vw 5 speed interest ??

[dyno don]

well...after many years gone by the wayside i have been wondering if there is still a need or interest in bringing back an affordable 5 speed to the vw market. 1)...any interest//2) what would be affordable pricing//....I have been pondering this for quite some time and have talked to some old school people with great interest/knowledge/expertise to perhaps reintroduce an affodable 5 speed for street use driving. Im not into bashing or interested in transbuilder wars as this industry is already getting too small and enough people are frustrated with the economic situation/ just a thought that perhaps can happen if there is enough interest hence this posting. without getting into politics which i hate and cannot tolerate im just interested in those that have a desire for such an item. please give me your honest input without technical backlash. i have been dedicated to this industry that has been my family for over 40 years and would like all parties interested to chime in. thank you for your time and consideration//dyno don

[SO-CAL Speed Shop L.A.]

Knowing that an overdrive has become almost manditory in the American Classic and Hot Rod world I think a 5 speed for the VW market would be stronger than ever as we are so used to the engine kicking down in our late models. I want to do some SERIOUS cross-country VW driving in the near future and feel that a 5-speed would make it SOOOO much more inviting. Hate hearing any engine scream for long periods any more- give me a 5th gear ANY day! This coming from a person driving his '67 EVERYDAY after a 15 year hiatus of driving air-cooled German engineering. I was just going to ask tonight if the high pitched gear noise in fouth gear with the power on (only) is normal? Runs fine, but tranny just gets a little louder in 4th at speed.

[low oval]

yep, I'm interested.  As it stands now, I am having a engine buit that will hopefully be completed by the end of summer, than I will put a 5 speed in it next spring due to current costs.  I'd much rather do it all at once.

[SEBB]

I too am interested if it is able to hold a drag racing (street drag)!

[GreenTom]

that would be a nice thing to have. If it would be for example good for some saturday night action in the town/strip (lets say 1,2,3 4 eaven  gears close ratio and 5th for geting for A point to B point in "quite") that I'm interested. In Europe lots of people use heit AC VW's as a daylie drivers and it would make live easyer (more quite ).
Go for it Mr. Don.
cheers
Tom.

[plasticblack]

Spooky Don..

I was just thinking the other day about this very subject and I agree totally that a 5-speed box would be high on my list of 'Wants'.

The probably has always been with this suggestion that the costs involved, put it beyond what most people can afford and thus however Good or Desirable a 5-Speed might be... the idea Commercially speaking is stuck in Neutral........ (Sorry about that one! )

It all comes down to cost in the end and the only way I can see this being any more than an idea, is if some brave soul does the Maths and feels he can produce a certain number of boxes on a pre-order basis and manages to cover his outlay over a small run.

On a side point, I've owned several 'GT Beetles' over the years and these came with a higher Final Ratio as standard and I found these to be fine for long distance cruising and much easier than a Standard Box.

Perhaps even a 4-Speed with a more suitable Top End would be just as welcomed as well as significantly less Development/Modification costs?  

Having said that, it depends on what 'Everybody's' individual opinion of 'Affordable' is..




 

[Fastbrit]

The only advantage of a five-speed in a VW is that it allows you to run four 'short' gears and a stock fifth to allow regular freeway cruising. There is no benefit at all in going the conventional 'overdrive' route as the VW trans is already effectively overdriven in fourth gear. A Bug motor in a typical Cal Looker will struggle to pull anything much higher than a 3.88 with a 0.82 and 205/70s for any distance - and that's a hell of a lot higher overall ratio than a regular 4.37/0.89 + 155/15 overall ratio… You may also need to start thinking about speeding the fan up to keep things cool if you run too a high gear for long periods… Just my 2c…

[Neil Davies]

Depending on cost, it's something that I'd seriously consider. The Berg 5 is great, but expensive. AFAIK the Webster from the 70's hasn't been available for a long, long time, and Bears in the UK are releasing theirs soon according to the news piece in Volksworld. The Porsche five-speed is also proven but requires a change to IRS.

I'd like to drive to the track, run 12's and drive home again, keeping up with motorway traffic at 70mph without wringing the neck of the motor.

[alex d]

I think it's cheaper to just build a bigger engine so you don't need close ratios 

[GreenTom]

I think it's cheaper to just build a bigger engine so you don't need close ratios 

hmm that's a idea 2276ccm EFI Turbo engine with 25PSI boost should be enough
but yes as Mr. Kith wrote, nice box with close ratios and 5th like 0,82 should be nice to drive 70MPH without putting some cheese into earholes or frying the engine.

[glenn]

I think it's cheaper to just build a bigger engine so you don't need close ratios 

I like having both.

I've had a Berg 5 for 10 years and i'll never go back to a 4 speed. The close gears make driving it a pleasure and matching it to a torquey engine means I can shift into 5th as low as 40mph and as high as 110mph.

[Jeff68]

I would absolutely love to have a 5 speed in my car.  I agree with Mr. Seume above - Having a 5 speed doesn't change the "overdrive" that is already in a stock 4 speed VW transaxle.  So mostly I'd really like to have a 5 speed so that I could have the first four gears closer to improve drivability in traffic as well as at the track as well as improve highway drivability with less engine noise.  This is a great subject!
 
As far as speeding the fan up if you use a lower (numerically) gear ratio in your "overdrive" gear - This may not be a good idea as it takes a certain amount of horsepower to drive the fan and push the car.  This may cause overheating of the engine. Just my $0.02

[181]

To reply the original question, yes, I´d love to have an affordable 5 speed.

[Hotrodvw]

I too am interested if it is able to hold a drag racing (street drag)!

Yup, has to be good for at least 200hp

[Joel Mohr]

Just don't revive the "Mikey" 5 speed it's a poor design......I actually ordered a Berg 2 weeks ago for my Puma......

[Speed-Randy]

I actually ordered a Berg 2 weeks ago for my Puma......

good luck with that

[Mike Maize]

Yes I would be interested.

[The Ideaman]

Just don't revive the "Mikey" 5 speed it's a poor design......

I was thinking the same thing.  CB tried to make it work, with no success.

[team97]

To reply the original question, yes, I´d love to have an affordable 5 speed.

Me Too!

[Zach Gomulka]

As soon as I rebuild/hot rod the motor in the GTV, that's the next step. I might drag race it a few times to see what it's got in it, but it will be primarily for street and highway use. I don't want a close 1-4 with a stock 5th, I want the gears to be spread out like a "factory" 5 speed. 4.12 r+p with a .77 5th, and 165 tires.

[deano]

There may in fact, be an alternative to the modified VW gearbox + fifth gear setup coming soon. Mendeola is working on a new, small, compact gearbox that will be a six speed, design to fit around the VW torsion bar/frame horn setup. It could use either IRS or swingaxle parts.... and take the horsepower.

[danny gabbard]

Very interesting dean, Keep us posted

[ugly duckling]

deffenetly a needed item there DON it would deffenetly be a seller i think a 6 speed perhaps if doible for thoses nice big CI T1 engines. HEY don eat any PIC UP STIK,S LATELY great to see ya that night  . UD . 

[Zach Gomulka]

There may in fact, be an alternative to the modified VW gearbox + fifth gear setup coming soon. Mendeola is working on a new, small, compact gearbox that will be a six speed, design to fit around the VW torsion bar/frame horn setup. It could use either IRS or swingaxle parts.... and take the horsepower.

That would be awesome, but SPENDEOLA I'm guessing...

[deano]

There may in fact, be an alternative to the modified VW gearbox + fifth gear setup coming soon. Mendeola is working on a new, small, compact gearbox that will be a six speed, design to fit around the VW torsion bar/frame horn setup. It could use either IRS or swingaxle parts.... and take the horsepower.

That would be awesome, but SPENDEOLA I'm guessing...

So, a ground-up Berg 5 speed ready to fly isn't?

[Dave Rosique]

There may in fact, be an alternative to the modified VW gearbox + fifth gear setup coming soon. Mendeola is working on a new, small, compact gearbox that will be a six speed, design to fit around the VW torsion bar/frame horn setup. It could use either IRS or swingaxle parts.... and take the horsepower.

That would be awesome, but SPENDEOLA I'm guessing...

No need to guess... Mendeola is some top shelf stuff.
I'm sure it would be nice but price would no doubt limit the market... my guess it would FAR exceed the price of a Berg unit.

 

[Donny B.]

If someone is going to all this trouble, maybe someone will do a sequential gearbox.  I always thought you could get a sequential 6 speed into a stock VW housing.  Maybe we will see.

[deano]

If someone is going to all this trouble, maybe someone will do a sequential gearbox.  I always thought you could get a sequential 6 speed into a stock VW housing.  Maybe we will see.

I believe that is also in the works.... knowing Mike!

[Zach Gomulka]

There may in fact, be an alternative to the modified VW gearbox + fifth gear setup coming soon. Mendeola is working on a new, small, compact gearbox that will be a six speed, design to fit around the VW torsion bar/frame horn setup. It could use either IRS or swingaxle parts.... and take the horsepower.

That would be awesome, but SPENDEOLA I'm guessing...

So, a ground-up Berg 5 speed ready to fly isn't?

Not cheap, no. But it is within what I would consider a justifiable expense.

[Fastbrit]

I remember Gary Peloquin telling me back in 1988 that he was working on a six-speed trans, using the original case. Wonder what ever came of that?