Bostig and Auto Trans - Qs

[skills@eurocarsplus]

[jacobcallaghan]

[kourt]

"They always fail" is pretty vague. I'm not throwing shade at you, the messenger here, but at the shops who say this.

Among the available engine conversions for the Vanagon, the Bostig Zetec conversion is among the lowest power (in torque or horsepower) available. There are Subaru and VW conversions that can deliver so much more power--and logically those would be the conversions to watch out for in terms of transmission failure.

Knowing that, it seems, from my reading of the "they always fail" comment that the shops are giving doublespeak, and don't really want to work on your van. That's more about them than your chosen engine+transaxle.

My advice is to ensure your Vanagon automatic transaxle is healthy and has an excellent cooling system for when your van gets going again.

kourt

[jacobcallaghan]

Also for clarity. I most likely will not be through this process myself as I have decided to sell the van. (for tother reasons) I just want to feel good knowing I am not selling a van doomed to fail.
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60 Indian Red Bug
61 SK692A So23
61 Double Cab

[jacobcallaghan]

Thank you for the reply. Good info to know. I should have been more specific.

All the shops told me they wont do it because bostigs and automatics dont work. They always fail. According to the shops. That is my issue. I did not want to pull the trans and have it rebuilt just to have it fail like each shop was saying.

If indeed automatics work well. Than this is great news! As my van has hope!

Thanks for all the help.
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60 Indian Red Bug
61 SK692A So23
61 Double Cab

[kourt]

Greetings,

You are asking about much more than the reliability of Vanagon automatics paired with the Bostig Zetec conversion. It might help to be more specific with your questions.

Regarding the Bostig conversion and the Vanagon automatic: both the Bostig Zetec engine and the Vanagon automatic transaxle are agnostic on the subject. They work extremely well together. This is based not only on my own experience (I have a Bostig conversion that I installed in 2014, on my Vanagon automatic transaxle), but also on the experience of other Bostig/automatic owners. If people are telling you otherwise, they are blowing smoke. I feel I am qualified to comment on this, as I am an experienced transmission rebuilder.

I should note that the Vanagon 090 automatic transaxle is the most robust transaxle VW ever made for the Vanagon--demonstrably stronger than the manual transmissions offered for Vanagons. If the automatic + Bostig is a bad combination, the manual transmission would be even worse. Let's put that whole rumor to bed.

Getting to the claims of mechanics and shops: you are driving a VW that is anywhere from 31 to 42 years old. It's an antique. In the eyes of modern mechanics and shop owners, its original design is now a novelty. Add the idiosyncrasies of a Ford Zetec conversion to that and you will be lucky to find any shop that will work on it. That has nothing to do with the transmission, and everything to do with it being a Vanagon, and worse yet, a converted Vanagon. Nobody wants to be accountable for the work on such a vehicle.

If you want your transmission to be serviced, the greatest chance for success is to remove it yourself and deliver it to your rebuilder of choice for service on the bench. When they are done, you'll have to take it back and install it yourself. I would approach this effort with indifference to warranties, as they will be of dubious value and of such limitations as to be useless.

You may also find a mechanic who is willing to do the comprehensive transaxle work for you, naturally for a fee, but that person is rare, often expensive, and will be loath to work on your Vanagon repeatedly if the repairs ever fail to be to your satisfaction.

kourt

[Microbusdeluxe]

Try the Bostig Face Book group. A number of folks with automatics on there.
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'69 Squareback RIP
'65 21 window deluxe sold before the price spike, damn it.
'70 rhd bay now a taxi in South Sudan
'81 Westy sold
'89 hightop Westy Joker syncro 16" now with Bostig!

[jacobcallaghan]

Hello,

Sorry to dig up an old thread. But I want to clear something up and talk to some automatic bostig owners.

I have an 85 automatic with a rebuilt trans about 4K miles ago. (Other trans failed) It’s now slipping and won’t really get above 25mph.

I have spoken to German transaxle and a few small independent trans shops in the pnw one of them being Halsey. I forget the name of the one in Seattle. But not many shops rebuild autos.

Anyway everyone but bostig has told me autos and bostig do not work together. And they refuse to rebuild my trans or work on my van.

Now bostig assured me this is not the case and autos work fine. And they have been very helpful. This is not meant to throw them under the bus. I just want to know other users experience.

At this point i can’t find anyone who will touch my van at all. So if indeed they work. Who is a good trans shop to have the work done. Cause I can telll you German trans won’t touch it.

Has any one else hit this wall?


Thanks for the help. Again bostig has been great and responsive through this process. I just want to get to the bottom of this.
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60 Indian Red Bug
61 SK692A So23
61 Double Cab

[Zero419]

Nokian Entyre

205-70-15
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1987 Westy Auto Bostig 2.0 Ztec

[Jake de Villiers]

[Zero419]

[ThankYouJerry]

[ThankYouJerry]

[Zero419]

wish mine was a stick.
big gap from 2nd to 3rd.
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1987 Westy Auto Bostig 2.0 Ztec

[denwood]

The auto governor mod is super simple. I'd highly recommend it particularly as your shifts at mid throttle (like driving around town) will much better match the higher power/torque band of an i4.

http://my.tbaytel.net/guskers/trans.htm

Cheers,
Dennis.
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Cheers,
Dennis Wood
The Grape

[Captjon1959]

I would have preferred a manual but the auto works fine
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1984 Westfalia Wolfsburg Edition
Former 1.9 L now Bostig Ford Zetec

[freshintulsa]

How do those of you with the auto trannys and bostigs like it? Have any complaints about the match, not necessarily the engine, but having it with an automatic?
_________________
"go slower, go lower!!!"

85 westy svx
Fresh front end rebuild
Front cab changed from brown to black with new homemade door panels, etc.
Soon to remove fridge/sink/cabinet and make custom bench seat!!!



89 wolfsburg/ bluestar.... finished the stick to automatic conversion,
tiico motor
Daily driver, 20mpgs and has enough hair in it to make a few dogs.

[Captjon1959]

I have about 3500 miles on a bostig with an auto. I had the tranny rebuilt because I had to, it was toast. Bostig was cool with it but if there was going to be issues with the install it would complicate things. I had a local rebuilder do the work as bostig didn't think sending it to a vw rebuilder was necessary. I didn't have it modified and am pleased with its performance.
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1984 Westfalia Wolfsburg Edition
Former 1.9 L now Bostig Ford Zetec

[ThankYouJerry]

Solid. Thanks for your post. Is the governor mod fairly easy/common?
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1990 Multivan - "Ohana"
1.8T, Auto w/3.27 R&P + Peloquin TBD

[denwood]

About 10 years on a stock auto with governor mod, so shifts at 6000 rpm full load. My setup approx 140hp, towing various small trailers. Not babying it..zero issues. Just normal maintenance. Added the FAS cooler to replace the coolant / oil version.
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Cheers,
Dennis Wood
The Grape