PF 081 Factory Rhino Case IRS Trans

[jamesbissland]

Hi All,

I was just wondering if anyone had come across one of these transmission before, and would have any information they could share on it..

It is a PF code IRS trans with factory Rhino case and steel side plates.

From what I have been able to find out it possibly came from a Brazilian Commercial vehicle (maybe a kombi?), so Im not sure how it ended up here in New Zealand!!…

It could have a 5.14 R&P?

Does anyone know about any ratios or internals?

Is it Aluminium or Magnesium?

Would there be anything in here (apart from the case) that would be better to use for rebuilding a ‘69 1500 AC swing axel trans for a road going Beetle?

Thanks very much in advance!

[Bruce2]

Brazilian gearboxes are JUNK!
As VW of Germany was doing continuous improvements through the 70s, VW of Brazil stopped at about 1969 and ignored what Germany did after then. For example, in 1972, VW of Germany revisited the gear tooth geometry of 1st gear and the diff gears. By changing 1st gear from 38/10 to 34/9, they realized an increase in strength. Once the change is made, the cost to make the parts is no different, so why wouldn't you? I'd like to ask the Brazilians why they decided to stay with the weaker gears.
The differential parts in that trans are all different from your German trans and not interchangeable. Your 4.12 ring gear doesn't fit the diff inside.
The main case is mag.
Unless you expect your German case is about to break, using the Brazilian case won't improve reliability.

[jamesbissland]

That’s great info thanks Bruce

I’m hopefully going to tear into it this coming weekend and will post some findings for other to look at regarding ratios etc.
I figure I’m not the only one who has ever found one of these and looking for some info in it.
Hopefully it may help someone else.

Out of interest, if the cases aren’t any stronger than standard, why do people rattle on how good they are, and you must have a ‘Rhino’ case?

A couple of the big retailers market them as 40% stronger and standard

[Bruce2]

Are you breaking the stock case? If not, why do you need a stronger one?
The rhino case weighs more. Adding weight unnecessarily to the rear of your VW is a bad idea.
The extra webbing is on the top of the case. When drag racers break the stock case, it always breaks along the bottom of the case, so the webs on the top of the rhino case aren't any benefit.

If you are building an IRS trans, using the late L or K SSC case is a much better choice. Having only one hole in the side for the diff means the case is stronger than the rhino case. And with the L and K cases, you get to use the late 091 pinion bearing.

[jamesbissland]

Yeah, real valid point Bruce

This is for converting to a swing axle

Thanks for you input mate