Beta Gears

[davidb]

Been 20+ yrs. since I've regularly driven a Beta. My LBZ
[for the time being] is running. Maybe I have forgotten the
gear ratios in my old ones, bought new, which I was satisfied
with back when. Now I feel as thou 1ST is worthless: I don't
stop-light drag race, it's time for 2ND almost immediately.
2ND is okay, 3RD & 4TH gear same/same. 5TH doesn't have
that long feel pull I remember. Revs are around 3.5K @ 70
MPH, stomp on it in 5TH & it'll go way over 100+ quickly.
That said the engine sounds strained, shouldn't be that way.
Is there a longer/taller 5TH gear for these cars? I've heard
of a Volumex swap here/Forum. Thoughts? Thanks.

[rossocorsa]

vx box is great for cruising but will blunt the edge on acceleration depends what you want, vx 'boxes are not all that common even in Europe but as demand isn't all that high can be fairly cheap off ebay on the rare occasions they turn up

[lancia_x120]

Is there a longer/taller 5TH gear for these cars? I've heard
of a Volumex swap here/Forum. Thoughts? Thanks.

These are the gear ratios:

76-78 Beta Coupe
1st 3.500
2nd 2.235
3rd 1.522
4th 1.152
5th 0.925
Rev 3.071
F- 4.214


79 Beta Coupe
1st 3.500
2nd 2.235
3rd 1.522
4th 1.152
5th 0.860
Rev 3.071
F- 4.214


81-82 Beta Coupe
1st 3.500
2nd 2.235
3rd 1.522
4th 1.152
5th 0.925
Rev 3.071
F- 3.929

Volumex has a different final drive:

1st 3.750 ???
2nd 2.235
3rd 1.522
4th 1.152
5th 0.925
Rev 3.071
F- 3.263

The '79 5th gear is the hot setup. Works great in a Scorpion too!

[KeppelmanJ]

David, the "strained engine" sensation when thrashing results probably from years of progress in sound reduction and hydraulic motor mounts. I know what you mean. Flush windows help lots too. The injected cars have so much torque you hardly need 2nd and 4th to get to speed on the flat or nearly so. I habitually shift 1-3-5, using 2nd and 4th mostly in the twisties when needed.

[Jim Keller]

Funny Johnny, I alwyas went 2nd-4th-5th! ha ha ha, I typically skip 1st because like David said, i requires 2nd before you even start to straighten the wheel on an intersection turn.

Get used to it David, from your description, everything sounds like it's working perfectly normal and properly. You just need to get used to the extra torque the fuel injected 2.0 has over your "new" 1800's you struggled with to get to speeds in the past, you don't have to work as hard to drive a fuel injected 2.0 like you do the 1800's, you should like that! not be concerned

[davidb]

J. Keppleman/J.Keller thanks: advise. After 3 1/2 yrs. I'm glad
it's operable [so far]. 20 yrs. hence I likely forgot how they
ran when new. Be it the twin cam engine, final drive ratio or
gearbox ratios I would call it a "peaky" combination I do not
recall from back when. Stabbing the pedal from 3.5K RPM
means another shift, quickly. I have other issues to address.
At least it runs . . . finally.

[KeppelmanJ]

David, i think you remember some things better than others like all of us. Your description of the ride of the late Beta some time ago, a certain tightness with suppleness, is right on. You should find that still. Grace under duress. They are light on their feet too. What intervenes in our driving experience is a bunch of high winding, smoother modern engines which are refined for driver pleasure even if they aren't often geared any taller. Especially driven hard the 2 liter can seem coarse, noisy and tiring on long drives. I back off a bit and drive it for the pleasures of its excellent handling w/o pushing too hard. On a twisty road if you get into the rhythm you can drive it quickly as you would an underpowered motorcycle by just keeping your established speed up - rarely having to flog it. There is shines.

[Topolino]

Following up on the 5th gear isssue, I am looking for a 5th gear cluster from a 79 Beta Coupe (0.860 ratio) for my 77 Scorpion to make highway cruising more relaxed. Can anyone help? You can call on Skype: alain.a.raymond or reply by email: omnitrad@axion.ca. Cheers


Alain
77 Lancia Scorpion
68 Fiat Abarth 595SS
64 Fiat Abarth 1000TC