VW had split case trannys in busses through mid-year 59 then went to the tunnel case. Both have "lower" gearing for the lack of horsepower In early model year 64 when they came out with the big nut tranny. The big nut tranny (46mm axle nut vs 36mm) has a "higher" gearing for the larger engines which came out about the same time. 1500cc 50 hp. The problem with a big engine in a small nut tranny is that the tranny is not geared for the higher horsepower at what you would consider normal cruising speed. To go 65 with a small nut tranny and stock gearing you are screaming the heck out of the engine, probably somewhere in the neighborhood of 4,000 rpm to go 65. So what most people do with a big engine is put in a big nut tranny with something more like a 3.88 R&P. There is tons of stuff on big engines and different transmissions on the Samba. --- On Wed, 9/9/09, James Dwan <james_dwan_2000@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: From: James Dwan <james_dwan_2000@xxxxxxxxx> Subject: [tcb] Re: What size engine for the '59? To: tcb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2009, 8:59 AM Okay, showing my Bay Windowness here, all I know is 3 & 6 rib tranny and now split. Is a big nut tranny different than split? why is it called big nut? Franklly Big Nut Tranny sounds obcene to my Bay Window ears : P --- On Wed, 9/9/09, wuzmop@xxxxxxx <wuzmop@xxxxxxx> wrote: From: wuzmop@xxxxxxx <wuzmop@xxxxxxx> Subject: [tcb] Re: What size engine for the '59? To: tcb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2009, 6:29 AM My 1600 dp with big nut tranny can cruise 65 pretty easily. I can do 70 if I have to, but it wouldn't look anywhere near stock in the 59. -----Original Message----- From: atx <atx_bus@xxxxxxxxx> To: tcb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <tcb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tue, Sep 8, 2009 10:15 pm Subject: [tcb] Re: What size engine for the '59? A single port can easily do more than 50 in a splittie. Sounds like a tranny swap might be likely, from the experts. I can cruise at 65, if needed. I choose to go a little slower, stopping is my biggest concern. I'm running a 1600 single port. So it wouldn't look totally OG, but it could give you some acceleration. Jeff sent via iPhone On Sep 8, 2009, at 9:51 PM, "Denis" <coocoo@xxxxxxx> wrote: The Zone is no normal animal, with all his tricked out suspension, brakes and steering, but I can do 70 easy, but as my Dad once said, if you come up against a watermelon at that speed, you're gonna lose. ----- Original Message ----- From: sammie smith To: tcb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 9:46 PM Subject: [tcb] Re: What size engine for the '59? Well, it depends on what you want to do Paul. The Baja is about as non-stock as you can get a VW and will cruise all day long at 3,700-3,800 rpm effortlesly with its 2000cc engine which is about 80mph with its tires and gearing. And in response to Denis; your e-mail got me curious so I counted the states that the Baja has been in; 16; and driven to, in, and from all of them. But; in a stock suspension split window bus, regardless of engine and tranny, about 65 is a max top speed to be safe. Those things get awfully squirlly at much faster than that. --- On Tue, 9/8/09, singlecabboy <sealingwaxred@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: From: singlecabboy <sealingwaxred@xxxxxxxxx> Subject: [tcb] Re: What size engine for the '59? To: tcb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2009, 9:24 PM James ,I run a 1641 in my single cab,dual kadrons,110 engle cam .I don't believe in high compression street engines , and no reduction gears , 3600 is about what I run all day long.70,75,even 80mph is not a problem,but not recommended.It,s duel port. Sammie says stock lol, Sammie I had to ans were for you. Paul Smith 2009 Zone Tour 1999-2009 ,10 years of Trucking H.B.B T.C.B Transporters at the Point 6 October 9,10,and 11, 2009"Love all,trust a few,Do wrong to none" --- On Tue, 9/8/09, James Dwan <james_dwan_2000@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > From: James Dwan <james_dwan_2000@xxxxxxxxx> > Subject: [tcb] What size engine for the '59? > To: tcb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2009, 7:46 PM > I just > got off the phone with Ronnie in AZ. I ordered my belly pans > and bumpers and we discussed the kind of engine I'd be > putting in the Bus. I told him I'd like to stay as close > to stock as possible. I plan on using the split case tranny > and was thinking of rebuilding the engine that came with it > (not original). > He said that a 36 horse with counter weighted crank and > increased compression ratio could be a nice runner. 3600 RPM > all day long. > The one in there now is a single port but that's all I > know about it. Even though I have a "Slow Moving > Vehicle" magnetic sticker for the back, the thought of > only going 50mph scares me. > Thoughts? > Thanks! > > > > > >