We’d accomplished our mission: Buy a used race car for $500, prep it for its return to the track, then go racing. We got the car on track, everyone got to drive, the car was fun, etc.
One problem: Accomplished is a spectrum, and after fighting a bad transmission during every lap, we watched our Volkswagen Fox lose a wheel halfway …
Uh oh.
You guys are going to HATE the stock transmission. The gear ratios are AWFUL for racing. It's also just as fragile as the 2P/9Q.
It's worth the effort to modify the car for a 012 from a B5 Passat if you have the ability to make custom axles.
Honsch said:Uh oh.
You guys are going to HATE the stock transmission. The gear ratios are AWFUL for racing. It's also just as fragile as the 2P/9Q.
It's worth the effort to modify the car for a 012 from a B5 Passat if you have the ability to make custom axles.
How much modification is needed to get a B5 transmission to fit? I can see it bolting up to the motor. I kept thinking could a more common 1.8t a4/b5 passat trans open up the available pool in parts.
Apparently the Passat trans is theoretically possible, but a huge amount of work.
Didn't later Foxes come standard with a 5 speed? I thought the 4 speed was only in the early cars.
Sonic said:Apparently the Passat trans is theoretically possible, but a huge amount of work.
Didn't later Foxes come standard with a 5 speed? I thought the 4 speed was only in the early cars.
Yes, yes, they did. I know because I had one. it was a 1993. Ratios were not awful but I never had it on track.
Sonic said:Apparently the Passat trans is theoretically possible, but a huge amount of work.
It is a lot of work, but none of it is terribly difficult, except for making the custom axles.
I've got a '88 Fox wagon race car in the garage that I did the swap on because we couldn't get any more 2P transmissions.
Things you need:
1. An 012 transmission.
2. A clutch/flywheel/starter for the car the 012 transmission is from.
3. A hydraulic clutch setup. I used a Wilwood 3/4 cylinder and added a clevis/pushrod to the stock pedal. I made an 3-AN to VW quick disconnect adapter for the slave cylinder.
4. A custom shifter and linkage. It's a funky shaped rod with a universal joint in it.
5. A new rear transmission mount made from a piece of angle iron.
6. A new dust shield for the 012 transmission.
7. Big hammers, a port-a-power, and lots of swearing to enlarge the trans tunnel so the significantly larger 012 fits under the car.
8. Perhaps a modified exhaust to go around the larger trans? Ours was already modified for a custom 4-2-1 long tube header I made,
9. Custom axles with a Fox CV on the outside and Passat CV that mates to the transmission on the inside.
Piece of cake!
Our current plan is to rebuild the 5-speed we took out of the car, then keep this 4-speed as a spare. And yes, later Foxes came with 5-speeds. Who knows, maybe the junkyard was wrong and we really have a 5-speed.
In reply to Sonic :
5-speeds were available for the entirety of 1987-1993, but started on just the Sport model and slowly spread until most Foxes had them. 4-speed was still standard on the 2-door till the end.
Honsch said:Uh oh.
You guys are going to HATE the stock transmission. The gear ratios are AWFUL for racing. It's also just as fragile as the 2P/9Q.
This. The 4-speed is the worst possible thing you can do. You lose 51% of your revs between first and second. And the gearing is such that you'll likely be using first on the regular at some tracks. I kinda like the PW 4-speed for in town use, put it in second and leave it there. It has no sporty application.
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