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Got the vn v6 in the kombi need better ratios
Klaus - December 24th, 2004 at 08:23 PM

Did the conversion last week , got it running and did the test drive, came home and took it out again.
It really needs a different set of gears as its reving at 3500 in top to do 100km/h , so if anyone has gone thru this drama and can help out it would be greatly appreciated.
It went like stink and it has been the only time the kombi could spin the wheels on tar, so it would be a waste to leave all the bits sittin on the shelf. mmmmmm needs a hi-torque starter too.
Any info would be tops.


gayanne - December 24th, 2004 at 08:43 PM

Might be best to speak to baja wes hes sound s pretty good on this stuff.JVLRacing


Craig Torrens - December 24th, 2004 at 08:49 PM

what gearbox are you using......1600,1800,or 2lt ?


vwtyp2 - December 24th, 2004 at 09:15 PM

I'm using an Albins 0.70 4th.
did have a 0.77 in there previously.
was considering an 0.65, but would've been too big of a gap betweem 3rd and 4th.
don't know why you would need a high torque starter? my std one works just fine.
show me your pics and I'll show you mine. :)


handycam - December 24th, 2004 at 10:09 PM

i am thinking of this conversion ??? how much did an adapter plate cost ???


Baja Wes - December 25th, 2004 at 10:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by gayanne
Might be best to speak to baja wes hes sound s pretty good on this stuff.JVLRacing


I feel honoured :)

I run a 2lt kombi box in my Baja. I am also running an Albins 0.70:1 4th gearset. It cost me $350 a couple of years ago. Then you need someone to install it. Other than that I have the stock 2lt ratios.

http://www.albinsgear.com.au/

With my 31x10.5R15 rear tyres, I do about 2250rpm in 4th @ 100kph on the highway. That gives just enough power to go up and down highway hills, but you need 3rd for overtaking or steeper hills. I wouldn't gear my engine any taller than that.

If you have Excel 2000 or newer installed on your computer, then go here and download the latest version of my Excel dyno. It lets you calculate performance figures for your car, but of more interest to you it lets you calculate rpm in each gear, and the latest version also calculates how steep a hill the car will go up in that gear.

http://www.offroadvw.net/exceldyno/

You can see the graph says my car won't go over 150kph in 4th, cos it is geared too tall. But it will go to over 180kph in third. It also shows my tall 4th is only good for 5% gradient hills.


wacked1 - December 27th, 2004 at 12:07 PM

mate untill you sort out the G/B just throw on some big ass tiers, your revs will drop for sure!

albins are the way to go.
here are my two
the first i a V8
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/wacked1/ausmattside1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/wacked1/rear-sumpclearence.jpg


this is the V6


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/wacked1/new3.jpg


pete wood - December 28th, 2004 at 09:08 AM

As I understand it, Albins actually sell a specialised V6 gearset with gears 1-4 included. The ratios were worked out by Kimm at Indian years ago and are the same ones he has in all his V6 converted bays.

http://www.albinsgear.com.au/ 

send them an email and they will send you a quote.

Also indian can build up these boxes (2l, 091) for you if you like. I think they are about $4k but once it's built it's done and they are strong as.

http://www.kruizinwagon.com.au/ 


Klaus - January 8th, 2005 at 08:16 PM

thats heaps of info guys thanks heaps. The starter issue might be an age thing, pulled it apart n filed brushs and cleaned soleniod contacts it helped but me thinks it needs a proper reco. Box is an 091 supposed to have 914 3rd n 4th but I think the guy I bought it from might be dreaming.
Albins will be the way to go , especially if they have a set to suit the conversion. Big tyres will also appear on the rear already priced a set of BF goodrich chunky 4x4 ones 235wide.
Will try n sort out photos but all they will be is engine and exhaust sitting on the floor as the 2ltr is back in.
The adapter n flywheel including postage to Ulladulla was about 720.00, it sells for 690.00 less postage . Only drama with kit was that u need longer flywheel bolts and engine bolts that come with it are no where near long enough, other than that it was a straight upwards bolt in ( didn't want to remove rear apron).


Klaus - January 8th, 2005 at 08:21 PM

vwtyp2 how did u deal with heat in engine bay. Pop the lid open or use the rear tray as a bbq?
I'm thinking of cutting up a spare lid and filling it with mesh and also having a fan to remove heat, maybe some under body ducting to get hot air out aswell as thermal wrap on the headers.


pete wood - January 13th, 2005 at 04:02 PM

try a starter off an auto kombi. I have one on my buggy now and it's heaps better. the auto unit is a full inch and half longer than the manual unit and it's heaps torquier. The manual one wouldn't turn my subbie once it was warmed up but the auto starter has no trouble.


vwtyp2 - January 13th, 2005 at 04:48 PM

Klaus,
haven't had any issues with heat.
what kind of cooling are you running?
just went and got a quote on an exhaust.
$1000 complete from headers to tailpipe in stainless.


debiasi4 - January 13th, 2005 at 10:06 PM

dan your car does have a high torque starter
its a modifyed magna starter
whats the car go like with the new exhaust, hope you go the clutch sorted call us if you need a hand


vwtyp2 - January 14th, 2005 at 09:15 AM

haven't got the zorst on yet.
played with the clutch last night, stopped it from grabbing, now it's slipping.
just have to find the balance.


the 0.70 4th is great for highway cruising,
but is a big gap between 3rd and 4th.
I'm glad I didn't go the 0.65.
falls right out of the power curve when shifting from 3rd to 4th.


VWCOOL - January 14th, 2005 at 09:30 AM

you MUST decide on your tyre size before you play with ratios. But 2500+rpm is WAY too high for a VN V6


vwtyp2 - January 14th, 2005 at 03:54 PM

2500 rpm is too high for what?
I'm launching at 3000rpm and shifting at 5100 in 1st and 2nd and 5300 rpm in 3rd.


michael warner - January 15th, 2005 at 04:58 AM

vwtyp2 what kind of times are you pulling in your bus?


vwtyp2 - January 15th, 2005 at 08:17 AM

16.219 @ 77.81 and
16.232 @ 78.28

next meet on feb 5th, hoping for a 15.9. ;)


wacked1 - January 15th, 2005 at 10:29 AM

dan the sydney boys with stock v6's in bays are in the mid / low 15's you shouldn't have any troubles getting there, most people only put albins 4th in and have the same problems.
cheers
mate


vwtyp2 - January 15th, 2005 at 12:04 PM

hmm, mid low 15's.
I'd be happy with that.
I took a mate for a run who has got a T25 ej20t.
he has run a 16.1 and he reckons my car accelerates a lot quicker than his.
I'm thinking the exhaust is a bit restrictive, and slowing me down.
It still has the cat on there.


wacked1 - January 15th, 2005 at 06:20 PM

what size is the zorst, 2.5inch i hope, all us guys have to run cats over here


vwtyp2 - January 16th, 2005 at 04:12 PM

whatever the stock size is.
well yeah, legally we're required to run cats here too.


VWCOOL - January 17th, 2005 at 07:03 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by vwtyp2
2500 rpm is too high for what?
I'm launching at 3000rpm and shifting at 5100 in 1st and 2nd and 5300 rpm in 3rd.


Highway cruise... those revs are just a waste of the V6's torque and outside its PCM lean cruise


vwtyp2 - January 17th, 2005 at 07:58 AM

If I stuck to the highway speed limit, it'd probably be spinning at about 2500 or so.


Baja Wes - January 17th, 2005 at 08:34 AM

I've got a big gap between the stock 3rd and 0.70:1 4th, but it's not a problem. Especially since 3rd revs out to 192kph with my engine and tyre sizes :D


Klaus - January 18th, 2005 at 10:05 PM

Got a quote from albins . ratios are 1st 2.83
2nd 1.81
3rd 1.19 or 1.14 or 1.25(stock is 1.26)
4th .7 or .77
and a price of $1369.50 delivered. not bad just got to decide on 3rd ratio and then find someone to build it or I'll have a go myself.
Any advice on ratio choice I'm aiming for a 2200-2500 100kmh in top, tyre size will be the adjusting factor when its done.Good to see i'm not alone with the ratio pain.
Ah would be nice to go for a drive in someones completed conversion ;)


vwtyp2 - January 19th, 2005 at 08:14 AM

Get a Super diff too.
He should have them on the shelf now, mine is only 2 months old.
much easier to put in now, than to blow your std. diff and have to rebuild your box in a few months time.

that's about where mine's revving. I was thinking about an 0.65 4th, but now I'm glad I didnt. there'd be way too bigger gap, and city driving in 4th would be near impossible.

have you thought about wheels yet?
I'm running 225/45/17"s, which are about the same height as the 205/65/15"s that I had on there when I was running the BRM's.
Unless you're gonna run Monster Truck tyres or Baja Bus it, I reckon you'd be fine with the 0.70 ;)


pete wood - January 19th, 2005 at 10:35 AM

Klaus,
Before you decide on 4th, just send Kimm at indian an email and ask him what revs he thinks you should be doing at 100kph, coz 2500rpm sounds alittle high to me, from what I have heard, Holden V6s don't like revs.

BTW, definitely go the superdiff now too.


Baja Wes - January 20th, 2005 at 01:02 PM

I'm running a factory superdiff out of a later Vanagon era gearbox.


Klaus - January 20th, 2005 at 09:42 PM

cool more info luckily I'm in no rush I'll check out superdiff and give indian a call. oooh ee priced sway bars , adjustable 24mm $258 from whiteline , koni shocks adjustable about $300 pair . Might just stick with stock n change bushes n bearings first. As all tie rods n ball joints have been done.
Also got a price for a custom alloy rad dun dun da $825 starting point mmm then priced vn alloy rad $245 brand spanky, I might be going with that. It never ends , seam welding bug insides and ran out of gas , bottle lasted a month "e" size as well. fun fun fun.