gearbox up grade

[si&helen cali89]

my mate has a 1.6 td jx with a 4 speed box in a westy joker he is thinking changing to a 5 speed .is it worth the hassle and what improvements would it make ,any advise please

[weldore]

What's wrong with the one he has...is it crackered ?

[si&helen cali89]

nothings wrong with the 4 speed just wanted to no if 5 speed would be better ie speed, revs ,fuel economy, ect

[kevtherev]

It's all academic really
you can change the gearing by fitting slightly bigger tyres.
or fitting a 5 speed box
trade off is, lowering the revs mean you'll be changing up sooner

without extra power, it's futile

[weldore]

It depends on what code 5 speed you get but 4 speed boxes also come with better top end gearing.
Typically a 5 speed is to give you 5 gear changes to get to top gear
E D I T...sorry didn't see your post kev

[CovKid]

Yeah but 1st is almost useless on a 5 speed. I only ever use it on hill starts so effectively I'm driving 4 speeds on a 5 speed box. Lot of work for nothing to be honest. As said, change wheel/tyre sizes - more productive and cheaper in the end.

[weldore]

Yes I think first and second on a five speed is a little under and a little over what first on a four speed is

[faggie]

even the 4 speed dk gearboxes 1 st and 2nd gear ratios are well to low, soon, as you set of you run out of revs and have to change gear

[CovKid]

The speed I hate, and its the same in the Beetle, is 30mph. It always feels like you're floating between two gears, neither of which is right unless you slow down or speed up a bit. If you get stuck behind a pensioner in an underpowered hatchback for any length of time it can start to become really frustrating.

[weldore]

my dk is fine in 3rd at 30 but the thought is always in your head that you should be in 4th

[CovKid]

Its expensive on fuel too. Mine drinks nectar being stuck in 3rd.

I do a lot of commuting between towns in Warwickshire and I find its often actually cheaper to go the long way round than go bumper to bumper between places. Nuneaton is particularly challenging as you have to pick your route based on the day and the time.

[faggie]

i just get it up in top gear as soon as possible and leave it there unless i stop