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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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..

I mean on the flat. 3rd gear for around town for me... then you don't have to change down for hills!

80 in 3rd (1.32, final drive 4.125 as per S.P. manual for late type 3) with stock? 165/75/15 tyres gives about 3700rpm. And 2500rpm in 4th (0.89)

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.