Transmission "upgrade" (16V owners in particular)

["Bradley Peet" <btpeet@effervescent.com>]

My search for a replacement gearbox has taken a new twist.  Tired of
shopping around for high mileage 2Y and AGB units, I started looking into
late-model A3 5-speed transmissions.

Most '93-'95 2.0 liter Jettas (Golfs, too, I suppose) have a tranny the code
"CHE" which has slightly different gear ratios than the stock 16V but the
same size input shaft.  In my opinion, for 2.0 liter or other high-output
applications, the CHE offers at least one distinct advantage: a .805 ratio
fifth gear.

I paid well over $200 for a .805 fifth gear kit a few years ago, which I am
very happy with, so a CHE tranny would instantly save the cost of such an
upgrade.  The only "drawback" is that 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gears have slightly
higher ratios than the 2Y/AGB.  This probably won't be a problem if you have
a high-output 2.0 liter engine and don't mind the same 3.67 final drive
ratio.

The other advantage is the mileage factor.  It's much easier to find low
mileage CHE units than 2Y or AGB.  A rebuilt transmission with new bearings
and synchros may be fine and dandy for most people, but for me there's no
escaping the fact that gears and the ring/pinion set have
God-only-knows-how-many years and miles of stress on them.

To sum this up, tonight I came home with a DFQ tranny from a '97 Golf.
Production of the DFQ began 12/95 and it has the same ratios as the CHE.  It
cost me $900 but then again, it only has 13,000 miles on it and I get the
.805 fifth gear which I believe matches my 2.0 liter 16V perfectly.

Well, that's my 2 cents.  If anyone thinks I'm mistaken or otherwise
completely full of shit, please let me know!  :)

- -Bradley
http://effervescent.com/vw/
'86 S 16V 2.0 (Tornado Red) about to get the DFQ transplant.
'87 S 16V "bone stock" (Flash Silver)

- --
To subscribe or unsubscribe, send email to scirocco-L-request@scirocco.org,
with your request (subscribe, unsubscribe) in the BODY of the message.

------------------------------