[Vwpickups] RE:Swapping for 5spd

[J E Floyd]

Brian, I have a 80 rabbit diesel 2dr with 4sp that I bought from the
original owner. I have a 80'diesel truck with a 1.6 diesel and a 5sp. When I
bought the truck I got an extra 1.5 diesel engine, 5 spd transmission,
vaccume pump,injection pump, and various other parts. I want to put the 5spd
in my car. I checked the code on the bottom. It is 7A18014. According to the
VW tranny code chart on Zelek.com it has the same gear ratio as the FF or
FN. The guy I got the truck from wasn't entirely truthful about everything
so I was thinking of having a mechanic here that works on VW transmissions
check it out. Any thoughts on that. Also, I have seen on this forum that
some guys think it is not difficult to swap these transmissions. All advice
on this potential project is appreciated. John

-----Original Message-----
From: Brian and Ruth Decker [mailto:decker at toledotel.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 11:48 AM
To: 'Peter Kreutzfeldt'
Cc: 'Volkswagen Pickup List'
Subject: RE: [Vwpickups] RE:Swapping for 5spd

Hi Peter;

                I agree on the 1.5 revving better. I still think one needs
the taller gears provided by an FF or FN tranny to help the motor live at
freeway speeds. It is tire diameter not rim diameter that affects gearing. I
have used wheels  13, 14, 15 and 16 inch rims. A 165 80 13 is going to be
taller than say a 185 60 14. 

                Rogers suggestion of 185 80 13 is probably the tallest tire
one could fit in a Rabbit. In fact my front wheel wells weren't quite big
enough when I tried that size.

                One of my next projects is building  a 1.5 and turboing it
with an inter-cooler. I think I can probably get 80 strong horses and the
1.5 being more comfortable at higher revs should make my 81 Rabbit diesel
pickup a freeway flyer. I will probably run 185-60-15 or 185- 65- 15 tires
since I have to have at least 15 inch rims to fit over the 11 inch Corrado
brakes I have in front of my 1981 Rabbit diesel pickup.

Brian Decker

 

From: Peter Kreutzfeldt [mailto:sunvale1 at att.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 10:48 AM
To: Brian and Ruth Decker
Subject: Re: [Vwpickups] RE:Swapping for 5spd

 

The 1.5 with 14" wheels will motor down the road pretty well. The 1.5 will
rev a lot better than the 1.6.
Peter

 

 

  _____  

From: Brian and Ruth Decker <decker at toledotel.com>
To: J E Floyd <ibpinkfloyd at roadrunner.com>; Volkswagen Pickup List
<vwpickups at neubayern.net>
Sent: Wed, July 14, 2010 12:25:06 PM
Subject: RE: [Vwpickups] RE:Swapping for 5spd

Hi John;
    The thing you will gain is you will be a lot less likely to blow up
a 1.5 or 1.6 N/A VW diesel engine at freeway speeds if you have the tall
gears. There is only one Rabbit 4 speed that has a tall fourth gear and I
don't remember the letter code. For the most part a Rabbit with a 4 speed is
a town car and a Rabbit with an FF or FN code 5 speed ( which are the 5
speed boxes VW used on diesel and gas Rabbits other than the 83-84 GTI which
had a very short box). FF or FN Rabbit 5 speed tranny's will give you the
tall gearing that will let the little diesel live at freeway speeds. If you
are set up well your Rabbit will probably get 50 mpg or close to it at 60
mph with a tall 5th gear. At 70 to 75 expect 45mpg or perhaps 42mpg.
Brian Decker
Western Washington

-----Original Message-----
From: J E Floyd [mailto:ibpinkfloyd at roadrunner.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, July 13, 2010 1:25 PM
To: 'Volkswagen Pickup List'
Subject: [Vwpickups] RE:Swapping for 5spd

I have an 80'Rabbit and a 5spd from a truck that I want to swap. I spoke
with the mechanic that works on it and he said that I wouldn't gain much
with the 5th gear. Is he right?  I want to be able to drive on the frwy at
70 to 75 mph and still get great fuel mileage. I read a post on another site
"I use a gas tranny from an 02 Golf....an ACN has a TALL 5th gear.....slow
from 45-65mph but beyond that is great for highway cruising with 185/80/r13
tires gives great economy @ 70-75mph". What is my best option for cruising
on the highway with great fuel economy? John




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