The Cal-look Lounge

Well, there's less than a month to go until the big VW show of the year here in Denver, and I somehow managed to blow up my stock differential... again. Any advice on what sort of tranny I could throw together in that amount of time? Keep in mind, I'm only working with 110-120 hp, so I don't need some 5 rib bus monstrosity, and I already have a Super-Diff and h.d. side plate. Thanks for any help!

A stock built trans should handle that power without problems. Are you preloading?

I took my all steel bug in to the 12s with the same parts, preloading your tranny is the key.

grtz

No, I'm not preloading it, I guess I haven't figured out that part of drag racing just yet  ::)

Here is a test;

Make sure your car is in 1`st gear with no handbrake. Go out of the car and wriggle it back and forth. You will probably find out that it moves 2-3 inches. This is the slack you want to remove when you dragrace and that is why it is important to pre-load the gearbox and also your car.

-BB-

Ah, that makes sense... Now here's the real amateur question; how the hell do I preload it?

Line lock or handbrake.

Light the first 2 light, activate line lock or pull some handbrake, creep up to the next lights (rear of car will get pulled down some).

You feel when it's preloaded.

I'm glad someone has asked this....(even though I am sure it is not an issue with my 36+hp)...

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I have seen people blow there gearbox with a mild 1641 twice in a year
And others drive for years with a stock gearbox and a 150bhp engine and have np problemes.
So i'm pretty sure there are people out there who can brake there box xith 36bhp as well.
Think it is all about your driving style.

Henk!!!

Awesome, thanks for the advice! Now I just need to get it up to the shop to un-blow it up and get a little practice in!

As an aside, shoutout to the admins for getting the technical board up and running! I just read a bit about it last night, it's an honor to have my post be one of the first in here, even if it's about something as simple as how to not blow up a transmission  ;)

A simple modification to make a stage brake, drill a hole through the parking brake handle when the lock button is pressed in, then put a locking pin in the hole. Use the parking brake when stageing, releas at green light, then your tranny will be preloaded  :)

Same as that on 67 & Old cab, simple and just pull pin out again to return it to normal use for road etc

cheers Richie

i did about the same thing, but i opted to drill the hole further down the bracket. that way, when the pin is in you lock out the thoothed part that locks the handbrake (the part that pivots). that way you don't have anything around your hand when you use the lever as a staging brake.