6 Rib Vs 5 Rib..age old question i know.. weak points?

[69bajakid]

OK, I know this has been gone over so many times im sure all of you want nothing to do with this post.. BUT if you can spare a moment of your time, please help me understand.

I have been looking at doing up a tranny for my baja..i am open to all ideas, and have three 3 ribs and 1 5 rib...no 091s.

talking with bruce yesterday..(thanks for showing me that ZF by the way..very cool) got me thinking.

yes 091 has stronger gears. but who breaks the gears ? i could think just about anything in the tranny would blow before you snapped the gears all up..

i understand that the 091 has a stronger case..wich is a big deal..
but that aside...and knowing that the 091 is the stronger of the 2...
what does it have...that the 002 does not...other than the case strength..that one would break while off roading?
it sounds like im answering my own question..but who blows these things up? and really..if you blew up your 002..do ya really think that an 091 woulda held together?

i could just throw in an 091..and be done with it...but i really would like to know what the real advantage is...over the 002 5 rib..

no matter what tranny goes in..the case is getting all guesseted..
and again...i know the 091 is the stronger tranny..i just want to know what it has..that the 002s dont..and how that helps in an off road application.


thanks
Cale

[turbo2go]

What trans you run is really dependant on your engine,tire size and intended use.For general off-road use I would say the 5-rib would be more than enough trans but I would recommend adding a super diff to whatever you decide to run.the 5-rib you already have should have the late model (super beetle style mainshaft) which is plenty stong.As far as gusseting the case I would say that is a waste of time and money.In all the years I have been off-roading I have never broken or seen a bus trans case broken.Unless you plan on running the Baja 1000 that is!

[69bajakid]

I would for sure install some type of aftermarket diff...possibly the ZF if all goes well..the 002 ZF is a serious peice of work.
the case problems i was talking about do exsist..these local off road racers seem to split the cases...well..this one rotary buggy does..but it might have something to do with the 9500RPM thats feeding the tranny

i need to get my hands on an 091..i wanna take one apart and have a look for myself.

thanks for the reply!
Cale

[kcr]

Almost everything in the 091 is stronger.Stronger r/p.Larger gears,spiders,diff side gears,diff bearings,and case.However,if you have a 5 rib and it has the stock 4.86 r/p,use it.If you're using a VW engine,it will be plenty strong.Depending on your application,you may want to add a 4 spider diff,chromoly pinion nut,and close 3/4.

[69bajakid]

yeah its a 4.86RP

Once i install the 002 ZF that should take care of the weaker 002 diff spiders and side gears...that thing is a MONSTER..huge huge gears..twice the size of the 091..

but yeah, 091 stronger.. ok.. just as long as this 5 rib aint a peice of junk i for sure will change the ratios, diff, pinion nut..and a few other tricks as well.

thanks
Cale

[doppelganger]

ive just put a synchro diff in mine and locked it but im drag racing mine with a scooby 2.ltr legacy turbo bottom end and wrx heads and nitrous.i had a prodrive rally team gearbox builder do mine

[glockoperator]

Kinda related so bear with me
I am new to this and building a rail buggy,but have no idea which year of bus trans I need,do I just get one with 5 or 6 ribs,where does the 002 and 091 you guys talk about come into play,cause I am sure I will need to shop around for one.
Any info/pics is a help
[email protected]

Thanks