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Climbing hills in a Type 3.....

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jo_tas Custom Title Time!

1,547 posts · joined Aug 2004 ·

#375665
Hey all
Just a quick question... I have a late type 3 (stock) and theres a big hill just out of town that the highway i take home goes up... speed limit it 80km/h
My question is, how fast can the Type 3 happily pull up the hill in 3rd? (too steep for 4th)
It'll go up at 50mph, but i worry that its not good to rev the engine like that for that long.... or is it actually not revving that hard?
Theres quite a few hills like that around my place, and i've always wondered which speed/rpm the aircooled motor is happiest to climb.

Thanks!

Stanley I guess the reward is in the doing of it

4,523 posts · joined Mar 2003 ·

#375688
Bit hard to say...but it's better to use a few revs in 3rd than to labour it in 4th...
Or you could just get a big runup.

aggri1 Insano Dub Head

824 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#375698
I don't know what the gear ratios/final drive are like in the type 3's. I don't think I'd drive my 1800 kombi at 80km/h in third though, but busses might have lower ratios. 80km/h in third would be about 4000rpm I think in my bus (she does about 3000 at 60km/h).

Depends a lot on your engine too doesn't it...

Cheers, Aurel.

VWCOOL 23 Windows of Awesome

5,158 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#375720
80 in third... no worries! NEVER labour it in fourth. NEVER use 4th below 70km/h in ANY air-cooled VWs, stock or modified.
Pay your debts, CxxT

Andy Andy\'s Adventures

2,820 posts · joined Nov 2002 ·

#375781
I'd agree with kafer/VWcool, don't let them labour.
I only have auto's (in type 3's) and factory change point 2nd-3rd (top in auto) is 50mph when you put your foot down. No idea what revs that is though.
In general I keep all my VW's under 4000rpm, so see where that gets you in the type 3.
My L bug sits happily at 80 in third on hills, and I think the gearing is close to type 3's.

jo_tas Custom Title Time!

1,547 posts · joined Aug 2004 ·

#375827
Ok thanks... about not going below 70km/h in 4th, do you mean on hills? or even on the flat?
Becuase i often cruise along in 4th in 60km/h (40-45mph) zones when its flat, and it doesn't feel like it labouring..

VWCOOL 23 Windows of Awesome

5,158 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#375860
I mean on the flat. 3rd gear for around town for me... then you don't have to change down for hills!
Pay your debts, CxxT

76camper Fahrvergnugen

884 posts · joined Jan 2005 ·

#375959
If your really worried about revs, drop down to third and back off a bit until your comfortable! Its a 30 yr old car, whats the rush? Going a bit slower up one hill wont cost u 10 mins, more like 1 min max depending on hill.
http://www.bytevision.com.au/dee/kombi/index.htm