VW 020 5-Speed Transaxle Ratio Chart

VW 020 4&5-Speed Transaxle Information

Contents:

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Introduction:

Here's some transmission information I've gleaned off the web concerning Volkswagen transaxles. There are two important numbers/codes to use to identify a Volkswagen transaxle. First is the Volkswagen part number. Amazingly, the "020" transaxle will have a Volkswagen p/n that starts with "020", for example the "FF" transaxle is p/n "020-300-044-X" and the FN is "020-300-044-NX".

Transaxle code location circled in light blue Transaxle top view
020 Transaxle code location Top view of 020 transaxle

The other code number to find is stamped into the bottom of the transaxle, circled in light blue in the above left image. It is a 2 or 3 letter transaxle designation consists of the first 2 or 3 letters of the transaxle code. For example, my 020 transaxle is:

FN03033

This signifies its an "FN" transaxle, and a mfg. date of 03/03/(8)3 or Mar. 3, 1983, in the format of DDMMY (with the 10's digit of the year assumed to be 8 - as in 80).

  • FYI: An 020 transaxle weighs about 75 lbs. dry.

In the above right image, you'll see a top view of the transaxle.

  • Circled in red is the location of the reverse/back-up light switch. In later model vehicles, it'll be the rectangular shape as pictured, with a pair of screws holding it in place.
    • The screws use a triple-square bit (6mm as I recall).
    • Here is a good link about that style of switch.
    • This style switch typically has contacts that close in reverse (for the back-up lights) as well as contacts that close in other gears.
      • For example, there is typically a contact that closes in 5th gear to turn off the Up Shift light on the dash.
      • Earlier model transaxles will have the simpler style round reverse-pnly style switch in the same location.
  • Circled in green is the speedometer cable connection.
    • On the end of the cable is a drive gear and the cable is held in with a small, rather special size screw (M7-1.25x25).
    • Be very, VERY careful not to lose that screw or let it fall into the hole in the transaxle.
  • Circled in light blue is the 5th gear detent spring and plunger.
    • You can use this to adjust the force required to engage and disengage 5th gear.
  • Circled in magenta is the bolt hole where the relay lever bracket attaches.
    • This is the bell-crank part of the shift linkage where the rear selector rod (that moves side-side) connects to the front selector rod (that moves front-back) which in turn connects to the gold-colored selector lever on the transaxle itself.
    • This bolt hole may not be used on transaxles from an A2 chassis.
  • Circled in dark blue is one of the 3 studs used to attach the rear transaxle mounting bracket to the transaxle.
    • The A1 transaxles use the 3 mounting studs, 2 of which are not shown in the image below the output drive portion of the transaxle.
    • The A2/3 transaxles apparently use mounting bolts through holes instead of the studs. So some modification of those three locations may be needed if swapping an A2/3 transaxle to or from an A1 chassis.
  • The gold painted part attached to the transaxle is the Selectror Lever.
    • That is the part that actually shifts (or selects) gears inside the transaxle. It moves in and out to select different gear ranges (like R, 1-2, 3-4, or 5) and side to side to select which gear in given range to use. See this page for details on the shifting operation.
    • The pictured Selector Lever is the A1 style part.
    • Also, both the original ball studs have been replaced with parts from Missing LinkZ.

One minor difference that you might run into with the various 020 transaxle versions is what chassis that transaxle was originally installed in:

  • On transaxles originally installed in an A1 chassis, those will have 3 studs installed along the rear circumference of the final drive portion for mounting the rear transaxle mount bracket to.
  • On trasnaxles originally installed in an A2 chassis, that rear mounting bracket is installed with bolts installed in through holes. The location of the bolt holes (on the A2 transaxle) may or may not match up with the stud locations on the A1 version.

Note: If you find an mistakes, omissions or have more information to add, please let me know.

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5-Speed Specifications:
Years of
production		 6/79
7/83		 6/79
7/83		 1/81
7/83		 8/79
7/82		 8/82
7/83		 8/82
7/83		 11/82
7/83		 ?
8/83		 ?
8/83		 ?
8/83		 8/83
6/84		 8/83
6/84		 ?
8/83		 '85?-
'86		 ?
'86		 ? ? ?
7/85		 1/84
(16V)		 ?
?		 ?
?
Factory Code (1)

FO *

FF		 FN*
FH*
FJ *		 FM*
FD*
FK*

6G*

7G*

2H

4S*

4T*

7A

4K*
4Y
9A*

8A*

ACH		 AGS
AOP
4S		 ACN
AON
ASF

ACL		 9A
ACD
AEN
AGB
2Y		 AUG ATH
DFP
CHD
Close Ratio? No No No Yes No Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes No
1st 3.45/ 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45
2nd 1.94 1.94 1.94 2.12 1.94 2.12 2.12 1.94 1.94 1.94 2.12 2.12 1.94 1.94 1.94 1.94 1.94 2.12 2.12 1.94 1.94
3rd 1.29 1.29 1.29 1.44 1.29 1.44 1.44 1.29 1.29 1.29 1.44 1.44 1.29 1.37 1.29 1.37 1.37 1.44 1.44 1.44 1.29
4th 0.97 0.97(2) 0.91 1.13 0.91 1.13 1.13 0.91 0.91 0.91 1.13 1.13 0.91 1.03 0.91 1.03 1.03 1.13 1.13 1.13 0.91
5th 0.76/
2.96		 0.76(3)/
2.96		 0.71 /
2.77		 0.91/
3.54		 0.71/
2.60		 0.91/
3.32		 0.91/
3.59		 0.75/
2.94		 0.75/
2.73		 0.71/
2.81		 0.89/
3.51		 0.89/
3.27		 0.75/
2.73		 0.75/
2.96		 0.75/
2.96		 0.75/
2.75		 0.75/
2.75		 0.89/
3.27		 0.91/
3.34		 0.89/
3.27		 0.75/
2.75
Final Drive 3.89 3.89 3.89 3.89 3.65 3.65 3.94 3.94 3.67 3.94 3.94 3.67 3.67 3.94 3.94 3.67 3.67 3.67 3.67 3.67 3.67
MPH in 5th (4) @3500RPM 78 78 83 65 78 69 64 78 84 77 65 68 84 78 84 84 84 70 70 70
Hub dia. (mm) 90 90 90/100 90/100 90 100 100 90 90 90 90? 90 90 90 100 90 100 100 100 100? 100?
Clutch dia. (mm) 190 190 190/
200		 200 200 210 210 200 190 200 210 190/
200		 200 210 210 210 210 210 210 210? 210?
Reverse Sw. Small Large ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Mounts Stud Stud Stud Stud ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Notes:

  • Factory codes marked with * may not have been sold in the US, but may appear on imported gearbox cores.
    • The US versions are denoted in BOLD type.
  • 0.97 until 7/80, 0.91 from 7/80 on
  • 0.76 until 7/80, 0.71 from 7/80 on
  • Calculated MPH figure assumes a stock diameter tire and rim (~22" rolling diameter)
  • In the gear ratio data, I have both the raw gear ratio itself and often followed by "/ x.xx" where the x.xx value is the overall gearing factoring in the final drive and gear ratios together, handy data for comparing trannys with different final drives
  • Here is an on-line gear ratio/tire size/speedometer calculator
    • You can use this to determine engine revs for given speeds, etc.
  • Gear oil (GL-4) fill quantity is 2 liters / 2.1 US quarts / 1.8 Imperial quarts
    • Fill by volume as the fill plug may be too low to allow a complete fill on transaxles mfg. prior to 1987
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4-Speed Specifications:
Years of
production		 Rabbits
-1980		 Pickups
1981-		 All(exP/U)
1981-
Factory Code (1) GC GC GP GL GY 4A
Close Ratio? No No No No No No
1st 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45 3.45
2nd 1.94 1.94 1.75 1.75 1.75 1.75
3rd 1.29 1.28 1.06 1.06 1.06 1.06
4th 0.97 0.91 0.70 0.70? 0.70? 0.70
Final Drive 3.89 3.89 3.89? ? ? 3.94
Overall Ratio (4th gear) 3.77 3.54 2.72 ? ? 2.76
MPH in 4th (4) @3500RPM 61 65 84? ? ? ?
Hub dia. (mm) 90 90 90 90 90 90
Clutch dia. (mm) 190? 190? 190? 190? 190? 190?

Notes:

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Automatic Transaxle (010) Specifications:

Years of Production/
Engine		 1982-1983
NA engines		 1982-1983
TD engines		 983-1984
NA engines		 1983-1984
TD engines
Factory Code TC, TD TC, TD TG, TH TG, YH
1st Gear 2.55 2.55 2.71 2.71
2nd Gear 1.45 1.45 1.50 1.50
3rd Gear 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00
Final Drive 3.51 3.13 3.51 3.13
Hub Dia. (mm) 90? 90? 90? 90?

Notes:

  • Final drive gear oil (GL-4 or 5) fill quantity is 0.75 liters / 25 US ounces / 1.3 Imperial pints

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Speedometer Drive Gears:

There are 3 available speedometer drive gears available for the 020 transaxle. Since the speedo gear is driven off of an intermediate shaft in the transaxle, the actual gear needed will depend upon the final drive ratio of the transaxle.

Color Teeth Ratio(s) VW P/N
Red 15 3.65
3.67		 171.957.821.B
White 16 3.89
3.94		 171.957.821.A
Green 17 4.25 171.957.821.C

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Related Links:

Here are several other web pages with on-line tranny info:

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[Last updated: 26.March.2021]