9A vs FF - Butt Dyno Experiences

[sfwilliams@comcast.net (Scott F. Williams)]

Tosha, the 9A transmission should drop into your Scirocco as easily easily
as an FF except for the issue about the bigger drive flanges. You'll have to
swap those back to 90mm. You'll also want to switch your speedometer drive
gear to the appropriate version to match the 3.67 ring & pinion. (That's
nearly a free part.) There's really little or nothing else to worry about.

The advantage with the 9A is that you'll get more torque in each drive gear
due to the closer ratios. The 9A's 3.67 ring & pinion and a .75 fifth gear
combination, however, will be about 5.5% taller than the stock FF.

Definitely go with the 9A plus fifth gear conversion. You'll have greater
performance plus increased comfort on the highway. A close-ratio box is sooo
much more satisfying to drive hard than a wide ratio. That is, unless you're
talking about a car with a turbocharger...
--
Scott F. Williams
NJ Scirocco nut
'99 Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS
Mazda 323 GTX turbo "assaulted" vehicle
Golf GTI 16v "rollycar"
ClubVAC: "Roads found. Drivers wanted."

Tosha wrote:
> OK, here are the specs from the two transaxles I have available. The 9a
> as exposed to a clutch burn out by a man from the Euro Continent who
> couldn't drive 7 the FF is mt tried & true 81 trans but has developed
> floppy flange syndrome on the passengers side.
>
>  #  R&P 1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  Final Flange  Sw   Mount
> 9A 3.67 3.45 2.12 1.44 1.13 0.89 3.27  100 mm Large  Hole
> FF 3.89 3.45 1.94 1.29 0.97 0.76 2.96   90 mm Large  Stud
>
>
> I'll need to deal with having 90 mm hubs on my 81 (16v and later are 10
> mm as is the 9A) if I upgrade.
>
> Of course the 9A would get Redline lube & new pushrod bushing as well as
> seal.
>
> The last two entries concern me some; (I got this info from:
> <http://www.jwsvws.com/020%20Transmission%20Guide.html>, Thx Russ.)
>
> The [SW = LARGE] refers to a switch which I take to mean reverse switch.
> No problem there. The last = Mount which I take to mean rear places that
> on early trans are studs but on later trans are holes.
>
> My question here would be what ramifications would this have to my 81,
> including the downpipe to block flange I just sourced and rehabilitated
> last week? (neoprene o-rings and bar-b-q paint and every thing)
>
>
> Also, what are the benefits from the differing Ring & Pinion and Final
> drive?  (I would install a taller 5th gear btw)