5 Speed Bugs

Berg 5 conversion, or IRS conversion and Porsche transmission. These are both done "all the time".

Jan

the most important information is a 5 speed trans is around $3500 USD. If you are still interested LMK and I'll keep going.

John Aircooled.Net Inc.

Mikey at Import Transmission Exchange in Portland, Oregon builds a 5 speed conversion for the type 1 that I think has a superior to the berg conversion. I'm not sure if he is making them right now but it wouldn't hurt to call and ask him.

Tony

Can someone enlighten me what the benefits of installing a 5 speed transmission in a bug would be?

Depends on what you want from it.

1) You could have original 4 gears PLUS a "freeway flyer" overdrive 5th

2) you could have modified 1-4 and an overdrive 5th

3) you could have modified 1-4 and 5th that has the same ratio as your old 4th

Option 1 gives you lower rpms at high speeds, but requires a big, torquey engine. Small engines would overheat.

Option 2 gives you better acceleration because teh engine stays in it's powerband (smaller jump between gears) AND you get a freeway flyer overdrive to lower rpms at high speeds, or if you engine is strong enough, you can have higher top speed.

Option 3 means the only benefit is that you can keep the engine running at the powerband and accelerate faster.

Personally, my choice would be option 2. Best of both. With a BIG engine.

Jan

Ah, thanks for the explanation. Doesn't seem like much point for a bug then. I mean, who buys a bug for high speed driving? I pegged the top of my speedo not long after I bought mine but since then I doubt I've gone over 60mph. If I had to do a lot of highway commuting I think I'd get a more aerodynamic vehicle. :)

I thought Berg stopped making them because the engine speed in 5th gear caused the engine to overheat since the fan was not spinning fast enought to cool properly?

They did at one point, but restarted. Did they stop again?

Jan

Wolfgang wrote:

You'd always have the right gear for your engine. Most likely an engine that doesn't have a wide powerband.. Hence the need for 5.

It's really about matching motor output to the road.

A stock motor's powerband is somewhere around 1200-3700 rpm. The engine in my bug has a range of 2000-6500. I'm perfectly happy with 4 gears, though my first is near useless as it's too low and have to shift out of it almost immediately. I'd prefer a taller first in my case, and will experiment with gearing changes someday.

(But doesn't everyone say that?)

..........I've been thinking of going with a closer ratio spacing tranny too. I don't think that I want to change 4th but it would be nice to have a

1st gear ratio that lasts longer than 20 feet. You probably have a lightened flywheel? Mine took some getting used to compared to a std. weight flywheel during start up but I'm still pretty confident that a higher 1st that's somewhere between a std. 1st & 2nd would be more useful........for me. 2nd gear would need to move up a little too, maybe, to somewhere close to halfway between the higher 1st and the std 3rd ratio, I'm thinking. I'm not interested in 1/4 mile times but I do indulge in some occasional stop light to stoplight contests with some of those SUV clowns..........lol

No, std weight for me. I didn't want too much trouble with hill starts.

Yes, I'm thinking the same. Start offs in 2nd are a bit too tough. I'd want a range to around 35-40 mph in first. I can barely do 30, and that's winding it *all* the way out to do 30. It's like all the torque is wasted for revs and I'm ready for second immediately after the clutch is out.

I like the spacing I have between 2nd, 3rd and 4th. I really don't need my 4th any taller (I can already top 100). I really don't know the conclusion I'm drawing for myself.. Just that I like the rest, just not my first.

Hmm.. I could drop my 2nd and split the diff on 3rd, ignore 1st altogether and viola!... a 3 speed!

With a wide powerband, who needs 4 anyways?

AFAIK, 5th is *NOT* taller. I think the new gear is placed between 3rd and 4th.. A /3.5/? And all ratios are shifted down, but 4th stays where it was.

.............I have a narrower power band than you (a Berg 1679). I'm going to be going through the engine pretty soon though and I'm going to be able to pull from 2500 - 6000.......maybe. I think that a little higher 1st and

2nd while leaving the 3rd and 4th gears alone might be what I need. I'm still thinking about it though.

Jan Andersson wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@rocketcom.mail:

How big, Jan? Also a taller 1st would be handy around here.

Can anyone fill me in on the options for a 5 speed transmission are?. I have

68 swing axle beetle. JAY ********* Best option - & cheapest - is to drive the bug with a 4-speed, use the money a 5-speed would cost & buy something like my '83 280ZX (or any number of cool 5-speed cars). :-) ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver"

Easy on the Giggle Cream!

If you had a lower rev cruising 5th gear, couldnt you solve the cooling issue with a diferent pulley / fan speed ?

Rich

Jay Harris wrote:

Oversize crank pulleys are available for increasing fan speed.

They however are not a good idea for engines that rev high, past

7000rpm.. the fan speed gets too high. Grenaded fans are not uncommon. At least upgrade to a welded and balanced fan if you have this kind of a combo.

Jan

tricky wrote:

Yes thats right, but the idea was to put a bigger pully on because its a LOW reving engine ! End result, low revs , same fan speed / cooling.

Rich

Jan Anderss> Oversize crank pulleys are available for increasing fan speed.