Automatic transmission swap

[islnder102]

I know type 181s were only available in a manual transmission. Can one be converted to automatic or autostick?

Before any criticism, here's the reason. Before my wife passed, I promised her a thing. It was her favorite VW model. I now have an opportunity to pick one up but because of my disability, I no long can drive a manual safely.

[Deckard]

As far as I know the "automatic" transmission offered for Type 1 Beetles from 1970-79 still required you to still use the shifter (I believe it had 3 forward speeds), meaning it was not the "put in in D all day long" type. However, no clutch was needed.

The setup is similar to modern Automatic transmissions which have a clutch-free manual mode

[nwflvw]

A autostick would bolt in but you would have to install the 2 stage oil pump on the engine, mount the vacuum and oil tanks, cutting holes in multiple places, change the pedal assembly and most likely the shift rod (different shifter too). Also install an intake manifold center section (assuming you have a dual port engine) for a vacuum source. Also the flywheel would have to be removed and a drive plate installed. It would just about require a donor car.

When I worked for Larry at the Thing Shop he had bought a Thing with a fully automatic in it and I worked on the car.
This transmission is supported by a crossbar that bolts to the case near the oil pump and there is a hanger on each side. Again you would have to change the pedal assembly and modify the tunnel as the shifter is hooked to a cable.
The engine would sit a little further back in the car requiring the breast plate to be modified and shortened.
Also the flywheel would have to be removed and replaced by a drive plate. Once again you might have to find a Type 3 donor car.

This project is probably not feasible with the cost of donor cars and lack of parts.

[77kafer]

Talk to the Domeck brothers, one of them was doing it for his wife.
_________________
Supposed to be 77käfer, but there are no umlauts on an american keyboard

Overheard on 27 June 07, one lady to another when they saw my Harli in a parking lot at West Point, "maybe he found it on the clearance aisle at the Volkswagen dealer"

[77kafer]

Talk to the Domeck brothers, one of them was doing it for his wife.
_________________
Supposed to be 77käfer, but there are no umlauts on an american keyboard

Overheard on 27 June 07, one lady to another when they saw my Harli in a parking lot at West Point, "maybe he found it on the clearance aisle at the Volkswagen dealer"

[Keith]

[Ron Domeck]

I do have everything to do this but never got around to that car.

[Ron Domeck]

I do have everything to do this but never got around to that car.

[citroen]

I have done it it is not a big problem but you need a lot of parts oil pump, flywheel, shifter and rod intake, oil tank, vacuum tank, starter and maybe a few parts I forgot.

[weisswurst]

did it at Sunshine Air Cooled in Sarasota for an 11 year old to use on a farm in north florida to do chores and haul feed/hay

meet the Thing-O-Matic!!

took the goodies from a rusty 69 standard autostick beetle and BANG! Thing-O-Matic...