At 10:24 PM 28/10/2003 -0500, you wrote:
>Date:    Tue, 28 Oct 2003 18:05:36 -0800
>From:    Jere Hawn <jbrschawn@EARTHLINK.NET>
>Subject: 5 speed tranny question?
>
>Hi all,
>
>I've worn out too many engines!!  Does a 5 speed tranny (gas) exist (for a
>vanagon) that will lower my RPMs to about 3K when I'm doing 70 MPH?

Jere,

The 5 speed transmission was standard on all manual T3s
worldwide since they went watercooled in 1983 ...
EXCEPT in North America.

Dunno why, but you guys got screwed unfortunately.
I suspect that had you got the 5 speed like the rest of us,
there would but a lot less talk on the list about engine swaps.

The 5 speed lowers the engine speed by around 400 to 500rpm.
Mightn't get you quite as low as 3000@70mph but it certainly
makes for longer engine life and more pleasant driving with the
closer 5 speed ratios...

Cheers,
Steve O
Blue Mountains,NSW Australia
'92 Transporter WBX Kombi
'00 Transporter Double Cab
'03 Transporter Double Cab (work truck)