> The automatic in third gear (direct) and final drive ratio gives the same
> overall ratio as the manual in 4th gear.
>

Does it? Stock for a manual is a 4th at .77 and R&P at 4.83 or 4.86 for
(roughly) 3.72 or 3.74 at the axles. I was given to understand that the vast
majority of auto R&P's were 4.09. Yeah, <
http://www.vanagonparts.com/tranny_id.html#_auto> shows the 3.74 being only
in the NJ automatic, all others 4.09. A ratio of 4.09 would sure match my
experience, with 4K rpm being 65mph in the auto, and 70mph in the manual
(identical tires).
 David Marshall apparently had a few 3.73 R&P's for sale some years back...
<http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0510C&L=vanagon&P=R7667>
--
John Bange