TheSamba.com :: View topic - 003 to Vanagon 090 for KEP Subaru converstion? Need advice

Tue Nov 17, 2015 10:42 am

So i have the stock 003 Automatic trans in the '73 which is slowly dying on me. I get a really hard knock when changing gears but while in drive it runs very smooth. Ive read up that the later bays trans bolt in and out with the vanagon 090. I was wondering if anyone that had the 003 has swapped it out with a vanagon trans? Just different hardware? or? I want to make this swap because I want to run an ej25 with the KEP package. I think that drivetrain will be much more sound than the type 4 with the 003

Tue Nov 17, 2015 10:44 am

just order everything for whatever transmission you plan on using

Tue Nov 17, 2015 11:17 am

There is not much info out there on the automatics with regards to swaps. Either people are swapping to manuals or their 003 are running well enough that they are not changing to the later automatic.

I have not started the process yet, but will be putting the late bay transmission into a '74 that was a manual trans originally.

Here is what I have found with regards to the later transmission;

With the 003 mounts, the late bay transmission will fit. You will have to loose the transmission cooler if you are getting one from a vanagon.

Your shifter linkage is on the opposite side with respect to the 003 and the late bay automatic. Use the late bay linkage or modify the 003 linkage.

The throttle linkage between the engine and the transmission will need to be modified to accommodate the kick down function and the induction (FI vs carbs) system that you are running, if you want to put it behind the type 4 engine. The throttle/kickdown linkage between the late automatic and the Subaru engine will be custom.

Apply knowledge from link below and others as required.

http://subaruvanagon.com/tom/Auto%20tranny.htm