Doing up Old Cars and Changing Transmission Type

derkyft on 27/11/2014 - 16:42

Hey guys,

I'm not too familiar with this stuff and but I'd like a general idea of the complexity of a job to do up a vintage car.

My partner really loves the old VolksWagen Beetle/Bug (1970s) but as you would expect, most of them out there are quite old. I was wondering if I could buy one for it's shell and slowly do it up bit by bit.

I know 99% of these cars are manual, would it be possible to change it to an Auto and how long/costly would a job like that be?

No need for comments like "make her learn manual etc", :P I'm just curious.

Thanks, and appreciate any comments :)

Automotive

Comments

  • tonyjzx on 27/11/2014 - 17:09

    you didnt look very hard did you?

    http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Volkswagen-1600-Super-Bug-S-1971-…

  • mrmarkau67 on 27/11/2014 - 17:10
    +1

    It would extremely difficult to put an auto transmission into a model that never had auto.

    • Davo1111 on 27/11/2014 - 17:27
      +2

      they did it on mightycarmods. but yes, YMMV

  • Baysew on 27/11/2014 - 19:38
    +2

    ..would it be possible to change it to an Auto

    My first thought was maybe, but not at Ozbargain sort of prices.

    This may clarify the issue.
    Yahoo Answers 2010

    If you're dead set on an automatic VW, you have several options: 1. buy an older bug automatic, 2 buy an older bug automatic, 3. buy an older bug automatic. I'm not trying to be funny, fact is you can't convert a 4-speed to automatic because the frame for an automatic has different mountings than the 4-speed. In order to make the swap, you would have to first separate the body from the belly pan. Next, cut out the old 'wishbone' mounts and weld in the new ones, THEN piece it all back together and hope you didn't compromise the structural integrity of the car. I think you see where I'm going with this. Do yourself a favor, go shopping for a later model early bug or a new bug with automatic, and foremost, take it to a good mechanic and have it thoroughly checked out before you buy. This might cost a few bucks, but in the case of the early bug, you want to be sure the transmission is good. Automatics are still out there, but they're getting harder to find. Over 20,000,000 VWs were built, but not so many automatics. There are two types of automatics VW offered. The first is the 'auto stick shift'. It has an electric clutch that operates from shifter movement. It's a three-speed you shift by hand, but has no foot-operated clutch. The other was a two-speed automatic. With this one, you shifted like any modern automatic: P R N D L . The two-speed is by far the better of the two but are getting harder and harder to find. Try Craig's List or e-bay motors. Good luck.

  • blitz on 27/11/2014 - 21:04
    +2

    Way difficult. In addition to the transmission, you'd need to fit the loom and the computer also. Then you'd need to get it engineered and inspected in order to pass rego. Do you have any experience working on cars? Maybe there's a workshop that specialises in this kind of work, but it would cost.

    I think it's a very kind idea, but it would be a better idea to get a different car.

    • tonyjzx on 27/11/2014 - 21:43

      this is a 1970 Beetle

      it has no computer… look at the ebay link i posted

      its $2,5k for a auto bug

      to convert one would cost $2,5k

  • subywagon on 27/11/2014 - 21:44

    You should look up WRX conversions for VWs..

  • [Deactivated] on 27/11/2014 - 21:46
    -1

    You don't want an old bug. In an accident the bug would be squashed. Get her a new VW bug with DSG. The turbo is a good car.

    • snappy1234 on 27/11/2014 - 22:04

      My Brother rolled his bug…wasn't going fast -just steep incline/corner.

      Climbed out/ ran home said he needed help… drove back to his car. no one had even stopped to see what a VW was doing on its roof in the middle of the road (was a pretty quiet rd i guess)

      Righted it after a few goes rocking side2side popped the slightly buckled roof back out,bobs ya uncle.
      Good times :)

  • altomic on 27/11/2014 - 22:15
    +1

    i used to restore bugs. had 7 at one stage. bloody easy to work on .

    you need this book

  • [Deactivated] on 27/11/2014 - 23:33

    Slightly off-topic, but my sister and grandmother both had beetles at the same time. My point is the early 1960's was 6volt, uncomfortable to the max, rattled all the time, no carpet….awful.
    1970's much much better. Mentioning this just in case you look at older beetles.

  • Euphemistic on 28/11/2014 - 09:00

    If you haven't really worked on an old car before and don't have much idea, probably better to buy one in good/ok condition and live with it for a while before you dive into the deep end. It takes a LOT of time and skills to fix a car, it takes a fair bit of time and skills to keep one running well. Engine and transmission swaps are only easy if the you are swapping factory bits around, and then not always as stated above.

  • derkyft on 28/11/2014 - 10:58
    +1

    Thanks guys, Appreciate all the comments. I guess I'll be on the lookout for an Auto then, since I'm not in a rush. It's just kind of her dream car, so one day I'll get it for her :)

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