If staying with the water boxer, I wouldn't raise the final drive too
much, especially if you are looking at larger tires. Stock gearing with
27 to 27.5 inch is really the limit for the engine to last. As for the
2.3, don't. The stock engine is tuned, (or de-tuned) for both emissions
and survival. In stock form and tune, it can take some level of being
pushed without knocking, pinging, melting pistons etc. Raising the
compression, advancing the timing, etc, always seems to reduce life. If
you really need more power, you need another engine. As for the engine
running at 4,000 rpm, a good oil cooler will keep it happy.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of james@icebox500.com
Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2005 6:20 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Buying a new manual transmission - considering Go Westy final
drive increase

So, 3rd gear is a grinder now and its time to consider a new
transmission
(before it gives up the ghost in the middle of nowhere).

I have a 2.1l that is pretty healthy at this time but has 120k on it. It
is
possible that in the future I would consider a 2.3l upgrade from Go
Westy.

That said, after talking to Lucas, it seems that the smartest(?) move
would
be to buy a new stock 4 speed transmission with a higher geared final
drive.
In combination with 15' wheels, this raises the transmission ratio about
10%
based on what I've read and my conversations with Lucas.

I guess I'm tossing this all out there to get opinions on what I'm
considering. The cost of the transmission built as described is about
$1,950
after core charges are credited. This doesn't seem terribly out of line
though I've seen transmissions range from $895 - $1,500 in various
places.

I use this bad boy as an occasional daily driver, for going on trips
that
mix highway with 2 lane, and for whatever else pleases me.

Thoughts? Cheers? Chides?

Thanks,

James