How much of a benefit is a 5 speed compared to a 4 speed automatic transmission, provided similar power and torque?
Thanks for A2A...In general, more the number of speeds...1. The driveability is better2. The engine runs in a narrower speed range which is usually good for fuel economy3. More shifting clutches and actuation overhead energy. So fuel economy gains in #2 might be compensated partially or completely.4. Shift feel is better as the speed changes are lesser.In your particular case, 4-speed to 5-speed is not a big change (although seems like a 25% increase in the number) in terms of performance and fuel economy. A 6-speed AT would be an optimal use of 3 planetary gearsets whereas you need that many, even for a 5 speed. Whereas, you can achieve 4 speeds with 2 planetary gearsets. So looking at all these things, I feel a 4-speed (at same cost or cheaper) should be optimal. But if one or more of the above 4 factors are an over-riding priority, the choice can change.
Mk4 golf 5 to 6 speed gearbox conversion?
It is extremely easy to swap in the 6 speed transaxle. It has the same bolt pattern. Linkage is different however. But you said, "5 speed gearboxes like DUU are prone to fail", and that is completely false. The DUU is a manual transmission, and I have never heard of one failing. I had one myself for over 350k miles. They are very difficult to harm. It is the automatic 5 speed Tiptronic that has the bad reputation, not any manual transmission. The comment from another suggesting you need to know the differential ratio is also wrong. Does not at all matter. The differential ratio is inside the transaxle, so will be appropriate for the gearing, automatically. The only thing would be that you would want to use the same size tires as the vehicle it came out of. The FSR,FML,FZR are 6-speed manual transaxles available for the Golf. Jettas only have FSR and FZR 6 speed manuals factory installed.
Can I install a 6 speed transmission in a 1990 Honda CRX?
Well, youre probably asking yourself if you can in a way add another gear. These are hondas made for economy, no performance. 5 gears is more than enough for a stock or even modified civic. There were no 6 speed transmissions made for the D series motors.( You have a D series engine unless it was changed) So the short answer is NO. You cannot install a 6speed tranny. HOWEVER: If you really must have a 6 speed then its possible. You can swap in a K series motor(K20 or a K24) and pair it up with a 6 speed tranny. Note though that not all K series have 6 speed. The K20A2 has a 6speed. If you decide to do the swap with no experience, expect to pay a reputable shop 10-11k to swap one in or do it yourself for 8-9k. There is a lot of modification to do a K swap however its been done many times and so with that said there are many aftermarket companies with mounts,wiring harnesses, axles and everything to do it. You will also have the baddest stock 4 cyl motor made by honda in a production vehicle with 200hp/150ft lbs of torque on the nicer K20s. Read up but i say stick with the 5 speed, you cannot add a gear to your tranny.
Can you swap an R32 Engine from the Golf mk4 body to A Jetta Mk4?
I've been told this can be done, the question is why would you want to? Where are you going to find the donor R32 motor? The cost of a used motor (out of a wrecked R32 or Audi TT) is going to run min $6K...the cost for the motor mounts, 6-speed tranny (yes you HAVE to have a 6-speed for that motor), hardware and CPU management will go into the stratosphere...labor costs to hook all this up will cost even more $$. It would be much cheaper (both in price and hassle) to find a good used R32 or buy a new Audi TT with the 3.2 VR6 motor.... But it can be done. Just so everyone knows, you don't have to have a AWD set-up into the Jetta (or mrk 4 Golf) to make the R32 swap work. You just don't hook up or set up the rear drive train to the rear wheels from the motor. There is a plug and cap for the R32 motor for the rear powertrain, just cap it off and run the motor to the front wheels only...it can be an all FWD set-up, although a hairy ride without the AWD helping to get the grip needed with that much power to the front wheels only... Talk to the guys at Tectonics Tuning or check out the article in European Car with the guy who tried to make a low budget R32 from a stock GTI...it can be done with a empty wallet to show for the work. Good luck.
What's the difference between Tiptronic and automatic transmissions?
A Tiptronic transmission is an automatic transmission that includes an option to switch out of automatic mode and upshift or downshift by using paddles behind the steering wheel or by using the gear lever itself. The name Tiptronic is a registered trademark that is owned by car manufacturer Porsche. In Tiptronic, manual shifting is controlled through buttons with a plus sign for up-shifting and a minus sign for down-shifting. This is similar to what many sports cars use in order to give an authentic feel. While the first system was originally produced by Porsche, later systems have adopted similar technology, with the same name.Tiptronic systems allow drivers to choose whether they want to drive automatic, where the computer does gear shifting or manual mode where the driver has the opportunity to change the gear. Other systems have tried to emulate the feel of manual without giving you full control, but the Tiptronic transmission is the first device that offers a choice. The system has safeguards in place that keep drivers from going past the RPM red line when operating under manual control. If drivers fail to use manual shifting for a certain amount of time with Tiptronic, the software on the transmission automatically switches back to automatic and controls all shifts through the computer once again. It is then necessary to turn it on again to go back to manual.The Tiptronic, is also known as manumatic transmission, so allows the user to shift gears without having to operate a clutch. The system has built-in safety features so that the transmission cannot be damaged in the event of driver error. The technology is licensed for use by other manufacturers such as Volkswagen, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Audi, Seat, Skoda and Land Rover.
Can I replace the manual transmission of a car with an automatic transmission?
Converting a manual transmission to an automatic is much simpler than converting an automatic to manual. This is a project that requires many parts and a strong mechanical aptitude. The brake pedal for the automatic will need to be replaced with a complete manual brake and clutch installation. On a rear-drive vehicle, the drive shaft may also need to be replaced. A separate bell housing, clutch mechanism and hydraulic or manual clutch mechanism will be needed and, finally, a shifter and linkage.So here is a piece of good news for you—it is possible to convert an automatic transmission into a manual transmission. However, it is a complex task that should always be left to a trained technician at an established auto and transmission service shop.