I have a .77 5th gear  in a SA 5speed on my '88 Vanagon.
Its running Michelin XCA 205/75x14 tires (26.5" diameter acc'd to  tire
rack)

This gives me 65.5mph at 3,200 rpm   or  73.2mph at 3,600 rpm
My overall MPG has gone up 1-2 MPG since installing the 5-speed.

The .77 gives a good crusing range, but is not so high that it is
unusable on hills.
I think putting a .77 4th would be better than changing the R&P since
you probably do not want to change all the forward gear ratios.

Todd
'88 Westy

>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>Of Jonce Fancher
>Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 8:08 PM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: ring and pinion question
>
>hi all
>is there a better ring and pinion to put into a 85 vanagon? the vanagon
>trans and the late 2s have the same ring and pinion? i know there is no
>access on the side of the trans. is there a way to drop the rpm from 4k
>to 3k and still cruise at 70-75 mph?? i have a spare trans that is good
>and im considering some mods to it before is swap it into the 85.
>thanks c-ya Jonce
>
>
>