Short of getting the European 3.73 R+P and running slightly taller tires, I
think you are out of luck for 70+ MPH all day driving and having a TDI.
What can I say, a 1970s design that we want to run 25% faster on a fuel that
burns slower than gasoline - just not meant to be with the gearing we have
available to us.  Perhaps it is time to start looking at a T4 ?

David Marshall

Fast Forward Automotive Inc.
4356 Quesnel-Hixon Road
Quesnel BC Canada  V2J 6Z3

http://www.fastforward.ca    mailto:sales@fastforward.ca
Phone: (250) 992 7775        FAX: (250) 992 1160

- Vanagon Accessories and Engine Conversions
- Vanagon, Transporter and Iltis Sales and Importation
- European Lighting for most Volkswagen models

Due to the large volume of email  we  receive,  PLEASE  include  previous
emails when responding.  This will allow us to read the complete dialogue
in one message and will result in quicker and more  accurate  responses.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of BenT Syncro
Sent: October 13, 2005 12:01 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: TDIs and Automatic -- Custom Gears?

On 10/13/05, Jeffrey Schwaia <jeff@vanagonparts.com> wrote:
>
> That was me who looked into getting a custom ring & pinion made for the
> Vanagon automatic. Due to the complexities of the automatic ring & pinion
> the production costs are quite high. After showing the R&P to a few
> machinists, I was told we were looking at $2,500+ to produce a new R&P.
> Obviously, I would have had more than one built, but the costs would not
> have come down appreciably unless the number of units exceded 50.

 Coincidentally I spent a long time talking to Daryl Christensen at AA
Transaxle about this very subject yesterday.
 It would have to come down well below half that cost to make it attractive
for someone like me. There must a growing demand for this combo though...
Maybe in Europe too?
 70mph on US freeways is just too slow.

--
> BenT