best trans and gears??

beleive · Post by **beleive** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:51 pm

just installed a 1.6 engine with turbo in 81 truck,make long story short my case is cracked,and rest of tranny not good.(poping out of gear and getting noisy)anyway probably endup getting on rebuilt like put the best setup I can in it,what trans would you go with and ring and pinion gear??After good fuel milage with out killing power,im running stock tire size.Oh yeah,runnning 5 speed.Thanks

bscutt · Post by **bscutt** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:44 pm

my FF 5 speed is a great transmission for my 82. I had a 7A in my 80 Rabbit which is very similar in gear ratios and also worked great. Nice setup for street and highway too.

surfcam · Post by **surfcam** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 11:32 pm

I went for the 3.67 final drive ratio. There's quite a few to choose from that are quite similar. I put an ACN in and swap the 5th gear for a .71. Running this ratio has increased my mileage about 5 to 7%. I think my power is off about 25%. In flat Southern Alberta with little traffic it works just fine. If your into busy or hilly freeways you will be it 4th a lot so you mys well go for a low ratio transmission.

dubdoc · Post by **dubdoc** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 5:56 am

http://scirocco.org/gears/

bscutt · Post by **bscutt** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:02 pm

If you're going to carry anything in that truck you should have a 3.94 ratio. The slight difference in mileage will be offset by being able to get out of your own way.

Bormie · Post by **Bormie** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 5:14 pm

My FN works fine with n/a 1.6. I have to shift to 4th to climb large hills but cruise on flats or slight grades at 65-70 and get 46-49mpg. With your turbo hills shouldn't be an issue.

Post by **Fatmobile** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 10:27 pm

I was looking through the tranys in the link and the only 5-speeds with a 3.89 final drive are the Fs,...
FF, FO, FN, FH, FJ

and I see there is a close ratio group; FK, FM, FD.

It's between the slow on the highway 3.94 and
I've always wondered how well a trany with the 3.67 is when taking off from a stop with a load.
My Golf TD has an AGS, I really like it but didn't realise it has a 3.94 until now,... looking at the chart in the link. I didn't believe it but running 80mph through the calculator says RPMs are about 3500 and that sounds about right.

surfcam · Post by **surfcam** » Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:33 pm

I pulled a small gutted out tent trailer with four pattern cabinets and 3000 sewing patterns with not very much difficulty. I pulled this load on 13 hour trip through the Rockies. I don't think first gear makes much difference. It doesn't take very long and your reving 3000. The gear that has issues is 5th. With 3.67 and .71 5th any wind or more that 5% grade and you are smoking. It's down to fourth and rev it to 55 pop it into 5th and she will do 60 to the next small hill. Or use 4th because it is the same as your 5th.