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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: ffgb on July 06, 2010, 10:00:53 pm
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I have a 1981 1.6N/A rabbit with a 4-speed transmission.. I am interested in a FF transmission with code date 10120. Does anyone know what the 5th gear is in this thing, .71 or .75? Is it worth switching from the 4 speed to the 5 speed FF transmission? Also, what is all required in the swap, what items do I need to purchase? Thanks
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www.scirocco.org/gears (http://www.scirocco.org/gears) should answer your ratio questions. If not, www.brokevw.com (http://www.brokevw.com) will help
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Life will be more enjoyable with the 5 speed. Esp. if you have one of the 3+E models of 4 speed. The 5th ratio of 0.75 is just flippin fine. I did literally hundreds of thousands of miles with those. I actually hated the 0.71 in my former '81 pickup (with Glasstite topper). The gap between 4th and 5th was too much (with any wind at all).
It's been awhile since I worked on Mk. I's (yippee...I hated them!), so I will let someone else answer on your required parts list.
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If you have a 4A tranny in there now you may as well just leave it. It's as good as any mk1 or mk2 gear box.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/burnyourmoney/shiftkit_11.jpg)
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FF has a .71 5th with the same ring/pinion as your 4-speed. Basically it will be like adding an extra gear onto your existing ratios. I would definitely do the swap.
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what trans do you have now? GC? if it was a GC, then swap it.
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I have to see what the transmission code is. I'll check tomorrow, but the build date of my rabbit is 03/81 if that helps.
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the manufacture date of your car has nothing to do with someone potentially swapping your trans at one point. or have you owned the car since it was brand new? my car is an 84 rabbit diesel, supposed to have came with a GL trans, but it has a 4A..
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I'm in the middle of a similar trans swap. Going from a 4 speed 020 GN to a 5 speed 020 ACH. It's already bolted up in my caddy. Just need to finish hooking up the clutch, 5 speed linkage, and replace a broken CV joint bolt and I'm done. Let you know how this will turn out.
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I also have a 1984 with 4A transmission. I thought the 4A was standard because it was only offered in 1984. Also, on my 1981 rabbit, it's all stock, have all paper work.
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i had a FF that was starting to spin a carrier bearing (i think).
Replaced with a GP...i like the GP much better. Seemed like i was always shifting between 1-4th with the FF.
But everyone else seems to like the 5 speeds better.
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You will need a shift plate , and a 5 speed engine mount
I have a extra chd if needed
Gb
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I didn't need the shift plate when I swapped to 5 speed.
I did prefer the 4 speed and am thinking of switching back
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Why do you prefer the 4-speed? I have a 4-speed in my 1984 1.6N/A. It is a 4A transmission. I rebuilt the motor, head, IP with gov mod, and new injectors. I like the performance now, it accelerates great. First and Second gear are good. Third gear is just ok and fourth is obviously for the freeway. The reason why I want the 5-speed because I feel that first through fourth gear should accelerate/pull even better than the 4-speed. I don't know, what do you think?
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Yes each gear will pull a bit more since the torque is more spread out but you'll have an extra shift to contend with.
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my 4A equipped 84 car will blow the doors off my 5 speed AUG equipped 81 rabbit. pulls harder. alot harder. i prefer the 4 speed now that ive had more than just GC's.
whats a shift plate? i never had to change one? i used half of a 4 speed and half of a 5 speed link setup on my 81..
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On a highway cruiser kind of daily driver, i'd stick with the 4speed if its a 3+E /4A type geared unit. Same overall final drive as most 5speeds. Less shifting (shoulder, elbow and clutch might last longer) and no labor or extra expenses doing a swap.
IF you do swap - minimum you'll need the shifter rods and shifter relay ball for 5spd. And if there is a diff engine mount application - probably that too.
Sometimes the shiftplate/shiftbox that bolts into floor can cause interference going into 5th cleanly - is what GB is talking about. But the 4spd shifter 'can' be modified if that problem presents itself. I had to modify mine. But would likely have a problem if i wanted to run the factory underbody shiftboot due to the mod.
PO did the swap - i just did the tweaking.
Seems like i remember scirroco.com having some of the codes/applications wrong. Cross-reference with tranny listings on www.a2resource.com (http://www.a2resource.com) to be sure what tranny code and date code is what.
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i haven't done the governor mod...think that really helps at higher rpm so i wonder if that kicks in better with the 5 speed but 3rd gear in a 4 speed might work pretty well with the gov mod to (i need to do that).
The 4A looks like it is ratio-ed about the same as the GP anyways
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IF you do swap - minimum you'll need the shifter rods and shifter relay ball for 5spd. And if there is a diff engine mount application - probably that too.
Sometimes the shiftplate/shiftbox that bolts into floor can cause interference going into 5th cleanly - is what GB is talking about. But the 4spd shifter 'can' be modified if that problem presents itself. I had to modify mine. But would likely have a problem if i wanted to run the factory underbody shiftboot due to the mod.
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If my 4 speed had good gear ratios I would have kept it. It wasn't and I just finished a 4 speed GN to 5 speed ACH swap. It turned out very well and I happy with the outcome. For the tranny mount I replace the bracket with a 5 speed version. I used the stock 4 speed linkage but replace a few parts with a few Mk1 Neuspeed shifter pieces (lever w/ ball, relay shaft, selector lever, both rods with the plastic ends). There is some 5th gear interfence. So to go into 5th gear, I push down before going over an up. My caddy feels much better now and I can cruise comfortably on the freeway :)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4775649440_3c7f9fe182.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4775649392_2c15c8d2b2.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4775649342_b391e2bc50.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4777876734_c75b5f6ca4_m.jpg)
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i haven't done the governor mod...think that really helps at higher rpm so i wonder if that kicks in better with the 5 speed but 3rd gear in a 4 speed might work pretty well with the gov mod to (i need to do that).
The 4A looks like it is ratio-ed about the same as the GP anyways
4A and GP are geared exactly the same. and 3rd gear is my favorite gear with a turbo and a gov mod.. it just pulls and pulls, till about 90 mph
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Well, I just looked under my 1981 vw, it has a GP code transmission. Here is something interesting, my 1984 1.6N/A, bored .020 over with governor mod, lightened flywheel, 4A transmission, with p195 60 R14 tires pulls hard through gears up to 60-65mph. My stock 1981 vw 1.6N/A with GP transmission and p175 70 R13 tires is really slow to 60mph, but has a higher top end then my 1984. My 1981 can go to 80-83mph, my 1984 seems to barely top out at 73-75mph.
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At 75 mph cruise: 7psi, 675 on the egt gauge
195-50-15
I replaced all the boots with a new linkage and 5 speed plate ( floor )when I did he swap
The 5 speed trans mount ( lh front ) is still being made in South Africa VW
Iam building another 5speed with LSD and have all new s/s 12 point ARP bolt's for the case, I havent decided on color: Black or silver Powdercoating
GB
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...5 speed ACH swap. There is some 5th gear interfence. So to go into 5th gear, I push down before going over an up.
Thats the same tranny code that was put into my 81 Truck.
It does a good job.
Underneath vehicle, the shifter box has a protruded metal edge (about 1/2") all the way around. Put into 5th and have a look under there. The shift lever fork is more than likely hitting into it.
I made relief cuts in the protruded edge where needed and bent the edge down flat. Works great/easy after doing that.
But there is an underbody shift boot that is supposed to mount on that same protruded edge. It "might" compromise how well that boot would fit if you were going to use one. Most are gone, and never replaced.
My 82 Truck has GN 4spd. It will have to be swapped if i keep it.
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Well, I just looked under my 1981 vw, it has a GP code transmission. Here is something interesting, my 1984 1.6N/A, bored .020 over with governor mod, lightened flywheel, 4A transmission, with p195 60 R14 tires pulls hard through gears up to 60-65mph. My stock 1981 vw 1.6N/A with GP transmission and p175 70 R13 tires is really slow to 60mph, but has a higher top end then my 1984. My 1981 can go to 80-83mph, my 1984 seems to barely top out at 73-75mph.
my 84 w/ 4A would do 100 mph in basically "stock" form. a slightly bigger air intake and a glass pack are not performance mods in my books. it takes a very long time to get it going 100 without boost, but its possible. now it goes 100 very easy, a little boost goes a long ways.
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Is the gas mileage the same, less, or more now that you have boosted?
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Tyler says that there is no way to get better mileage WITH a turbo. and honestly, i doubt i get better mileage, because im always in the boost pretty heavily. but if i were on a road trip, i would imagine i would get slightly better mileage, because i dont have to pour a black as night cloud going up hills. now i just idle up hills, maybe 2-3 psi boost.