hi ..
'which diesel' engine is a factor...

a strong running tdi ?
or  a conventional pre-chamber style engine ...1.9 TD at least I would
expect ?

if running a conventional pre-chamber TD engine ..
those are 5,000 rpm engines .........and more or less like the stock syncro
gearing.,

on the other hand ...a tdi will have more power at lower rpm, and for those
you want higher gearing for sure in 3rd and 4th.

depending on how wild you want to get, some pretty large and tall 15 inch
tires will fit on your syncro van.
  If the trans does not need rebuilding current..
the less expensive route for now is to play with 'rubber gearing'
improvements.

for a stock 75 hp 1.9 TD AAZ engine ..
stock syncro gearing could be all right .................and it depends on
*what use* you have in mind ..
from dead slow rock crawling, to mud prowess, to highway cruising..
that needs to be spoken to also, for people to be able to make intelligent
comments about gearing and tire changes.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Miller" <mwmiller@CWNET.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, May 16, 2011 2:13 PM
Subject: FW: Tire question

> Subject: Tire question
>
> Vanaroonies,
>
> I feel the list has been too quiet lately so I thought I'd bring up a tire
> question.
>
> Converting a van, 87 syncro, to diesel [if the money falls from heaven,
> that
> is]. The advice is to change 3rd and 4th so that the diesel operates in
> the
> right rev range on the highway.
>
> This will increase the gap between 2 and 3, which is already too large
> really.
>
> So I wondered how much the revs could be decreased at highway speeds [and
> all others] using the tallest tires? I have 15" rims and since it's a
> syncro
> and a westy I need Light truck tires.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Mike
> Flame suit on
>
> ------ End of Forwarded Message