HI Folks
This thread, I would like to submit as a sister-thread to my JX REBUILD thread over here:
http://vwdiesel.net/forum/index.php/topic,37157.0.htmlThe point is this - currently my JX and tranny (DM I think) are both working fine - no issues at all - but are both certainly pretty tired... I have an extra JX block which I will rebuild - but the other main question I have has to do about what to best do about the gearbox.
The gearbox I have now in the van is probably a DM (early Vanagon diesel 4-speed with VERY short gearing) which is meant to be used with a CS (1.6NA) engine. To be honest, I really love this short gearing, but *on the highway* it's a joke... I do not drive fast or much on the highway, but I DO want the possibility to do that so my goal is to find a 5-speed.
PROGRESS SO FAR: I have been working on this issue for about a year now and in my searches I have found one used tranny here in Czech for less than $200. I think maybe the gearing can be good for me. The seller upgraded the engine to a 1.9TDI and felt that this 5-speed tranny was geared too short for his added power. But for me, I'm guessing that it would be fine with a less powerful engine. Keep in mind that I don't like driving fast and I rarely go on highways > but any sort of 5th gear I think would improve my situation vastly.
The seller really seems like a very intelligent, kind, and decent person and I have the feeling I can trust him - what he says about this 5-speed is this: He does not know the code number (but codes don't mean much anyway since the gears inside can be swapped). It was in his bus when he bought it, and he drove it for 2 years. The 5th gear synchonizer is not in good shape (difficult to get it out of 5th). He is recommending me to visit a Czech *GEARBOX GURU* who is supposedly an older trusted gearbox specialist who can be consulted - and hired... he predicts an overhaul could cost around $400. This gearbox was for a gas engine so it would need a different bell-housing I guess. He was driving with this gearbox on highways long-term at 80-90KM but faster would be too loud. His goal was 100KM long-term.
I didn't have a good search for about 9 months, so maybe now something else might appear in this country (or Poland/Germany??) but I have a feeling that this 5-speed might be the right thing for me.
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I don't know for sure but my guess is that my current tranny has:
- 5.83 R&P
- 0.85 4th gear.
My guess is that this used 5-speed has:
- 5.5 R&P
- 0.82 5th gear
Maybe (probably) this 5-speed is meant for an NA diesel engine?
From my understanding the code *BH* is specifically designed for 1.6TD engines and has:
- 4.83 R&P
- 0.816 5th gear
....so finally this used 5-speed might feel a bit too short with my rebuilt JX?
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One thing I have been seriously considering doing is to REBUILD this 5-speed tranny myself. Has anyone here done this kind of thing? I realized it is not commonly advised to do it - but how *out there* is it really to consider such an undertaking? I like the idea of really knowing for myself what I have in there and how it was done... otherwise gearboxes are such a mystery - and we never can know what can happen.
If I would rebuild this 5-speed myself I could swap in there the exact gearing I would want. I have a 12-ton press but realize that rebuilding would require buying some expensive tools and take a lot of time to study up on how to do it.
Thanks for your time and any suggestions.
Edward