The 84 most likely has a much more optimistic speedometer than the 86 to
the point that it appears to have a different ratio. There should be a
stamp on the outside of the transmission. The DU came with 4.85. The ABD
has a 4.83. The DK has a 4.57. I believe this was shortly used for the
air cooled. The DM is 5.42 and the DZ was 5.86. These were Diesel boxes.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of mark drillock
Sent: Sunday, April 02, 2006 9:20 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: MPG Question

Jake,  what you wrote in your first post was simply wrong. Now you are
misstating the exchange. I did not say that YOUR tranny didn't have a
4.57 because that is not what you said. You said  the 1.9 gearboxes had
4.57 and the 2.1 gearboxes had 4.83 or 4.86. I replied that in North
American models both the 1.9 and 2.1 trannys have essentially the same
gearing and neither used a 4.57. I stand by that and so would any VW
transmission rebuilding shop. You can look it up in the Vanagon Bentley
as well. You don't have to rebuild the tranny to check the ratio. If it
or the engine is out, simply unbolt the bell housing and pull it away.
The ring gear with have the teeth count stamped right on it.

Mark

Jake de Villiers wrote:

>..............
>
>One of my first posts on this lists was regarding the 4.57 R & P in my
84,
>and Mr Drillock's reply was most emphatic- there is no such thing. I
could
>have said that I didn't want to call him a liar but,  but I didn't. My
84
>has a much taller rear end ratio than my 86. That's a fact. I'm sure
that
>someday I'll pull the box and rebuild it, and then I'll send Mr
Drillock a
>photo that he might accept as proof.
>
>
.................................