John...here is what I know about 5 sp vs 4 spd gearing.

  Standard                               5 Speed
  4th gear -  .85                        5th gear  - .77
  3rd Gear -1.26                     4th gear  - 1.03
  2nd Gear  2.06                      3rd gear  -1.48
  1st Gear - 3.78                      2nd gear  -2.33
  xxx                                        1st Gear  -.4.11
  R&P     -    4.86                        R&P   -  5.43 for US diesel and a 4.57 for most of the SA gas vans.
  ...many of the trannys brought in are pretty rough and most need rebuilt.

  Daryl, can you give us a gear by gear comparison between the Standard manual tranny, and the 5 speed manual tranny, beginning with the top gear and working down through the lower gears. I know this may sound a little fuzzy, but I'm trying to understan
  Do I under stand you that the first gear in the 5 speed is lower than that in the 4 speed tranny???
  I have little use for that low gear now, why would I want with an even lower gear.

  Inquiring minds want to know.

  Thanks,

  John Rodgers
  88 GL Driver

  Daryl Christensen wrote:

The std vanagon tranny with the tall 4th (.77) is the same as the 5 speeds
5th gear, but with a lower 1st (many don't even use it) and the 2,3,4 all a
bit taller. I am just reporting what I have heard from others...never having
driven one personally...
Daryl of AA Transaxle
Duvall, WA. (Seattle area)
1-877-377-0773 toll free
425-788-4070
aatransaxle.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Rodgers" <jh_rodgers@BELLSOUTH.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2004 11:42 AM
Subject: Re: Rebuilding Man. Tranny-Questions regarding taller gears??

  Brian, I'm not really up on the effects of gear changes, but I did do
some driving in tall country when I lived in NM. I think I would like to
take a close look at the 5-speed conversion  for a better top end for
those long flat straight-aways. That would make more sense to me.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL driver

Brian Butler wrote:

    I am going to have AA transaxle rebuild my Syncro
Trans.
I am considering going to a taller 3rd and 4th. Daryl
@ AA recommends that I should be OK staying stock.
Keep in mind I have 15" wheels and will be going to a
taller tire. (Haven't decided what size yet. I still
need to find out how big I can go with the STOCK spare
tire carrier without having to go with an aftermarket
carrier. Any feedback on this is also appreciated).
The motor is a 2.1L WB with some upgrades for a bit of
additional hp.
I currently live in Lake Tahoe and do a lot of high
altitude driving and long hill/mountain pass driving.
I will soon be moving down to the coast at sea level.
I don't know if these points need to be considered or
not, but wanted to include them if so. I also do long
road trips where long flat stretches of highway are in
front of me. (and I would prefer to make them
less-long, if possible ;-)
I just would like to get some more opinions on the
subject of pros/cons of taller gearing before I dump a
few grand into the rebuild and possibly regret
whatever decision I make regarding the gearing.
Thanks in advance,
Brian Butler