Type 3 Automatic to Manual conversion?

[TL Jer]

Hey, all. First ever post, dear Lord don't let me f*** up. Didn't see this topic in FAQs or in existing threads, so I apologize if it's been asked to death already or if it's a "duh" on the order of "What's a front beam?"

Anyway, I haven't owned a VW in 30 years and am looking for a '66-'69 Fastback daily driver. I must have a manual trans, which means I'm passing on some promising looking cars simply because they have an automatic. Is an auto-to-manual conversion doable? Are there any differences with an Automatic's floor pan? Is adding a clutch pedal and manual shifter a bolt-on deal? Would it be worth the hassle and expense or am I better off just looking for a 4-speed car?

Thanks,

Jer

[Tram]

Get a 4 speed car.

Where are you finding all these Automatics? I've been hunting.
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Немає виправдання для війни! Я з Україною.

[Yabbadubbadoo]

I think if you're patient you will find a manual shift Type 3 in the right condition.
Autos are great cars in their own right. Super cool cruisers. Id love to own one some day but my manual fastback must get finished first. Id say don't convert one just from a conservation point of view. It's not a walk in the park to convert one properly. The central chassis tube is missing the clutch tube.

[Tram]

[Yabbadubbadoo]

[marchi]

I have owned 11 T3's only 3 were manuals. I love the auto!
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I drive my VW or I walk
'70 Squareback
'21 Tiguan (daughters)
SOLD
'69 Fastback (Flamer)

[Stefan T]

you must fix a pipe to the clutch wire in the pan
more things
pedals for manual
gear box
drive shafts
shifter and bottom plate to manual shifter
gear shaft and conection to the gear box
flywheel and clutch
clutch wire

i hope this all exept for some smal things
i did this in 83
but we have a complet car to take parts from

[TL Jer]

Thanks for the great replies.

I seem to have stirred some real automatic love here, which is good. I'm searching the Samba classifieds for Fastbacks within a day's drive from So Cal and there are some nice Automatics there and I hate to pass up a nice car just because it's an Automatic. But I love manual trans cars (I've owned mostly slushbox cars, so I know what I'm missing). So I believe I'll leave the Automatics unmolested for you guys that appreciate them and keep looking for a stick.

Thanks again.

[KTPhil]

Don't dismiss the automatic so quickly. With a well-tuned motor and no vacuum leaks, you have a lot more shifting control than you do with most automatics; this is not the lazy slushbox of American cars.

Learning to "tap" the throttle to force a gentle downshift, or letting up a hair to force an upshift, can give you nearly the control a manual does, even on twisty roads. The torque converter smooths out any jerkiness from this right-foot behavior, so it's still a gentle ride plus shift control. That, plus the kickdown switch, and I almost never had to manually shift the automatic to get exactly the gear I wanted.

I used to have a '71 square automatic, and I still have the family 4-speed fastback, also a '71; so I had a good comparison.

If you have any stop and go driving, you will LOVE the automatic, and even driving through the canyons where I lived, the automatic was FUN! They can be driver's cars, too. Lots of lower end pep due to the torque multiplication.

[Geothon]

I did the swap using hydraulic clutch. Vanagon master, slave and custom made nylon tube that i ran inside the tunnel.
Autos are smooth and may be even reliable but too expensive once anything goes wrong. I didn't want to replace the diff that started whining on my 73 Square. Loved how the manual changed the car.

[sharkskinman]

I have an auto (fully automatic Not Auto Stick)
And I love it.. although it Is forsale and way less than a day drive
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74 Mexi Swamp Thing. 70 square volksrod (Swamp Rat)..65 C10

[burnt63]

i recently picked up a 70 auto notch. with in a day of owning it I was asked a good handful of times if I wanted to sell it. apparently a lot of people like the autos.
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'63 bug...'67 bug... '87 cabriolet... '08 rabbit

[V8Square]

[baker151]

I know this thread is old but I'm in the same-ish boat. So I'll post here rather than start a new thread.

I purchased an Auto SB a few years ago and drove it for a bit but its been rather bothersome, so now it sits in my garage waiting for me to do something with it.

Its was built up to an 1835 and converted to dual carbs before I purchased it. Although I upgraded the Solex 32's to Empi Dual 40's to satisfy the 1835, I'm still not entirely impressed or satisfied with the performance. So I had a couple of questions.

Would it be possible to make the dual carb setup work well with the Auto?

Would it be possible to mount a manual transmission to the engine? I've heard the case is different and my require an adapter plate of some sort. What transaxle mods would I be looking at?

If I can keep the auto and make it run smooth I'd be fine with that. If i can convert to manual and keep the 1835 I have and get the performance I'd be fine with that too. Just want to feel it out and see what is possible. I love the Square and would love to keep it. I just need some opinions or remedies before I move forward.
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69' Squareback
69' Dodge Dart Custom, 383 big block.
RIP-78' bus.

[raygreenwood]

Also another point that many missed in this original thread.....is that if you want to go to manual from automatic.....why waste effort and permanently screw up the pan/tunnel installing a clutch cable and bowden tube?

You can install a simple metal hydraulic line and install a hydraulic clutch and master cylinder for a fraction of the effort without doing anthing non-reversible to the car. Ray

[Multi69s]

Baker,

I have always had good luck with my auto trans and dual carbs. From Solex 32s to Weber 34ICTs to Weber 40 DCNFs. I have always pulled my vacuum signal from the balance tube, and the transmission shifts perfectly. However, on the dual DCNFs (Which normally doesn't have a balance tube), I made one up that connected to all four intake runners, and it works great.

Also, since the transmissions are getting old, and the vacuum signal may be off from a OEM setup, see if you can rent/borrow/ purchase a set of transmission gauges.

This way you can make sure and or adjust the transmission fluid pressures to match your intake setup.
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69 road Bug 2110
73 Squareback - 2L, T4, Automatic W/ AC
Gone, but many fond memories 69 Baja Bug 2010 - 5 Rib Bus Transaxle
Gone but not forgotten 72 Baja Bug 2010
My builds
T4 into Squareback http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=458944&highlight=
Auto Trans Rebuild http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=516066&highlight=
AC in Squareback https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...highlight=

[reay]

I have a 1835, auto and dual solex. The only thing I did was put in larger main jets and it's working pretty darn well now. Well, it's a longer story than that, but yes the 1835 is fine with stock solexs.

If you change the carbs you are going to end up having to fix up some kind of kick down switch because the original one only works with the solex linkage.
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Tom Reay
Nothing is standard o a Standard!
68 Karmann Ghia Sunroof / auto T345
66 Standard Microbus T221
66 1200a Standard 115 with factory ragtop

[Bobnotch]

[Multi69s]

[baker151]