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Reply to "How do you make it rain in California?... buy a speedster."

When I bought the 3.78/2.25 mainshaft, Berg had it on special (don't remember why, it was quite a few years ago) and I was more interested in my car being quicker off the line with an overdrive 5th. Originally I bought a 1.21 for 4th (which makes the 4-5 spacing about the same as stock 3-4 with a .82 as 5th), but someone has convinced me that since I'm no longer as interested in bracket racing as I was that the 1.12 (which I have out of another gearbox) would be a better "fit" and actually be more fun, and he's right. He's also trying to convince me to replace the 1.58 that I have for it with the 1.48 that I also have (from the same trans) but that ain't gonna happen. The idea of the shorter than stock 3.78-2.25 spacing, coupled with the 2.25-1.58 (very similar to stock 2nd 2.06-1.48, which I've driven and LOVE!is too much to resist. It's staying!

The thing is, Ted, I got the 2.25 mainshaft on a clearout deal from GBE that I couldn't refuse. If you're interested it's a great way to go, but you'd have to track down a beetle semi-automatic transaxle (hoping it's the right one, as not all of them have the 2.25 for 2nd- some have the 2.06) and pay to have it grafted on your mainshaft, or find one already done, so it's at least another ??? hundred dollars. It just depends on how far you want to go with it. If you stick with the 3.78-2.06-1.48, either 1.18 or 1.12 and .89 for 5th you won't go wrong. I would choose the 1.12 because then the splits get progressively smaller as you upshift, which for straight acceleration is important, but Terry has chosen to shorten up the 3-4 split a little more ( I can see it being fun for canyon carving). 

You talked about being able to do 75 for hours at a time in a previous post- look at the 2 gearsets below. Using the .82 instead of the .89 allows you to cruise all day at 3200rpm, which even in the summer heat should be doable. 

http://calc.teammfactory.com/i...26+2&trannytype=

The first is Terry's gearset and the 2nd what I've suggested. Change 5th in either of them and see what it does to the recovery rpm. You're going to have to decide what you want. Whether you go with Terry's or my idea for 4th and either 5th, this thing's going to be fun!. Al

PS- Sorry I didn't ask earlier (and I know you've told me before) - What r&p is in the car right now?

 

Last edited by ALB
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