The Diesel 5-speed has the same gear ratios as
the gas 5-speed (like my WBX 5-speed AAP), but
the final drive is different.

I can't tell you what my RPM's are at any given
speed because I still have yet to get my tach
working since I switched from Digifant 2 to
Motronic.

I think that a five speed is good because it
delivers more torque. You probably get a good top
end rpm also, though I would like to know the
numbers.

I can guess mine . When I had a 4-speed
air-cooled trans 60 mph was right around 3200.

So with the gas five speed that might be closer
to 3000 in the five-speed.

 The 4-speed Diesel trans seems like the first 3
gears are all first gear.

I definetly recommend a trans swap from Diesel to
air-cooled trans if you are using a 4-speed.

You will get better fuel economy.

Robert

1982 Westfalia

--- Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET> wrote:

>   I have one in my 84.  With a diesel 5 speed
> trans.  Mine came from a 92
> Cabriolet and has the digifant II.  I didn't do
> the conversion myself, but I
> have been all through much of the system and it
> looks like it was very
> simple..especially compared to what I have been
> reading over on the Subi/Van
> list and what those guys have problems with.
> The 1.8l  I-4 looks to be
> almost "plug-N-play", though as Robert
> mentioned, there is a bit of cutting
> involved to make the intake fit...very minor..
>   I don't agree about the diesel 5sp trans
> being too low geared..Mine seems
> just right.  I especially like the low gear,
> which I use only when starting
> on very steep hills or to crawl down very rough
> tracks..
>   I cruise mine at about 70-75mph all day with
> no problems..I have been
> driving the crap out of mine now for over a
> year, put about (a guesstimate)
> 20K hard and fast miles on it at that general
> pace with no problems..getting
> about 23mph average.  The "mouse-motor" little
> I-4 is a very good choice for
> my type of driving..
>   It is not gonna be any kinda huge performance
> jump from a good WBX gas
> motor..But certainly a huge improvement over
> the diesel Vanagon motor.  The
> characteristics are quite different from what
> you usually think of for a
> vanagon...It (the inline 4) likes rpms..Mine,
> for instance, wants to be
> downshifted at 70mph back to 4th gear in order
> to deal with any terrain
> change...You can, if you want, just floor it
> and leave it in 5th without
> losing too much speed on a hill, but if you go
> back (down?) to 4th, you can
> actually accelerate up the hill to about 75 or
> 80 before you think of
> shifting..Takes a bit of change in your driving
> habits to drive it
> 'properly' (my 'properly')  Mine has a standard
> exhaust manifold running
> into a big Magnaflo muffler and a very mild
> street camshaft change ($125 and
> a couple of hour work) so it does add some
> ooomph at higher rpms..The rest
> of the stuff is almost all VW standard..with a
> bit of  irrigation sprinkler
> pipe fabricated to bring air in from the
> standard Vanagon air box..
>   Very easy to work on also, with plenty of
> room under there, the oil and
> water are checkable from the usual place..and
> I've been quoted $300 only for
> a replacement motor with low miles..should I
> need one ever..
>   Don Hanson
>

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