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Sat Jan 09, 2010 8:18 am

ok so the search for a buggy trans goes on. now i have all but given up on the side shift091, but i have found an early 002 trans. its complete and known to work well, but i know its an early version, and i have heard they have a shorter input shaft. how much chorter and how hard is it to replace with a longer one. also will a 002 live in a sand rail running a mildly built ford 2.0? i have beat on the late model irs tranny in there and it has held up, im just looking for the lower r&p.

Sat Jan 09, 2010 9:50 am

When you say, "Early" 002, I'm assuming you mean a 3-rib, rather than a 5 rib. There are actually 3 variations of the 3-rib. The '68 three rib is the least strong of the three. It is easily identified by the acorn nuts on the driver's side holding the cover plate on. Stay away from that one, if at all possible. The second one is the one that has regular nuts and does not have the two holes molded into the top of the bell housing for the transmission carrier in the bus. I believe this one was used from '69 to 71'. The third and final "early" 002 has those two holes and was used in the '72 and up buses that had the Type 4 motor.

The latest of these "early" trannies is the one with the longer shaft, since it was used in conjunction with the T4. The other two can be bolted right up to any 1600-based motor. If you want to bolt up the later "early", you need to cut off about a half inch from the input shaft, of course filing the edges smooth and rounding it to slip easily into the pilot bearing. The 5-rib 002, as well as the 6-rib 091 will need to have this done, too.

No need to swap parts for a 1600 configuration. I don't know about a Ford, Suby, etc. conversion. Maybe those require the longer shaft.

Sat Jan 09, 2010 10:14 am

That input shaft on the 1600 002's was the same as a bug trans.
If you have the late 002 with the long shaft, you can swap that shaft by removing the bell housing portion, and the shaft is held in by a snap ring. Just swap in the shorter shaft.

Sat Jan 09, 2010 5:51 pm

I'd say the driver has a lot to do with transaxle life. The side shifter was the way to go. Once you toast the 3 rib it will also be about the same price.

Sat Jan 09, 2010 5:58 pm

it is the acorn nut one. how stout is that one compared to the later irs that is in it? is the acorn style 002 worth $100. it does work perfectly. i dont plan on speed shifting or anything, usually just alot of throttle in the dunes

Sat Jan 09, 2010 6:24 pm

For only $100 you can find out and it won't hurt. :) I have spent more than that in fuel for the rail in a weekend at the dunes.

Sat Jan 09, 2010 6:44 pm

... On the one hand, yes: It's worth a hundred bucks. You can't hardly buy dinner for that. On the other hand: No. I bought the 002 that's in the BajaSquared project for $200 and it works great, and it's the stronger one. Is it worth another $100 not to have to change it out later? You make the call. You can buy lots of 002's for $300, which seems to be the "Going Rate", so to speak.

Sat Jan 09, 2010 7:06 pm

[quote="perrib"]I'd say the driver has a lot to do with transaxle life. /quote]

I take this to heart...

Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:18 am

ddewey78 wrote: ok so the search for a buggy trans goes on. now i have all but given up on the side shift091, but i have found an early 002 trans. its complete and known to work well, but i know its an early version, and i have heard they have a shorter input shaft. how much chorter and how hard is it to replace with a longer one. also will a 002 live in a sand rail running a mildly built ford 2.0? i have beat on the late model irs tranny in there and it has held up, im just looking for the lower r&p.

Those early trannies have a 113 xxx xxx part number on the case IIRC.
IMHO they are not any weaker than the 2nd generation 3 rib transmissions.

IIRC they both have the weaker 3.80 1st gear set in them as does some Beetle transmissions.

The 3rd generation 3 rib or 002's had the stronger 3.78 1st gear.

Someone correct me if I am mistaken as I quit doing transmissions years ago and this is from my foggy memory...... 8)