67 Bus Shift Coupler Install Issue...

[Jack Frisch]

All fixed.
In the near future I will be posting a list of tips to do when doing this job.

In the meantime the rear coupler from Wolfsburg West is great BUT you need to sand off the paint on the inside for an easier fit.

Take a rolled piece of sandpaper and pas it continuoulsy thru the couple while at the same time turning it.

This will remove all of the paint, paint which makes a already snug fitting part hard to install.

Doing this makes a HUGE difference,

Also, coat all inside the couplers and their set screws with anti seize as well as all ends of any rods being attaached.
_________________
1958 Beetle orig. 6 volt 36 hp engine, body & pan, Black w/red/off white inter., Orig. VW wood roof rack and orig. rear luggage rack.
1967 13 Window Walk-thru Deluxe Bus, stock 1500 engine, Titan Red/Grey, Platinum Mesh interior, orig. & stock
1966 GT350H Shelby Orig. low mileage car

[iamdonquixote]

I think 66 and 67 front shift rods are different
Don’t think they are easy to find new or used so salvaging what you have is a good idea

[Eric&Barb]

[Jack Frisch]

UPDATE -31-2025

I got the rods apart.
I had to run a slit down the side about an inch long
Upon doing that, they broke free.
The slit can be welded back shut or left as is, it wont affect using the original rod.

Waiting for my new front couple to arrive and put everything back together.

THANKS for all of you help!!!

I recommend if the rods on your bus don't come apart easily, run a slit with a grinder, it saves alot of grief,

Jack
_________________
1958 Beetle orig. 6 volt 36 hp engine, body & pan, Black w/red/off white inter., Orig. VW wood roof rack and orig. rear luggage rack.
1967 13 Window Walk-thru Deluxe Bus, stock 1500 engine, Titan Red/Grey, Platinum Mesh interior, orig. & stock
1966 GT350H Shelby Orig. low mileage car

[70bus]

These are earlier versions, but gives an idea. Maybe 1 to 2 inches at most.

_________________
Craig K
70 Neunsitzer
65 Pritschenwagen
"If Von Dutch was alive, he'd walk in there with a pistol and shoot these people." - Robert Williams

Raoul the 65 singlecab

Karl the 70 nine-seater

[Jack Frisch]

Vice grips !!
_________________
1958 Beetle orig. 6 volt 36 hp engine, body & pan, Black w/red/off white inter., Orig. VW wood roof rack and orig. rear luggage rack.
1967 13 Window Walk-thru Deluxe Bus, stock 1500 engine, Titan Red/Grey, Platinum Mesh interior, orig. & stock
1966 GT350H Shelby Orig. low mileage car

[Jack Frisch]

looks like there is not a long length that joins them, which means theres not a lot to pull apart to separate them

I'm inspired not to keep trying to separate them! and not cut anything
_________________
1958 Beetle orig. 6 volt 36 hp engine, body & pan, Black w/red/off white inter., Orig. VW wood roof rack and orig. rear luggage rack.
1967 13 Window Walk-thru Deluxe Bus, stock 1500 engine, Titan Red/Grey, Platinum Mesh interior, orig. & stock
1966 GT350H Shelby Orig. low mileage car

[Jack Frisch]

Thanks Craig!
Agreed,

I'm confident if I cut the front rod, I can then removed the rusted end attached ti the long rod easily with a grinding wheel, slicing and removing sections one at a time
Any idea how far the long rod inserts into the front rod?
How far does it go past the hold for the set screw?
_________________
1958 Beetle orig. 6 volt 36 hp engine, body & pan, Black w/red/off white inter., Orig. VW wood roof rack and orig. rear luggage rack.
1967 13 Window Walk-thru Deluxe Bus, stock 1500 engine, Titan Red/Grey, Platinum Mesh interior, orig. & stock
1966 GT350H Shelby Orig. low mileage car

[70bus]

Front shift rods are common, new and used. Those long middle shift rods, uncut, are very hard to find. Try to save that one if a sacrifice must be made.
_________________
Craig K
70 Neunsitzer
65 Pritschenwagen
"If Von Dutch was alive, he'd walk in there with a pistol and shoot these people." - Robert Williams

Raoul the 65 singlecab

Karl the 70 nine-seater

[Jack Frisch]

UPDATE 8-26-2025

Front coupler removed
The two rods are rusted together, I'm working ion separating them.
But, I might end up needing to cut the front rod and cut away its rusted end and replace it with a new front rod.

We'll see.
_________________
1958 Beetle orig. 6 volt 36 hp engine, body & pan, Black w/red/off white inter., Orig. VW wood roof rack and orig. rear luggage rack.
1967 13 Window Walk-thru Deluxe Bus, stock 1500 engine, Titan Red/Grey, Platinum Mesh interior, orig. & stock
1966 GT350H Shelby Orig. low mileage car

[Jack Frisch]

UPDATE 8-25-2025

Yes, I made a mistake in my previous update, I know see I need to remove the font coupller no matter what.
_________________
1958 Beetle orig. 6 volt 36 hp engine, body & pan, Black w/red/off white inter., Orig. VW wood roof rack and orig. rear luggage rack.
1967 13 Window Walk-thru Deluxe Bus, stock 1500 engine, Titan Red/Grey, Platinum Mesh interior, orig. & stock
1966 GT350H Shelby Orig. low mileage car

[chrisflstf]

Since 66 and later use a different bushing for the shifter, you might be able to remove the shifter and get enough forward movement on the shift rod to get the coupler in place

[70bus]

OP may be at the point many of us have reached: saying
"screw it; I'm starting over" and replacing all the components that are giving us guff! In which case, try getting it all out the front way (thanks for the tip!); from there, you can work on it easier if you want to remove the busted screw. Decide whether rusty OG quality parts are still better than repros (they often are), clean up and reinstall. Or at least have them as a guide to check repros... and if intact, stash them as spares or put them in the classifieds.
_________________
Craig K
70 Neunsitzer
65 Pritschenwagen
"If Von Dutch was alive, he'd walk in there with a pistol and shoot these people." - Robert Williams

Raoul the 65 singlecab

Karl the 70 nine-seater

[Stocknazi]

[Kommercial]

If you end up needing to remove the longer rear shift rod, you can pull that shift rod out through the front without dropping the engine/tranny if you remove the bolt/nut/swing arm and then push the center pin down to create clearance. Then there will be just enough room to flex the shift rod down and out through the front once it gets out of the guide tube enough to allow it to flex.

[mdege]

I had the same problem.

Here is what I did:
1. I cut apart the ring, just two cuts and the thing cam off. The ring can be purchased.
2. I cut the front shift rod carefully lengths wise,just an inch or two, this will relieve the tension between the two parts due to the rust between them. the I could pull them apart.
3. The I inserted a piece of copper pipe into the front rod and welded the cut back together. And cleaned up the weld.
4. I made a new ring on my lathe. Bus, as mentioned, this part can also be bought.
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- Michael

1965 21F: Restoration of a former '65 firetruck
1963 Typ3 Notchback project
1988 Multivan Magnum 112i
1984 Standard: My son wanted a bug for his first car

[70bus]

Removing and reinstalling the long middle rod means dropping motor and tranny, which may take longer than drilling the screws. If you go this route, save the old rods to compare the placement of screw holes, as some people got shift rods with holes in wrong place resulting in shifting issues.
_________________
Craig K
70 Neunsitzer
65 Pritschenwagen
"If Von Dutch was alive, he'd walk in there with a pistol and shoot these people." - Robert Williams

Raoul the 65 singlecab

Karl the 70 nine-seater

[Jack Frisch]

UPDATE as of 8-24-2025

The front couple screw's head snapped off.
Drilling it out will be a pain, to say the least.
So I will be cutting through on of the rods and removing them both.
and replacing them with brand new shifter rods, bushing etc etc from Wolfsburg West

This will all mew to get back on the road asap and enjoy the rest of the summer and falll.


Thanks for all your help!!!
Jack
_________________
1958 Beetle orig. 6 volt 36 hp engine, body & pan, Black w/red/off white inter., Orig. VW wood roof rack and orig. rear luggage rack.
1967 13 Window Walk-thru Deluxe Bus, stock 1500 engine, Titan Red/Grey, Platinum Mesh interior, orig. & stock
1966 GT350H Shelby Orig. low mileage car

[Eric&Barb]

[velvetgreen]

I have no personal experience or agenda with this product but it looks beefier than most that are on the market

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1632696