6spd tranny?

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

Jason Snow asked:
> What good would a 6spd tranny do for an 8v engine?

Jason, a 6-speed tranny offers more gears with which one can match the
ratios to the rev band of the motor. Considering that the 8v's powerband is
more narrow than the 16v's, the extra ratios can make it easier to keep the
motor where it is happiest. In my case, I chose a 4.25 ring & pinion, stock
4k gears 1,3,4, & 5 (2nd is tall ratio), and a .75 6th gear. This puts me at
about the same revs in 6th as a Scirocco 16v in 5th. But, the car screams
through the gears as it accelerates. It is a heavy compromise for twisty
backroad driving but with fair highway manners.

Then, there is the other choice of maintaining the stock ratios (1-5) and
just tacking an overdrive on the top.

YMMV...
--
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."

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