5-speed LSD Thing

[yetibone]

Ah, granny gear!

Yeah, some considerable changes would need to be made to either choice of transmission if you were to have a low-low first. For that, you would indeed be better with a Berg 5, since all the ratios would get changed to have a super-low first, a second gear you could start from a dead stop with, and a usable spread between each gear from second, up to fifth. By design, VW trannies have a stronger first gear.

A 914/901's magnesium intermediate plate would be a weak point offroading with a low-low first gear. The first gear's cogs are on the opposite side of the plate from the side that the other 4 gears are on. This design leaves first, and reverse gears supported by only one bearing essentially; the one in the intermediate plate. The other 4 gears are supported by the bearings in the back of the transmission case, AND the bearings in the intermediate plate. First gear is really not supported well enough to hold up to the amount of torque it could see in an off road environment, if it were a very low ratio.

[oasis]

I avoided saying granny gear because my only experience with one was on a Syncro Vanagon. That seemed too low for the mild (if any) off-roading I would be doing with a Thing.

My response was more a stream of consiousness response about a Thing not being highway worthy, which in its factory stock arrangement is pretty close to the truth. Seeing your response to my response, I see I am trying to be the master of all trades -- which is rather dumb. I now see I should choose between being a jack of all trades and being a master of one. If it becomes being the master of one, I will lean in the GL direction rather than off-road.

There is plenty of info here for me to chew through once I get a focus ... and a Thing. Thanks!