I am forwarding this personal note from Todd to the list so it can get into
the archives. Valuable information.

>Date: Sat, 14 Dec 1996 14:59:42 -0800
>From: Todd Francis <tbf@pacifier.com>
>Reply-To: tbf@pacifier.com
>To: Derek Drew <drew@interport.net>
>Subject: Re: French Syncro Club
>References: <2.2.32.19961214164451.00cd6c38@pop.interport.net>
>
>> I believe I have an 094 transmission, though I haven't double checked that.
>> 
>> Tell me the name of your shop.
>> 
>
>Hi Derek:  The shop I work with is Mendeola Racing. (mmmsocal@juno.com)
>Mike has been building trannys for off road race cars since the
>beginning of Baja racing in the late 60's. I do some machine work for
>him. In the December 96 issue of Hot VWs there is a article about a new
>tranny he developed using a 10 inch ring gear. There are pictures of the
>differential and bearing carriers that I machined for him. Mike builds
>the transmissions for the fast attack vehicles that the Navy Seals
>use(basicly a 3 seat buggy with a machine gun on top). He uses a 091
>transmission and cuts/welds the pinion shaft to accomodate use of tranny
>gears from a 002 in these boxes. The Navy pounds the boxes and he does
>not get them back broken.  Just the other day He was telling me that the
>Navy doesn't pound the boxes like the off-roaders do though. The off
>road racers usally have to change ring and pinion after a few races
>because they won't pass mag. The gears themselves start to crack. The
>weld always holds up though.  I think Mike is the only one that does
>this welding process  and all of the other tranny shops buy from him. He
>is thinking of developing the new transmission to make it usable for
>4wd. The military is interested in a 4wd version buggy.    Feel free to
>e-mail him and you can tell him I put you on to him if you like. As you
>can probably tell by now I think Mike is about the best in the buisness.
>
>Todd Francis
>
>91 Tristar
>86 Westy Syncro
>
>
___________________________________
Derek Drew                           New York, NY
drew@interport.net (main address for e-mail)
derekdrew@aol.com (alternate/backup, checked infrequently)