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Gearbox ratios
Mad Manx - March 1st, 2003 at 12:10 AM

Can some wise person tell me what type of vw gearbox has the lowest ratios (in particular 1st & 2nd) and what identifying features it has to pick it from the rest. Its to fit in my manx (type 1 1600TP engine).
Thanks very much:cool:

70AutoStik - March 1st, 2003 at 12:35 AM

Beetles all had pretty much the same ratios and they're pretty well chosen - you're better off choosing a higher diff ratio for most engines (all-out drag engines being the exception.)

Mad Manx - March 1st, 2003 at 12:40 AM

31 inch tires and a standard type 1 box dont mix in the sand.....
Are other ratios available for beetle boxes that i can drop in?????
:(

Buger Gary - March 3rd, 2003 at 09:05 PM

We fitted kombi reduction boxes to our beach buggies and with 4x4 tyres or implement tyres the made the gearing spot on for the sand.You have to make up blocks as they are wider.The only draw back is they lift the back up when you boot it, which is ok untill you are in a slide because then your wheel track is narrower then they tend to fall off their wheels! I don't know what they are like on the road as we only use them off road.I hope this is some use to you.
Gary.

type82e - March 3rd, 2003 at 09:54 PM

convert it to irs and fit a bay kombi gearbox they have much lower final drive ratio's and are much stronger
marcel

aussiebug - March 3rd, 2003 at 10:35 PM

If you have a swing axle gearbox, the best you can do is to put the 1200/1300 final drive in there (assuming it doesn't already have one).

That's 4.375 which will lower all gears.

the other common size is the 1500/early 1600 final drive of 4.125, but the actual gear ratios are the same for both boxes.

The 1200 boxes should have a AA cast into the right side - above the VW logo and case part number - it's sometimes faint and hard to see.

AB is the same box in a 1300. AC should be the 1500/1600 box with the 4.125 final drive.

Country buggies had the 1200/1300 box and reduction boxes (1.2:1?) from the early bus/kombi - now THAT would give you some low ratios to make up for the 31 inch dia tyres - the normal daimeter of bug tyres is about 24 inches.

Mad Manx - March 4th, 2003 at 07:47 PM

Thanks guys:thumb
I have a '63 1300 bug out the back... Its got a 1600SP in it now but I will have to check the gearbox.... my solution may have been staring at me the whole time!