16v close ratio tranny for the mighty 2.0

[tenacious jett]

last spring i shot a rivet off the stock differenetial and through the bell housing. this forced me to get a new tranny. following my belief "if it breaks make it better." i thought I would share with you what I learned and who I did business with. This was originally posted on vwvortex 4/30/03.
It all started here “it broke again.” Well I finally got my car back with the new transmission rebuilt with all the toys, new motor mounts and tranny mount, and a lightened flywheel. I’m about 70% happy with the way everything worked out.
The gearing of the 2Y is really close in the first four gears and I have to shift like crazy, but you can run the hell out of 3rd. It’s feels quicker with the new gearing. The fifth gear conversion is one of the best things I had done I cursed home (2 ½ hours on the interstate) at less than 3k and doing roughly 75, its nice and quiet. The BSI 80% slim kit, is nice in the corners, but much more noticeable when launching in a straight line, it also helps out when running through the first 3 gears, I no longer spin one tire going into second, which to me means that more of the power is reaching the ground in a productive manor. The rebuild by BSI is amazing the shifter is tight and I have syncros HELL YA they are great. The only other upgrade made to the transmission was a differential bolt kit, it replaces the rivets with bolts, allowing you to beat the hell out of the tranny and not worry as much about one of them loosening up and shooting through the bellhouse casing (that’s what happen to my other tranny, Oops too many burn outs and hard launches, while kicking dork’s ass.)
The lightened flywheel (form TRM) is ok, yes the revs come up faster and it feels more responsive, however to be honest, I’m not sold on them. If I own another natural aspirated car I will not do a lighten flywheel, so far I don’t like the way the car drives with it. However if I were running boost (super or turbo charger) I would recommend a lighten and balanced flywheel.
I’m extremely happy with the turn2 stage 2 motor mounts and the Volkswagen Motorsports HD tranny mount (Potterman’s). The car corners hell of a lot better and feels much stiffer. The tranny mount is nice because the shifter no longer bounces and moves whenever I go over a bump (that could also be do to the new shift linkage and whatnot, but I’m going to credit it to the tranny mount.)
Businesses:
BSI Racing :thumbup: – for a three day turn around on the rebuild and doing an awesome job without charging an arm and a leg. If you need a rebuilt transmission don’t go anywhere else but BSI.
TRM Performance :thumbup: – awesome guys and a great price.
Virtual World Parts, Inc. “Potterman’s” :thumbup: – need I say more.
S+L Auto Sales and Import Specialists Loretto, MN (763) 478-3909 - for the transmission and sharing all their knowledge.
turn2 Motor Mounts :thumbup: – one of the best suspension, performance mods you can do.
Griffin Auto - Hwy H Wisconsin Dells, WI :thumbup: :thumbup: – Jeff is the only mechanic I trust, hell I towed my car 155 miles to have him work on it. He is honest, reliable, has never over charged me, and ALWAYS on time. If I could work with one mechanic for the rest of my life it would be him.

Total cost
Install/Labor – 270
Misc. Parts – 130.29
Tranny (2Y) - 325
Mounts (motor and tranny) – 132
Lighten Flywheel – 140.38
Rebuild (toys and needed parts) – 1023.78
Towing – 147
Shipping – 56
Total – 2224.45 (I applied for a second summer job just after I picked up my car [img]images/smiles/icon_sad.gif[/img] )

[ January 15, 2004: Message edited by: tenacious jett ]

[tenacious jett]

here is a follow up I did about a week after I got the car back.
Alright I'm learning to love this tranny and all the toys. I ran a few earnings this afternoon and had a huge smile on my face the entire time. The lightened fly is awesome I just lay into it in 3rd at 2k and the thing just climbs. Cornering at 40 in 3rd in the mist of the power is sweet. i went to stop by work and there are two sweeping 90 degree left hand turns one right after the other and i just put it 3rd and stayed on the gas the entire way through. It rocks, it just takes some getting use to.
edit I went for a drive and
I went for a cruise on my favorite rustic road and holy crap that's where the 2Y and everything really come through and show what they are great for. I drive this road every time i go out to have some fun and I have never cornered as fast and gone as quick through it as i did this afternoon. 3rd and 4th the entire way and i was always at 3k to 4k rpm's and ready to pull through the next corner or onto the next straight. i have a grin ear to ear

[tenacious jett]

more follow ups
I've been driving the car and new tranny into the ground. I've finally gone through two tanks of gas and found that my gas mileage hasn't changed at all i need to thank the lower fifth gear for saving everything i loss on the way there.
on average before - 26.97
on average after - 26.12

[tenacious jett]

for those that would like to see the original thread and other follow up's here is a link to the thread.
2Y transmission review and other modifications