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Fri Mar 19, 2010 5:26 pm

I currently have a 1969 Pan, The car has been sitting for years, Im trying to piece it back together. There is not shift rod, every place i go tells me the same thing, something is wrong, the pan has no modifications done to it, all the shift rods Ive tried are too long. Is there the possibility that this is an Autostick? and would that take a different shift rod? and if so would it also have a clutch? Im sure the trans-axle is the original, however it may have been put in before the car started to whither away... Any help would be appreciated! Thanks

Fri Mar 19, 2010 6:05 pm

i do believe that the shift rods are different and it may be in the length but not sure. they have particular bends too

I'm not clear..are you unsure if you have an auto stick?

The auto wont have a clutch and looks different then the manual but if you dont have another to look at...well... Usually the auto stick has a large canister in the engine compartment or under the fender.

I have seen people modify shift rods but it would be best to get the right one

How much too long is it?

Fri Mar 19, 2010 6:24 pm

I didn't see a canister, and I can see where the clutch cable is attached to the transaxel. The rod is about 3 inches too long. I went to 3 different vw shops today and they all said that the one I have should work. So, just kinda lost from here...

Fri Mar 19, 2010 6:35 pm

i found this note at cip1.com maybe it relates to your problem

Quote:

This shift rod is a Genuine VW new shift rod. These are the same shift rods sold by our competitors and they all state that this rod fit Beetle/Ghia from 1968 to 1979. THIS IS INCORRECT, there were 2 different lengths of shift rods used in these years. From 1968 to 1972, the shift rod was longer and measured 45-1/8 inches long. In 1973, VW moved the shifter position back a small amount and from 1973 to 1979, the shift rods where 43-5/8 inches long. Since the 68-72 shift rod is not available, many customers purchase this later version and lengthen it to fit.

One other note, shift rods are bent to fit around the e-brake handle area inside the tunnel, they are not supposed to be straight.

I also saw that the pre 68 shift rods were 48" which sounds more like the one you got that is too long

Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:39 pm

Thanks.
Yea I need the 45.1/8 just measured.
So any luck I'll be able to find one anywhere or is it best in your opinion that I modify the 48" and cut it?

Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:49 pm

tand12 wrote: Thanks.
Yea I need the 45.1/8 just measured.
So any luck I'll be able to find one anywhere or is it best in your opinion that I modify the 48" and cut it?
If you can find one from a '68 to '71? (I think that's the year they changed slightly) That would be easiest.
When my father and I converted my autostick to a manual, we decided to just modify what we had (it needed 1" added). When we first installed it, it was horrible, and didn't shift right. After the slightest of tweeks with a pry bar, my dad lined it up and now it shifts awesome.
as long as you line up everything right after cutting/ before welding, It should be fine.

Sat Mar 20, 2010 5:50 pm

awesome. thats what ill look for. anyone know any places i could look? or anyone familiar with the Inland empire or LA area in SoCali?

Sun Mar 21, 2010 7:40 am

A wrecking yard, swap meet or the classifieds.

Sun Mar 21, 2010 8:24 am

Hiya t,

Head on out to Lake Elsinore and look up the folks at Interstate Auto Parts (18181 Collier Avenue). They will have what you need.

Fri Mar 26, 2010 11:42 pm

I found it at Interstate Auto Parts in Elsinore! Great place, also found a bunch of other cool things ive been looking for there! Thanks!