Does anyone have any experience with this type of tranny? Longetivity, highway driveability? etc opinions wise ones? To make it a 4speed manual how hard is it?
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Had a semi auto back in the 80's and couldn't get it to stop leaking even after a rebuild, bought a transaxle/pedal assy/clutch cable and clutch with throwout bearing and put it in. I think all bugs were made with the clutch cable tube in them as my factory semi auto car had it... had it done in a day.
I've been told that some pans from the semi-auto cars don't have clutch tubes but the couple I've seen (or friends have seen) have had them.
I had one for a couple of months. Rest your hand on shift knob and it's like pressing the clutch pedal in - you'll quickly learn not to do it. The clutch is "pulled in" with engine generated vacuum so power mods to engine are difficult to make. Other than vacuum leaks in hoses, they are quite strong and reliable.
All of you, Thanks for the info ...
I had a 69 auto stick VW bug for a while with no problems but I traded it straight across for a steam carpet cleaning machine so I could start a business!
There were two kinds of automatics made for production VW's One was an automatic stick shift for beetles...total junk. The other was a fully automatic for VW type 3 Fastbacks and Square backs. This one wasn't too bad but they only produced them for two years so they are hard to find and had to find anyone to work on them......Bruce
There was also the Type 4 411/412 with a 3 speed automatic and the T4 engine. Production was from '68 (in Europe)/'71 (in US) until '74. Not a real popular car in US.
The Vanagon 3 speed auto was pretty bulletproof. But mods would have to be done to get it to fit. Flexplate fits a type 4 crank with 5 bolts, the Wasserboxer was a hybrid of type1/4 and new parts.