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ghiamanjc
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2020
Posts: 146
Location: Vancouver BC
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 Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2021 7:34 pm Post subject: Fully Automatic 69 convertible |
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Folks - I'm going on Saturday to look at a car that is a 1969.5 (glass rear window) and the owner claims its a full-automatic - not auto-stick. He puts the gearshift in 1 and it drives forever. If you're going up a hill, perhaps you shift it into L.
Ever heard of such a thing?
Is it possible that its an auto-stick that he's using incorrectly?
Is it possible that a PO did a conversion to fully automatic? From what I've read on other posts, that's damn near impossible.
Appreciate any insight/experience you have with this.
I'll update this thread once I drive it.
THx |
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iowegian 
Samba Curmudgeon
Joined: February 16, 2005
Posts: 9829
Location: Somewhere between Dubuque and Keokuk
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| Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2021 8:05 pm Post subject: Re: Fully Automatic 69 convertible |
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| I believe a conversion can be done using a Type 3 auto transmission, but it is not easy. |
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xoo00oox
Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2010
Posts: 2672
Location: East Nassau, NY
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| Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2021 8:13 pm Post subject: Re: Fully Automatic 69 convertible |
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| This should be interesting! |
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Legacy
Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2008
Posts: 219
Location: Charlotte Hall, MD
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| Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 3:14 pm Post subject: Re: Fully Automatic 69 convertible |
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My wife has a 69 KG auto stick and depending on where she is driving it she can leave it in "Range 1" the entire trip. The page from the owners manual shows that unless you are driving at highway speeds you don't need to shift into "Range 2". Only time she uses the low range is when going up a hill when starting from a dead stop.
Might want to ask the owner if he feels the transmission shifting between gears when he leaves it in range 1. If he don't feel the trans shifting gears than in all likelihood he is just using the auto stick in the broad range of driving conditions that range 1 provides. |
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ghiamanjc
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2020
Posts: 146
Location: Vancouver BC
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| Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 3:22 pm Post subject: Re: Fully Automatic 69 convertible |
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I bet that is it.... Thanks Legacy. Really appreciate the insight. I'll validate on Saturday's test drive and advise.
Do you need to talk your foot off the gas to shift into Range 2 ? |
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Legacy
Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2008
Posts: 219
Location: Charlotte Hall, MD
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| Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2021 3:44 pm Post subject: Re: Fully Automatic 69 convertible |
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| ghiamanjc wrote: |
I bet that is it.... Thanks Legacy. Really appreciate the insight. I'll validate on Saturday's test drive and advise.
Do you need to talk your foot off the gas to shift into Range 2 ? |
The best thing we found is to just drive it like a regular stick shift, so yes, take foot off gas when shifting. One nice feature of the auto stick when compared to a standard shift is since it has a torque converter you don't need to put it in neutral when coming to a stop. Like a regular automatic the engine will not stall when at a complete stop and idling.
Only problems we had when we first got it was:
(1) Not putting your left foot thru the floor when you attempt to push down on the clutch pedal that isn't there.
(2) Not resting your hand on the floor shifter. I'm one of those that likes to have my hand on the shift knob. Can't do that with the auto stick because any light weight on the shift knob closes the contacts in the shifter that engages the vacuum controlled clutch.
Its a fairly complicated system but when working properly it is fun to drive. |
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misterh
Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2018
Posts: 23
Location: Central Texas
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| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2021 1:32 pm Post subject: Re: Fully Automatic 69 convertible |
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I once bought a Type 4 for parts, and it had a Borg Warner 3 speed fully automatic transmission (not auto stick).
Maybe that's what the car in question has. |
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Bobnotch
Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2003
Posts: 22425
Location: Kimball, Mi
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| Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2021 6:11 pm Post subject: Re: Fully Automatic 69 convertible |
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| misterh wrote: |
I once bought a Type 4 for parts, and it had a Borg Warner 3 speed fully automatic transmission (not auto stick).
Maybe that's what the car in question has. |
My wife has a 70 Type 3 Fastback with a full automatic trans in it. I've driven it, and you can't just leave it in 1 and drive around all day. You can do that in 3 (drive), as it'll shift thru all gears that way.
It would have to be a conversion for it to have a full AT in it (like the type 3 uses).
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Robert Chambers
Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2005
Posts: 216
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| Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2021 2:19 pm Post subject: Re: Fully Automatic 69 convertible |
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It is possible to convert a Beetle or Ghia to a fully automatic trans. The trans I know that has been used is from a '68 to '73 type 3. It takes some fab work but it fits. Not long ago a fully automatic conversion Herbie was sold on Ebay. I was a VW mechanic back in the '70s. Customers had many problems with the auto stick because too many things to break or go wrong. In theory they were great. But, not in real daily use. I don't know how many people I had to tell to keep their hand off the shifter because any pressure caused the clutch to engage. I think VW was trying to please a different consumer with the auto stick. We use to convert auto sticks to standard 4 speeds.
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'63 OG 117 Herbie Replica
'56 Euro Oval Deluxe
'52 Standard Zwitter
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