I dont know if this has been raised on this forum before, but I have heard a little about people using the Renault gearboxes for a 5 spd conversion in VWs. I have actually seen them in rear engined off road buggies, so they can obviously have the ring and pinion flipped.

Does anyone know which gearbox in particular this can be done with ? Have any contacts who know how to do it ? Read or have any articles on it ? Heard any rumours ?

I found out last night that my plan to use a subaru box wont work, as the centerlines of the pinoin shaft and the diff carrier are about 50mm out. Ie, if you flip the diff, the pinion will no longer mesh with the ring gear. If you knew someone who could machine you a new pinion shaft, this wouldnt be a problem though......... does anyone here know Mr Hollinger, Albins or any other notable gear cutters ?

Thanks in advance.:bounce:o:bounce:o:bounce

are you still keeping your options for an older Porsche box open , or is it just too expensive ? ?

I've had a quick look into the 901 and 915 boxes - from what I've been able to find they are both a relatively straightforward swap and give a good result, but both boxes are at least $2500 +, and I dont know how much for parts......

so yeah, I've looked into them but I dont have the $$ for them. Plus I like to be a bit different

I could just turn the subaru tranny upside down, and dry sump it...... :bounce:bounce:bounce:bounce:bounce

Bill Sherman, Queensland, offers Renault conversions I believe. Somebody posted his number last time the topic came up, anybody got it?

AHA !!! I knew someone would have a lead !!! I think I have his number somewhere...... What was his business called again ? :bounce

Doug, when you find it, can you let us all know please?? thanks mate!

I rang Mr Sherman today, of Volks Conversions fame. Had a very interesting chat with him. To cut a long story short, I found out the following.

1. Yes, he can do Renault 5 speed conversion to a VW. Most commonly a off road buggy, but occasionally a kombi (sue to their extra weight). He has never seen one done into a beetle.
2. The renault box in question is the renault 20 or 30 box. It came in 4 and 5 speed, usually with a v6 behind it. They are heavier and much stronger than VW boxes. 4 planetary gears as standard.
3. The diff can be flipped in these boxes with NO MODIFICATION or clearancing needed. The gearboxes were actually designed so as they can be used front or rear wheel drive, simply by flipping the diff.
4. kombi bellhousing can be adapted to fit the Renault box.
5. However, a fully custom shift linkage will be needed (shift rod exits the gearbox in a different location, not sure exactly where) as will custom gearbox mounts. But I already knew this

He did also let me know that he carries a 5 speed conversion kit for VW IRS boxes. It is made by an american company called Tru Shift (although they may have changed their name by now) and is about $1200 or therabouts. It is not the Gene berg kit. Mounts remain the same (unsure of shift linkages). Can be used with stock gears.

Any one interested in getting a Renault box, apparently a fellow in Brisbane called Geoff Gillespie is the man to talk to. Call Bill Sherman at Volks conversions for his details.

There is also apparently a Renault gearbox out of one of their trucks that can be made to suit also.... capable of 1000hp :bounce

So, to summarise, it can be done, but almost everything is needed to be fabricated, and you need to use a kombi bellhousing.

John Aldre has a company called Volks Engineering on teh south side of Brissy. He has installed Renault boxes in Kombis and maybe a good person to talk to .

Sorry no numbers..

thanks brad will give him a call...

The guys name is John Sherman not Bill.

Wes , you beat me to it. Yes it is John Sherman at Volks Conversions at Labrador on the Gold Coast.

John Alder
Volks Engineering
07 3200 5112
0408 199 639
Email: john.beeb@telstra.com
http://volksengineering.hypermart.net 

bump

This is only for CV's yeah? Not swingarm?
We wanted to do this to our mud racing car, but its swingarm.

Thanks seagull. Dunno why my search didn't find this.

Hi

This site has all the ratios listed.

http://www.gt40club.clara.net/technics.htm#Transaxles

1302Steve

i have photos here of the shifter setup with these gearbox's this ones in that extrtememly hacked up red/white splitty i will dig them up for you all!!
cheers
rhys

Do a search as this has been covered here before.

Renault 20 5sp is a 369 box, and renault 30 is a UN1 box. UN5 is from the renault and apparently merc vans. UN5 has crappy ratios unless you are offroading (crownwheel and pinion is something crazy like 5:1) whereas UN1 and 359 has ratios better suited to road and race.

the renault 5sp boxes are very long and will NOT fit in a beetle unless you chop the floor and pan. I have a 359 R20 box sitting on the floor here at the moment.

[Edited on 9-8-2004 by Secoh]

To let you know the box renault , is the same lenth as a auto bus box 600mm .

The R30 box is the better of them all , but hard to find and can cost heaps .
The off road guys over here purchased a heap but found them not to be very strong most were sold or blown up and whent to the tip .
Max fitted his $3000.00 box to his trike as not to wast it , so you might see this gold machine in QLD now as it was sold to there .

if you know all this, why did you bump a 2 year old post??? :jesus :sandrine

Secoh, I was looking for it....

Great site Steve, thanks.

I'd love to see the pics Rhys, if you can find them....

The site Steve posted doesn't list a 359, only (6) 369 models and (7) UN1 models.

"The R30 box is the better of them all , but hard to find and can cost heaps .
The off road guys over here purchased a heap but found them not to be very strong most were sold or blown up and whent to the tip ." <<< Then why are they the 'better' ones?

The site didn't list any info for the UN5 box... does anybody know a good link for info on these?

Does anybody know if the diff ratios are interchangable between various boxes?

Thanks for all the input guys. I'll take the figures from the site Steve posted and work out how the ratios listed there suit my intended application before ringing John Sherman or John Alder to work out some prices....

Bummer... unfortunately the ratios for most of the Renault gearboxes are considerably taller than the 002 kombi box, so I'm not going to get a lower 1st for my kombi by going that way....

I'll keep looking for info on the 5:1 final drive version....

got em kol

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