Long 5th Gear for TDI's service

Sure I can do this for you
I have a set of gears in stock but will need to buy some gear oil

When would you like it done ? I need the car for about four to five hours and it needs to be dry as I can’t get in my garage at the moment
I’m in st Anne’s lancs. FY8 post code

Cheers. Paul


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I remain a fan of the longer 5th setup, despite now having a 6-speed 'box. However, I'm adamant that it needs to be thought of as a change rather than as an upgrade. It's a compromise solution that provides some pros and some cons; whether or not it's suitable for you depends greatly on your use of the car.
I predominantly do motorway miles, so my previous longer 5th setup would frequently save me money due to the increase in fuel economy at motorway speeds. However, I also do a fair amount of driving in mountainous areas, where I would essentially only have 4 gears due to the longer 5th being inaccessible in such environments. In these circumstances, the longer 5th ratio would effectively cost me money. On the whole, I saved, but many A2 owners with the longer 5th find that their average fuel economy does not go up by much, if at all. Sometimes, all that's gained from the mod is a quieter drive when motorway cruising - which alone can be a good justification for the change.
Personally, I find the longer 5th is a down-grade in terms of the vehicle's 'driveability'. On a winding A-road (or in a 50mph speed limit on the motorway) I found managing the larger gap between 4th and 5th really tiresome. When doing longer cross-country routes, I found it quite draining to have to continually choose between rev'ing it harder in 4th or spluttering slightly in 5th; it requires much more concentration on an aspect of driving that's normally a subconscious process. Low-rev, high-load scenarios (such as trying to accelerate from 45mph in longer 5th) are terrible for your engine and gearbox, meaning the lower limits of the longer 5th's capabilities ought not be explored too often.
For those who use their A2 almost exclusively as a motorway cruiser, it's a very good option; compared to a 6-speed 'box, its pay-back time is relatively short and it makes driving at speed a whole lot more comfortable. But it's not without its drawbacks.

Cheers,

Tom
Opening up an old thread, So I am looking at doing this on my 2005 TDI but not sure which to choose ? I do a mixture of driving at the Moment but more motorway. The 5th gear addition sounds better as 1-4 gears remain the same , I think the JDD box is same in 5th but 1-4 are different .
A 6 speed sounds good but bit more modifying and little more expensive.
Or do I just stick with my original box if mpg does not increase by a lot
What have peoples experiences been after a while?
 
The jdd 4th gear is the same as the std gearbox 5th gear and the jdd 5th gear is near identical to the Passat 6speed (myp from memory) 6th gear
So essentially with the jdd you get the myp gear ratios but spread over 5 cogs not 6 cogs
It is also a rather cheaper solution but does involve some gearbox casing modifications and some spacers and obviously finding a good used jdd box and or having it reconditioned plus the rather obvious task of fitting said gearbox

The myp box is almost the same as above but does not have the mechanical speedo drive so if you are fitting this box to a latter A2 (around 2003 onwards) then you have the speedo pickup to sort out. This is a rather large problem to solve, it can be done but involves stripping down the myp box
Also the myp box is typically £450 plus recon if needed

The long 5th provides a gear which is not quite as long as the myp 6th /jdd 5th but a good degree longer than the std 5th
It does improve fuel economy by a few mpg on dual carriage way and motorways but reduced mpg slightly on B roads as you are in 4th some of the time as 5th is too tall a gear
It dramatically reduces engine noise at motorway speeds (even my none car wife noticed) Engine revs at 70mph drop from 2800 to 2300 ish
5th is usable form about 50mph upwards on a remapped engine (don’t consider any of these with out a good remap)
There is a gap between 4th and 5th that you have to manage so holding 4th until 50mph or higher is needed if you wish to make reasonable progress
It is very much like the 4+E gearboxes of the late 80’s early 90’s that vag used
The massive advantage with the long 5th is that you can do it without taking the gearbox out of the car - this cannot be understated

If you want to go the long 5th route then get in touch as I still have one set of long 5th gears available which is can either sell you or I can fit them for you

Hope that helps to clear the waters

Cheers
Paul


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The jdd 4th gear is the same as the std gearbox 5th gear and the jdd 5th gear is near identical to the Passat 6speed (myp from memory) 6th gear
So essentially with the jdd you get the myp gear ratios but spread over 5 cogs not 6 cogs
It is also a rather cheaper solution but does involve some gearbox casing modifications and some spacers and obviously finding a good used jdd box and or having it reconditioned plus the rather obvious task of fitting said gearbox

The myp box is almost the same as above but does not have the mechanical speedo drive so if you are fitting this box to a latter A2 (around 2003 onwards) then you have the speedo pickup to sort out. This is a rather large problem to solve, it can be done but involves stripping down the myp box
Also the myp box is typically £450 plus recon if needed

The long 5th provides a gear which is not quite as long as the myp 6th /jdd 5th but a good degree longer than the std 5th
It does improve fuel economy by a few mpg on dual carriage way and motorways but reduced mpg slightly on B roads as you are in 4th some of the time as 5th is too tall a gear
It dramatically reduces engine noise at motorway speeds (even my none car wife noticed) Engine revs at 70mph drop from 2800 to 2300 ish
5th is usable form about 50mph upwards on a remapped engine (don’t consider any of these with out a good remap)
There is a gap between 4th and 5th that you have to manage so holding 4th until 50mph or higher is needed if you wish to make reasonable progress
It is very much like the 4+E gearboxes of the late 80’s early 90’s that vag used
The massive advantage with the long 5th is that you can do it without taking the gearbox out of the car - this cannot be understated

If you want to go the long 5th route then get in touch as I still have one set of long 5th gears available which is can either sell you or I can fit them for you

Hope that helps to clear the waters

Cheers
Paul


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Hi Paul thanks for your Good reply .

So say if Going down the JDD route i assume this will have the mechanical drive speedo so mine being 2005 will be electronic so is that an obstacle or way round this ?

Yeah I remember the 4+E in our Mk2 Golf and could not accelerate much in E but was good for cruising.
 
On the jdd you would simply not connect anything the gearboxes mechanical speedo sensor. Ie don’t connect the anything to the electrical connector on the gearbox
It is only a problem when fitting the myp gearbox to an earlier A2. Pre 2003


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On the jdd you would simply not connect anything the gearboxes mechanical speedo sensor. Ie don’t connect the anything to the electrical connector on the gearbox
It is only a problem when fitting the myp gearbox to an earlier A2. Pre 2003


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I see because the Pickup is from the ABS on later A2s I believe?
 
100% correct

Major head ache if doing it the other way and fitting a gearbox that does not have the speedo drive output into an A2 that needs it for the speedo

I love my jdd box but I live near the coast which is fairly flat. If it lives in a hilly area the more compressed gears ratios from 1st to 4th may be seen as a negative and therefore the longer 5th gear would be a better solution

It is horses for courses

Paul


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I run an MYP gearbox in Jelly, 2003 Tdi. Around town and local country roads I use up to 5th gear. 1~5 are the same ratios as the original gearbox.
I use 6th for cruising, generally above 55/60mph. It makes a real difference to noise and comfort. Not so sure any real gains are had from the 6th gear though!

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I run an MYP gearbox in Jelly, 2003 Tdi. Around town and local country roads I use up to 5th gear. 1~5 are the same ratios as the original gearbox.
I use 6th for cruising, generally above 55/60mph. It makes a real difference to noise and comfort. Not so sure any real gains are had from the 6th gear though!

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This is where the 6speed is more attractive due to 1-5 being same as originalbox . In 6th at 70mph what are the rpms?
 
So mine is BHC 1.4tdi 2005 and fitting the MYP the Flanges have to swapped i believe from original box and selectors cable modding also
And how about the Original clutch and flywheel is that ok to use with the MYP?
 
The jdd gives the same rpm at 70mph in 5th as the myp does in 6th
2200 or ever so slightly under at a true 70mph checked using GPS not speedo
I run 3% oversize tyres and actually my speedo is bob on at 30mph and 70mph 1mpg out at 50mph, but I’ll live with that


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So mine is BHC 1.4tdi 2005 and fitting the MYP the Flanges have to swapped i believe from original box and selectors cable modding also
And how about the Original clutch and flywheel is that ok to use with the MYP?
You can also use a PTW 6speed. I’m not sure about the situation in uk but I found it fairly easy to find an myp and a ptw through local dismantlers for about 350/400€ I think. You need the starter motor from the 6 speed car and a chunk of its connector cable with plug too.
On an AMF the original clutch and flywheel are used. I’d imagine it’s the same for BHC.
 
I’m a very happy JDD user. I live in the Cotswolds and go from the ‘bottom’ to the ‘top’ virtually every day (or did when I used the car with it in for work) and really didn’t find it an issue. For me it is a huge improvement on the standard box as it makes 1st an ‘actual gear’ and very much suited the re map on the car it’s in. It cruises at 70 at just short of 2200rpm.
 
My new (to me) troublesome A2 needs a new box. I think I’m going to try going down the JDD or EXB route.

Question is…. Does my 75 really need a map? Struggling to justify spending more money on it right now, it’s meant to be the economical run around! I just figure if it needs a new gearbox I may as well upgrade.
 
The jdd is far too high geared for a none remapped engine. 5th gear would be unusable
Same but not quite as bad with the exb box

The jdd is a sweet gearbox a generation later than the std box on the A2 and the exb box
The myp is later still but a lot more expensive

I would not go back from my jdd box

Paul


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Glad to hear you’re still as enamoured with the conversion Paul as you were when you first did it - I know it made me think very hard about hearing upgrades (basically - whether to do this or PTW six speed) at the time once I saw your initial reports.
 
Yes it is a great gearbox at a very affordable price compared to the 6speed options
I guess over time you get used to it and it becomes the norm, it is only when you get in a std A2 that you realise (again) how great an upgrade the JDD gearbox really is

Paul


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