anyone got info on a tru-shift 5 speed?

hey everyone, ive recently come across a irs 5 speed tru-shift gearbox and was wondering if theres anyone out there who knows who made them, what ratios may have been used (compared to standard final drive), how much hp they can stand and what you would expect to pay for one that has ahd little use.

I know question questions questions, thanks.

These things were available in the late eighties here in Australia,
and were imported into the country from the USA by VeeDub Imports , formerly at Wooloongabba.

The kits came with a .74 fourth gear I recall, but any keyway style 4th ratio would fit.

From memory that ratio was chosen to suit the 14" low profile tyres that were popular at the time.

The negative talk about them was that the shafts were extended with a screw-on extension.
This some believed to be a source of weekness, or shaft run-out.
This may be true but it IS supported by the bearing at both ends.

Due to the shaft being lenthened, and the new increased distance between the bearings,
higher powered engines may cause shaft flex.

By comparison, Bergs 5-speed still extended the shafts(new ones of one piece, or inertia welded old ones),
but put 5th gear on the outboard side of the intermediate housing bearing.
Much nicer engineering, but very expensive and inconvenient for us with the shipping to have the shafts extended.

Price? From memory the Tru-Shift was about $1250 for the kit when it was released, but quickly went on sale for under 800 when the did not sell very well.
I think that the labour involved to assemble was a contributing factor.

Anyones guess what it would be worth now?
Any working gear bo has to be worth $250 (?) so I would say between 250 and 500 if it is tip-top?

Hope this helps?

Does anyone suuply and build Berg 5 speeds in Australia at the moment?

The 5th gear key on the mainshaft is very weak and won't withstand high horsepower engines or low horsepower abuse . I used one of these trannys for many years in my rotary powered beetle and it is presently being rebuilt for MANGO . It broke the 5th gear key .

i was hopping to do short circuit racing with it being powered by a mildish 1600, do you reckon it will last?

So wayne if your going to use it behind the mango dream is there things you can do to impove the durability, and make it handle a bit more hp?

hypo-vw wrote:The 5th gear key on the mainshaft is very weak and won't withstand high horsepower engines or low horsepower abuse . I used one of these trannys for many years in my rotary powered beetle and it is presently being rebuilt for MANGO . It broke the 5th gear key .

I would have thought a rotary would be considered high horsepower? Or is it more to do with torque? What do you consider high hp? Your turbo oval or is a 1916 with 44IDF's etc. considered high hp?
I'm asking because I've got a tru-shift in my shed and if it can be made to work then I'd like to use it.

Andrew