do you know of any literature on the TC? Does it have a locking feature and what RPM it would engage? Besides knowing they switch to a "new" design around late 73-early 74, I have found almost nothing technical on them.

[Tom K.]

Wow. Next you might be telling me that Mofoco has neutral safety switches for less than $100! I just broke mine putting it back in. Threads pooped right off. Ugh.
_________________
'91 Vanagon Westfalia
'70 Beetle Convertible
'71 Super Beetle Semi-Automatic: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714131&highlight=
'65 Ghia: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=762478&highlight=

[glutamodo]

[JonRich55]

Andy - I know the "pump" never locks, I was referring to the TC. I thought there were some TCs that did not have a hydrolock, and was curious as to how the VW one was setup. If it does have a hydrolock, i was also curious as to what the RPM was that put it into that state.

[glutamodo]

I think all torque converters lock up once they reach their design RPM. That speed is your question, of course. The Service Manual says this "stall speed" at which torque multiplication fades to a lock is between 2000 and 2250 RPM.
_________________
Andy T.


IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox.

[heimlich]

I drive mine at 60 to 65 all the time. It's a 1500 as well.
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[sb001]

[heimlich]

Someone was asking me the other day if they could just bypass the neutral safety switch. I've heard this was possible.
_________________
www.vwnos.com [email protected]
Classic Brands. Classic Quality.
Not all parts are made the same. NOS OE/OEM parts made mainly in West Germany, Early Germany, and Early Brazil are where VW produced the best quality parts and best fitting products.
5% Off your order with coupon code: 5%OFF
Restored Distributors Available (<--Click here)

[sb001]

[sb001]

[JonRich55]

I believe you just take the two leads marked (50) of the NSS and couple them together.

SB - Did the reduced top end happen immediately after you switched transmissions?

[sb001]