Webster 5 speed straight cut gearbox - Any information please :)

[Lee.C]

  can we get back to the WEBSTER boxes please 

29 replies and approx 80% are about Berg 

 

[TexasTom]

Did you check out Pegasus Racing, as Glenn had suggested?
Other than that, your best bet would maybe be getting in touch with some Formula or SuperVee racers?

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/advcat.asp?CategoryID=TRANSDIFF

Honestly, Good Luck!

[Lids]

can we get back to the WEBSTER boxes please 

29 replies and approx 80% are about Berg 

 

After reading what people have posted there might be a reason!!!

[Lee.C]

can we get back to the WEBSTER boxes please 

29 replies and approx 80% are about Berg 

 

After reading what people have posted there might be a reason!!!

Yeah yeah as always "Buy Berg its the best" 

I did not ask "what I should BUY I just asked for INFORMATION 

[TexasTom]

GOOGLE has it all ...  


http://www.formulavee.org/

Ask THESE guys.

TxT

[OC1967vw]

As always guys - as the title says  

Webster 5 speed straight cut gearbox - Anyone got ANY more info on these boxes

Here is what we have so far:

Webster manufacture gears for racing. The company's five-speed conversions were based on Type I transaxles and from what experience I had with them they were made primarily for off-road racecars. I think it was early '80s. Again, from memory fifth gear was above reverse for a true H pattern (with three legs, of course). And I believe that they traded synchros for shift dogs. But I never drove one so I couldn't tell you for sure. I'm no expert. [/b]

Why the Berg bashing? 

H@TERS, just ignore them.

Glenn and Don,
admire your postings and your cars and your dedication to Berg parts and a quality product commitment to the enthusiast/purchaser.

How many miles do you both have on your motors and Berg transaxles? Motor and transaxle history to date?

I have 40,000+ miles on mine and regularly beat the snot out of it with my old 1904 and current 2180. It's off to Gary Berg to replace a noisy mainshaft bearing and update the breather so it doesn't puke gear lube during extended 80+mph runs.

Still shifts like new.

I have around 60k miles on mine.  Glenn I solved that problem years ago, but routing the breather line to a vented catch can that drained back into the ring gear housing.  I had my 5th gear synchro crack, but that's about it.

there is a relational statement here that needs to be made; dont ask the question (ANY INFORMATION) unless you are prepared to hear the answers-Good or bad pleasant or unpleasant-its information that you asked for.

You asked for information and you received it from a variety of sources. with experience. if you think that putting a Webster road racing transaxle in a street car is a great thing, how come there arent any more done? They certainly have been around for years. Putting a Webster in a street car is not like driving a split window crashbox.  Not even close.

Trans must be shifted at very high rpms or you get the dreaded gnashing of teeth because its has no synchros and the gears are straight cut. Sound familiar?

Bottom line is that it is your money to spend as you see fit. Now you have to do further homework for the car you want to put this transaxle in- race car only or a street car?

can we get back to the WEBSTER boxes please 

29 replies and approx 80% are about Berg 

 

[/b]After reading what people have posted there might be a reason!!!

Yeah yeah as always "Buy Berg its the best" 

I did not ask "what I should BUY I just asked for INFORMATION 

a reasonable conclusion.

Have fun.

[Lee.C]

I am going to go out on a limb here but I am sure a few other are feeling the same 

I am not really sure you "Get" what this forum is about dude  We like doing it "the old ways" we are VERY interested in the little details of the way the guys used to do it back in the 70's - YES I could fit a berg5 (and I may) and YES I could go and buy a pair of "new" 48idas off ebay and YES I could order a 2276 long block out of Hot Vw magazine BUT I DON'T 

Right or Wrong I/we (or many of us at least!) are trying to capture the Spirit of the time that the original "Cal Look Cars" were built, and in many cases that means using the ORIGINAL parts that they/you used, Just as an example I have just had my old SPG roller bearing crank completely rebuilt/modified (at a BIG cost!) Just because I really like the idea of building an old skool 2180cc SPG motor 

Now back to the thread in hand I asked for information on the  Webster 5 speed straight cut gearbox NOT information on Which is the best 5 speed gearbox
I am not getting all stressed about this - Just making things clear 

[Lee.C]

well here is a race car with "straight cut gears" 

[TexasTom]

Have you tried contacting the guys that build transaxles for the formula vee cars yet? ... The ones listed on the link I searched for and found for you?
Since the boxes were primarily built for this type of machine, I would imagine they may be able to supply you with the information you desire.
OR, you could contact Pegasus Racing. Ask them who may be able to supply the information if they cannot?
As to whether it will work or not, since there are so very few examples (apparently) in existence, you may have to be the one to find out.
If it was so easy, everybody would do it (Berg5?).

Just an idea ... hope it helps.

"This information has been presented to you FREE OF CHARGE by TxTInfoGatheringResources, LLC"

Keep Smilin'!
 

[Zach Gomulka]

Lee, I totally get making sacrifices for a period look. But this box looks to be much more than that. It seems to me that it's more of a nuisance, and you will hate driving your car.
Have you thought about a 901 box, and converting to IRS?

[Lee.C]

Lee, I totally get making sacrifices for a period look. But this box looks to be much more than that. It seems to me that it's more of a nuisance, and you will hate driving your car.
Have you thought about a 901 box, and converting to IRS?

  Dude I am just throwing ideas around you know how it is 

Its just an idea I have always thought about as I know the "Mini copper" guys often run "straight cut" boxes even in street cars (I have even heard a couple over the years!) so I always wondered if it was a "possibility" for a type1 box  seems like its a possibility but living with one might just be a different matter 

[OC1967vw]

I am going to go out on a limb here but I am sure a few other are feeling the same  

I am not really sure you "Get" what this forum is about dude   We like doing it "the old ways" we are VERY interested in the little details of the way the guys used to do it back in the 70's

Right or Wrong I/we (or many of us at least!) are trying to capture the Spirit of the time that the original "Cal Look Cars" were built, and in many cases that means using the ORIGINAL parts that they/you used, Just as an example I have just had my old SPG roller bearing crank completely rebuilt/modified (at a BIG cost!) Just because I really like the idea of building an old skool 2180cc SPG motor  

Now back to the thread in hand I asked for information on the  Webster 5 speed straight cut gearbox NOT information on Which is the best 5 speed gearbox
I am not getting all stressed about this - Just making things clear  

Was there in the 70s.

Did that then in the 70s.

Even had an SPG roller crank motor in the early 70s. Wouldnt touch one today if it were given to me. And I bought it because it was a "hot rod vw crank" -much the same reason you wanted to buy yours. And learned my lesson the hard way in 1969.

There were no EMPI cranks then. Just SPG and Ottinger from Germany (aka OKRASA).

Like I said, you asked for information and you got it. Go back and read the 70s issues of HotVWs since that is what you are into. how many webster gearboxes installed in featured cars driven on the street do you find?

Its your money to spend-do it the way you want-if it works for you, great. if it doesnt, i am sure you have the money to fix your transmission.

Zach has it right. as does Texas Tom Glenn and Donnie. all period cars-and owners who know what works and over many years from what i have read of their posts.

Hell, if i were you, i would buy all the spg cranks i could find. After all, we referred to them as boat anchors waiting to be used in the 70s based on our experiences with them-again a road racing crank for porsches that did not have many drag bug owners/racers at ocir/lyons/irwindale (old) that were fans of that crank-not good for drag racing

As I said, have fun doing it. its your money. When you ask questions, be prepared for the responses you get from people with experience.

[Fast Bug]

  Dude I am just throwing ideas around you know how it is  

Its just an idea I have always thought about as I know the "Mini copper" guys often run "straight cut" boxes even in street cars (I have even heard a couple over the years!) so I always wondered if it was a "possibility" for a type1 box   seems like its a possibility but living with one might just be a different matter  

Yes straight cut sounds very cool . The straight cut close ratio Mini Cooper boxes are widely used on the streets but they are all fully synched. You can get straight cut boxes for the Mini Cooper with dog engagement as the Webster as well, but they are race only.  Like posted earlier you would hate running a dog box on the street and running it in heavy city traffic is almost impossible.

[TexasTom]

This guy might also be able to give you a recommendation on the street-worthiness of this type of transaxle ...

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1235753

[hotrodsurplus]

I think you've exhausted the local knowledge base. I think you need to start looking for transaxle builders. You live in the land of Formula Ford, the main application for these gearboxes. You should try asking around. I did the Jim Russell Formula Ford classes in Donington in 1990. I have the sneaking hunch that the Russell school has a transaxle specialist on retainer.

You might want to try Peter Holinger's shop. Peter would've been the man to talk to but you'd need a pretty good ouija board to do it now as he died a few years back. But I bet someone at his shop knows a little about these boxes. And Holinger has outlets in US and Europe (Germany).

http://www.holinger.com.au/index.php

Houseman Autosport in Canadia might be able to shed light.
http://www.housemanautosport.com/

My apologies if someone already posted this but there was a thread about this very subject on the other site earlier this year.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=477189&start=0

Each setup has its advantages and detractors. The Hewland/Websters have an incredible range of gear ratios. They're very owner-serviceable from what I understand. They're quite tough. They're also noisy, take more concentration to shift, and obsolescence makes parts and service harder to find. Does it make them bad? Of course not. They're great for the right applications. You just have to decide if that application is yours and to do that you have to know the parameters. You may be far more forgiving than others to the things that give these gearboxes their character.

We're all a bit sick in the sense that we're fighting the system in a way for our passion (shitty old cars). Our passion is obsolete and relatively difficult to live with by modern standards. If we were looking for the easiest way to go fast we'd buy a newer Subaru Impreza and pocket the savings.

Oh, and someone mentioned that they wouldn't take an SPG if it was given to them. Fair enough: send them to me. I'm a glutton for punishment and don't mind piling a few more shortcomings on the list. I have a seven-pound Crown flywheel that would go with an SPG like peas go with carrots.

[Jim M]

Is this the webster co. that was in Mill Vallley Ca. They are local to me and recently went under.