What is the tallest bus 4th ratio?

Baja Wes · 9 Sep 2002, 12:48 pm

As most people probably know, I run a 1800 kombi box in my baja. I used to have a n IRS beetle box and I loved the tall 4th. I cruised happily at 2500rpm down to Canberra and back.

But now with the stock 1800 kombi ratios I sit at 2900rpm at 100kph. This has made the highway fuel economy go to crap and makes communication difficult. I have the HP to run a taller 4th, but don't want to sacrifice my nice low first. So I want a taller 4th gear. The stock 1800 4th is a 0.88

I can get 0.82 from a 1600 kombi box which will drop my rpm to 2700 on the highway.

I was also told I can get a 0.79 which will drop it further to 2600. I thought the 0.79 was only in the old 36HP style cars?

Does anyone know if they is an even taller 4th gear avail?

Maybe I should just sell the 1800 box and find a 2lt box 🙁

Monsterbus · 9 Sep 2002, 1:19 pm

The .79 is from the 36HP box. The only others are the .82 and the .88, well at least I haven't heard of any others.

I don't think there are any other taller or lower ratios. I got gears cut by Ivan Albins in Ballarat. They may be an option as they will be closer to a straight cut gear so stonger and you can pick the ratios. Although really 4th won't be the one you break so the extra strength probably isn't an issue.

Cheers
Steve

splitbusaustralia · 9 Sep 2002, 2:28 pm

I believe an aftermarket .77 is available from places like Rancho transmissions in the US..................

RobK

56astro · 9 Sep 2002, 8:09 pm

I was also thinking of getting a higher-than-std 4th gear in my L bug box (probably a T2 gear) before it goes into the finished pan. I was led to believe that it could turn out too noisy. Does anyone here use a kombi 4th gear. Would I notice the noise over the Thunderbird (exhaust, not the TV show)??

1303Steve · 9 Sep 2002, 9:48 pm

Hi

I have a full set of Albins gears in my bug, they have a very slight whine. The quaility is great and a lot of the gears that the yanks sell are Albins anyway, so cut out the middle man. He has a website but I cant remember the URL.

1302Steve

56astro · 11 Sep 2002, 6:29 am

Steve, thanks for the info.
Would you recommend going for a kombi 4th. Most of my driving will be at highway speeds (100 - 110km/h). I may even try for a quieter exhaust with the heat exchangers restored. I just don't want to have the problem the guys have with straight-cut cam gears, terrible whine at cruising speeds.

BTW: www.albinsgear.com.au

[Edited on 12-9-2002 by 56astro]

[Edited on 12-9-2002 by 56astro]