Author Topic: 5spd tranny code for a 1.5 N/A? (Read 5139 times)

watsongs · « **on:** November 21, 2005, 08:55:28 pm »

I got the rabbit on the road finally! My first new project is going to be swapping in a 5 speed tranny - at 60 the engine sounds like a runaway sewing machine! The speed limit on the highway is 70 - I know I won't be cruising at 80-85 like in th eSuby wagon, but I'd at least like to keep up with traffic.

I've been looking at past posts, but they all seem to be concerned with TD's or 1.6's. I looked at the tranny code chart at 4crawler.com. It looks like a FF is my easiest way to go, as far as fitting the CV's and housing sizes. I'd like to have some civilized highway cruising; around town I'm pretty sedate - can't ask a whole bunch from the 1.5.

So what are my choices if I want to keep it simple, beyond the FF? And I see people talking about 020 vs 02A, but don't see those id's anywhere else.

Thanks -

mortskeg · « **Reply #1 on:** November 22, 2005, 12:17:28 am »

Just wanted to pass along that my 1.5 does indeed have a FO and it works really well with it. Highway cruising is much quiter than the old 1.6/GC combo. If for some reason the FO goes I have a ACH (85 jetta 1.6) for backup.

Hope this helps.

watsongs · « **Reply #2 on:** November 22, 2005, 08:52:32 am »

Actually, it looks like most of the F series would work. I see some have a higher final drive than others. Forgive me for asking, as we didn't have shop in high school, but I'm assuming a higher final drive means lower rpms at any given speed, or am I reversed on this?

BlackTieTD · « **Reply #3 on:** November 22, 2005, 09:01:49 am »

Quote from: "watsongs"

Actually, it looks like most of the F series would work. I see some have a higher final drive than others. Forgive me for asking, as we didn't have shop in high school, but I'm assuming a higher final drive means lower rpms at any given speed, or am I reversed on this?

lower final drive means higher speed at same RPM.

i have an FN in my rabbit, the original transmission that came in the car.

when the 1.5L was still in the car, 5th gear was for maintaining speed only, never for acceleration. if i wanted to cruise at 120km/h on the highway, i'd get to that speed in 4th, stick it in 5th, and maybe with a tail wind going downhill i could get the car up to 130km/h.

typically though, 120km/h going uphill the 5th gear could not sustain that speed, i would constantly have to downshift to 4th for hills or if i was going against the wind, or to pass. i HATED that.

so maybe you would be better off with a slightly higher fifth gear. FNs have 0.71 i believe... you might be better off finding a box with the same final drive, but a shorter 5th, like 0.89. the economy would be lower at a given speed in 5th, but you will likely have better driveability at highway speeds. it all depends on what you want... if economy is your only concern and you don't mind downshifting for hills then a stock FN or FF might do the trick with the 1.5L.

now that i pulled out the 1.5L motor in favour of the 1.6L TD, same FN gearbox, the car pulls to 160+km/h without a fuss. the 1.5L just didn't have enough 'grunt' with the long final and fifth. can accelerate up hills anywhere from about 45km/h to 155km/h in fifth gear now. there is a reason all we talk about is 1.6TDs

RabbitGTDguy · « **Reply #4 on:** November 22, 2005, 01:35:22 pm »

Quote from: "mortskeg"

Just wanted to pass along that my 1.5 does indeed have a FO and it works really well with it. Highway cruising is much quiter than the old 1.6/GC combo. If for some reason the FO goes I have a ACH (85 jetta 1.6) for backup.

Hope this helps.

I can agree with this too. My 79 that I'm running for a winter car now has the 1.5 with the factory FO tranny and its great. Being so "used" to when the GTD had a 4 speed, etc. and not hunting; i drove around for almost a week in 4th gear until i really crawled down under and saw that fifth gear housing!!! Should have seen it when i was working on it but never expected...so, never looked!
Mileage.... 48mpg

Joe

watsongs · « **Reply #5 on:** November 22, 2005, 01:37:21 pm »

Thanks for the tips -

Now, does anyone know of an FO for sale

greggearhead · « **Reply #6 on:** November 22, 2005, 08:26:51 pm »

I have an FN I would sell for $175.

watsongs · « **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2005, 09:15:38 pm »

I have a feeling shipping would kill me for a tranny from CO to WA, but let's find out.

watsongs · « **Reply #8 on:** November 22, 2005, 10:11:18 pm »

Looking at the spreadsheet, it looks like the FF, FN, and FO are identical. So why the different letters?

janb · « **Reply #9 on:** November 23, 2005, 12:28:19 am »

Quote from: "watsongs"

Looking at the spreadsheet, it looks like the FF, FN, and FO are identical. So why the different letters?

beware that FF came with .71 or .75 5th, you likely want the .71 (~'82 or later) My '81's have .75, and wind up pretty tight at 75mph

You have more RPM in your 1,5. My caddy with 1.5 and FF (.71) goes 85 easily (downhill/wind)

I would try to find an AGS or ACH (diesel trannies A2) They can be had out west for $100-$150. Post on A1 and A2 classified, there are lots of Vortex guys in Bellingham and Mt Vernon area. Also keep an ee on 'Little Nickel', and craigs list. I've got a few from free from folks that were moving, but, I've also had to drive to Everett and Spokane to get bargains (not @ $3/gallon!), cheaper to ship

BlackTieTD · « **Reply #10 on:** November 23, 2005, 05:54:29 am »

RabbitGTDguy and janb:

If you are cruising at about 75mph in 5th gear:
- are you able to go up a hill and maintain speed?
- are you ever forced to downshift to 4th to maintain speed due to a headwind?
- are you able to accelerate past 75mph in 5th on a flat with no wind?

During casual driving, at what speed do you normally upshift from 4th to 5th?

Just curious at this point... you both seem to be reporting different results than what I got with my old 1.5/FN setup.

watsongs · « **Reply #11 on:** November 23, 2005, 08:01:11 am »

Janb - looking at the spreadsheet, the AGS and ACH seem to be geared awfully low - ~60 mph @ 3000rpm. I do 60 @3500 rpm right now with the 4 speed. I think I'll stick with the F series. Thanks for the tip about the Vortex population -

chrissev · « **Reply #12 on:** November 23, 2005, 08:24:57 am »

Quote from: "watsongs"

Janb - looking at the spreadsheet, the AGS and ACH seem to be geared awfully low - ~60 mph @ 3000rpm. I do 60 @3500 rpm right now with the 4 speed. I think I'll stick with the F series. Thanks for the tip about the Vortex population -

I have an AGS in my Jetta right now and I can do 120km/hr at just a hair over 3000rpm. At 100km/hr or 60mph, it does about 2600rpm I think. That is with 175 70 tires. (If you increase the tire side wall height you increase the maximum speed of the car). The AGS isn't bad, the only issue I have with it is the final drive (3.94) is too high for a turbo diesel. The engine has enough power that a lower final drive could have been used (resulting in a higher top speed). But other than that it's a good transmission. And it is pretty much indestructible. It has over 400,000km on it right now and it still works fine.

DieselsRcool · « **Reply #13 on:** November 23, 2005, 11:33:04 am »

I have a good extra FF out of a 83 1.6 Rabbit. Also includes all the shift linkage parts you will need. I'm in Gig Harbor so you can pick it up. This is the same ratio I run in my 1.5na, now a 1.6TD Caddy, works great. $150, PM if interested.
Larry

watsongs · « **Reply #14 on:** November 23, 2005, 12:52:16 pm »

That sounds good, Larry - I'm leaving for England for three weeks today, so I'll contact you when I get back -

Greg