auto transmission....need help

Hey all,

I am thinking of speedster but can only get one with a atuo transmission, because of wife. All of the tubs i've seen are manual, someone mentioned shiftomatic, can any one add some more info and also if anybody on the east coast does it?

thanks Felix.

Specialty Auto-Sports, a donating merchant on this website, produces a Subaru-powered 356 replica product line, all of which come with automatic transmission as standard equipment (the manual is an optional feature). If you are not in a hurry to receive your car, this might be an option. Steven O'Brien, who hangs out on this site, has one and I'm sure would be glad to fill you in on his experiences.

Hi I converted my speedter into a Automatic during my build, Its a very involved job but a can do.

Henry at Intermercmecania has installed them in his speedster replias using the Vw type 3 Fully Automatic .

If you go that way, tell Henry I still have spare overhaul kits If he cant get one from Makco Distributers Inc . Which as of last week still had several in stock but no modulators.

I am still having problems finding factory modulator valves for my private stockpile. But a 65 Ford Crusomatic valve can be adapted to fit and will work just fine.

thanks for the update.

felix.

Honestly Felix, you can find the old VW automatic. Basically, it does not require a clutch. It was called a auto stickomatic. I'm sure you can find one. It really is a marvel to see the engineering on it. It has a cervo driven torque converter. I think you can find a totally reconditioned one for like $1500. And they go forever. Check around. Search Samba.

I'm pasting in a post from a guy that's wanting to replace his autostick...
If you want, I can put you in touch with him.


Ok guys, here is the deal. I have a project car that needs a tranny swap. It is currently a 1969 Autostick. I need to install a regular manual tranny for it. Here is the situation, Do I change the flywheel?? Someone told me that I would have to crack the case and flip something that is right behind where the flywheel is (Cam plug or something like that). Was also told that there are vacume lines (Allows the tranny to shift without clutch) that have to be removed. I am totally confused of the whole procedure. Can someone lay it out for me?? Has anyone done this kind of swap before? Also, beings it was factory "AutoStick" is there a clutch cable tube in the tunnel? Please help, lol.
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Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 82
Location: Carrollton, Texas
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 11:50 am Post subject:

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Take the flex plate off, and install a new rear seal and put the flywheel on...set the end play. Remove the oil pump and replace that with a regular one, and plug the large hole pointing to the left of the car on the intake manifold, and you are done.
Replace the shift rod tube and the shifter, and the pedal assembly...all with stock units.
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planedude
Dallas Aircooler


Joined: 07 Dec 2005
Posts: 113
Location: West Ft.Worth
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 2:10 pm Post subject: Re: 1969 Autostick to Manual Tranny Swap.

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VWBugHippieMan wrote:
... Also, beings it was factory "AutoStick" is there a clutch cable tube in the tunnel? Please help, lol...


Sometimes yes...Sometimes no. I've seen one with (that I was repairing and it was staying an auto) and one without (that one was being converted, drat).

It is not impossible to add a clutch tube just unplesant. Also remove the vacume resevior while you are at it.

Good luck.
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74veedubb
Dallas Aircooler


Joined: 08 Jul 2006
Posts: 618
Location: grand prairie
Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 3:27 pm Post subject:

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for all the crap to go through to add a tube, you could just go hydrolic!

this is why this site is the bomb! I don't want it, but I love the fact that you posted for someone else. good karma

Someone tried to talk me into putting a 4 speed back into my 72 super Im going fully auto .

But Id say Yes to a hyrolic clutch. But check your tunnel, my car does have the cable pipe and yours just might as well.

You will need a clutch, flywheel throwout bearing and pressure plate, and a 4 speed tranny.

losen the bolts above and below the oil pump on the case split so you can slide it out to a stanard pump and a gland nut with the neeedle bearing for the flywheel

I don't see any reason to split the case this lets you lose the oil tank and the big vacume tank under the rear fenders.

The autostick bugs are generally considered undesireable by bug collectors - hence you can often pick up an entire vehicle for a song. Suspect they ar3e undesireable because increasing power is more difficultConversion from 4 spd to the 3 spd autostick (essentially a 4 spd inside with 1st unused) is easy (easier than going the other way). Swap out pedal assembly, shifter assembly, flysheel to flexplate/torque converter (if I recal it still used a clutch plate of sorts), add reservoirs and swap oil pumps --- you will need a good vacuum source for the servo (the autostick used a different intake manifold and some cooling tim is different). I dismantelled a rusty '69 bug and sold autostick transaxel to a guy building a Trike - apparently very popular conversion there. Parts are difficult to come by for the autostick shift -- for sure the rubber reinforced vacuum hoses will need to be freshened.

Wolfgang I have and hate the auto stick in the bug. But the 003 Audi/Vw fully automatic that is in my speedster, Is Much much better. So much so that i have built a second one for the beetle.

Then designed and made a real nice cosole that looks very German. and this conversion will be a bolt in. I have had 3 guys building trikes try very hard to get me to sell them one of mine.

I made a deal. I said to bring me 2 trannys in good conditon and I will furnish parts and build one for them comlpletely for the second tranny.

That was 9 months ago. and nothing yeat.