rocketboy52
Veteran Member
Spent the last couple of hours searching and reading previous posts trying to decide which way to go on this. Original GMR tranny puked at 221K miles, auto rebuild is super expensive, and I'm now planning on making the manual conversion.
I've found a mildly smashed in front end 2001 V6 gasser nearby in the scrap yard that I could use for Axles, transmission mount, clutch cylinder, pedals and shifting linkages. I couldn't tell through the locked window, but I'm assuming it has a 5 speed in her.
I plan on keeping the car and driving her as a commuter with the goal of getting 500k miles out of her, but since she went down, we've bought a mini van for the Mrs. so I could play with her a bit and perhaps tweak her out a little.
I'm thinking of getting a peppy tune, either a Rocket chip stage 2, or a tune from that guy in Utah. Looks like most of those tunes "claim" ~30 horsepower increase.
As I try to determine the cost vs. cool factor, I'm still tempted by the 6 speed transmissions, but I'm finding lots of mixed reviews about success of the 6 speed swaps. Almost all the threads sound like never ending projects plagued with faulty pinion bearings, slipping clutches, mis-fit flyweel/crank noses, gas trannys in TDI cars with over rev issues, rare and unique starters to find and vibrations in the 6 gear at 2000 rpm etc.
I've got Prices from Frans at Dutch Auto, and he has used 5 speeds for decent prices that are geared for smaller TDIs, as well as rebuilt 6 speeds.
Ubhere's 14 page thread chronicles his GVS 6 speed, and it has slightly taller 6 speed at .60 gear ratio.
From all the other comments on the various threads, it sounds like a super tall 6 speed, like the DQS with a 6th speed gear ratio of .56 really isn't worth the extra cost unless there is an increase in horsepower.
If I go 5 speed, I'm thinking FHN or DUK look like similar with 5th speed gear ratio around .68. Clutch and fly wheels definately look like sorting out which of those are a pain in the butt.
Big question is, will a 150-160HP BHW be manly enough to make the benefit of a DQS or GVS 6 speed worth it?
I've found a mildly smashed in front end 2001 V6 gasser nearby in the scrap yard that I could use for Axles, transmission mount, clutch cylinder, pedals and shifting linkages. I couldn't tell through the locked window, but I'm assuming it has a 5 speed in her.
I plan on keeping the car and driving her as a commuter with the goal of getting 500k miles out of her, but since she went down, we've bought a mini van for the Mrs. so I could play with her a bit and perhaps tweak her out a little.
I'm thinking of getting a peppy tune, either a Rocket chip stage 2, or a tune from that guy in Utah. Looks like most of those tunes "claim" ~30 horsepower increase.
As I try to determine the cost vs. cool factor, I'm still tempted by the 6 speed transmissions, but I'm finding lots of mixed reviews about success of the 6 speed swaps. Almost all the threads sound like never ending projects plagued with faulty pinion bearings, slipping clutches, mis-fit flyweel/crank noses, gas trannys in TDI cars with over rev issues, rare and unique starters to find and vibrations in the 6 gear at 2000 rpm etc.
I've got Prices from Frans at Dutch Auto, and he has used 5 speeds for decent prices that are geared for smaller TDIs, as well as rebuilt 6 speeds.
Ubhere's 14 page thread chronicles his GVS 6 speed, and it has slightly taller 6 speed at .60 gear ratio.
From all the other comments on the various threads, it sounds like a super tall 6 speed, like the DQS with a 6th speed gear ratio of .56 really isn't worth the extra cost unless there is an increase in horsepower.
If I go 5 speed, I'm thinking FHN or DUK look like similar with 5th speed gear ratio around .68. Clutch and fly wheels definately look like sorting out which of those are a pain in the butt.
Big question is, will a 150-160HP BHW be manly enough to make the benefit of a DQS or GVS 6 speed worth it?