Transmissions For Dummies

[Daniel G]

This article is meant to help answer some of the transmission questions that are constantly asked. I am by no means an expert, but I have learned quite a bit about trannies since I got into VW's, and I hope this info will be helpful to someone.

Identifying VW Transaxles...

The 091...Aka the 6-rib
Found in '76-'79 Bus. They have a 4.56 R&P ratio, and are considered to be the strongest stock VW transmission.

091-Side Shift
*Note: This is the one that can be converted to nose shift.
Essentially the same as the Bus 091 and can be converted to nose shift.
Found in '80-'83 Vanagons with the T4 engine.

091-Mid Shift
*Note: This one cannot be converted to nose shift.
This may actually be an 094 instead of an 091, but I haven't verified this yet.
Found in '83-up Vanagons with the Wasserboxer engine.

094 Synchro 4x4
*Note: I don't know much about this one, except for the fact that they are pretty rare. However, they have a locking differential that can be made to fit in an 091 or 002 (More on this later).
Found in ??-?? Synchro Vanagons.

The 002...Aka the 3-rib
*Note: The earlier 3-ribs have no mounting ears on top of the bellhousing, axle flange retainers attached by acorn nuts, and a shorter input shaft (for the T1 engine). There's more info the early models posted below the pic. They have a 5.38 (Also 5.42, but it is pretty rare) R&P ratio.

[DeMinimis]

I vote Sticky
_________________
Yes Virginia, beer can make you smarter.

'78 SB CEII In Progress.

[HamburgerBrad]

[HamburgerBrad]

could you edit your original post to include years of busses in which to find the transaxles you posted above?
_________________
OGST | CU05 | OGJHC
1970 baja|1953 oval

Wanted: two beat up, ugly, curb rashed 6" phone dial wheels

[el loco kingo]

what exactly is "autostick"?

and what do the numbers mean in the trannys.. 002, 091 ect. are those trannys out of bus's?

and with the swing axel with the reduction box's.. are the reduction box's those box's on the ends of the axle tubes, before the drums? if not, what are those?

i want to widen my rear end up a little bit more, would that be a good way? its a swing axle.

thank, and sorry for all the questions.
_________________
CUSTOM OFF ROAD FABRICATION FOR VW TYPE 1.. BOLT ON KITS. for more info, please go to: http://www.myspace.com/blackmetalworks


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=143790

[dr. awsome]

as far as I know an auto stick is a type of automatic trans for a v-dub but that's all I really know about them so it's probably not much help.
The numbers are just the type of trannny. You can either label them as the number or how many ribs they have from what I understand.
And yes the reduction boxes are those things on the end of the axle tubes. They will lift the rear end up but the reduce your gearing so you sill go much slower if you add them. Great for hill climbing and such bot not good for street-able driving in my opinion. i don't think they will widen they stance much if at all. They best way to widen the stance is to get some wider arms.
_________________
is it time to get out of the dirt and switch to the street?

[el loco kingo]

the rear is somewhat wide as of right now, but the irs conversion is on my mind, so im not sure if i should make any moves right now.

how many different types of swing axle trannys are there? same with irs, do they go by ribs like the bus trannys?
_________________
CUSTOM OFF ROAD FABRICATION FOR VW TYPE 1.. BOLT ON KITS. for more info, please go to: http://www.myspace.com/blackmetalworks


http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=143790

[takotruckin]

i had an autostick in my first vw. its a transmission with a vacuum operated clutch (automatic) and a torque converter. the clutch is supposed to disengage when you let off the gas. and the torque converter lets you sit at a stop light in gear. oh yeah, they are hard to get working right...

[merc]

For the swing axles, is it possible to mount the Redux boxes on the type 1 swing axle? My bug has a swingaxle w/redux boxes. I know the bellhousing is for a 6V flywheel, but I'm not sure wether it is an early bus tranny, or early type 1 tranny with the boxes added on. I'm just trying to guesstimate what gearing it has off the chart on Sandlizard's site. Unfortunately I won't actually have the car in my possession until late December or early January.

[didget69]

I never found the Autostick to be 'hard to get working right' - I've had two of them for 20+ years & have only replaced a vacuum diaphragm & contact points in shifters... combined, the two cars have over 250k miles.

[HamburgerBrad]

reduction boxes work by having the ring and pinion gear reversed when compared to a beetle transmission. there are two gears in the reduction box, one on the end of the axle (on top) and one on the stub axle (on bottom).

installing a reduction gear setup from a bus (depending on the type of adapter) will give you lift, widen the stance, and reduce your overall gearing.
_________________
OGST | CU05 | OGJHC
1970 baja|1953 oval

Wanted: two beat up, ugly, curb rashed 6" phone dial wheels

[Daniel G]

As I get the free time I am planning on giving the information(Year models, R&P ratio, etc) I am still looking for some more pics from the gallery, as well. Once I get the basics taken care of, I am going to go into more detail with everything.

Daniel
_________________
1967 13 Window Deluxe

1966 Beetle

1971 Panel

1978 Westfalia Camper

Transmissions For Dummies

[Glenn]

You missed one....

Berg 5

A Berg 5 is built from a stock Type 1 Swing or IRS tranny. It requires the basic Berg 5 kit, a special shifter and cross member.

You have to completely disassemble the tranny and send YOUR mainshaft and pinion shaft to Berg to be lengthened. You then reassemble the tranny, this is the time to select new gear ratios and put in some heavy duty stuff. The 5th gear site in the nosecone.

Take a look at http://www.glenn-ring.com/resto/resto5.html for more info and pictures.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

[HamburgerBrad]

[Glenn]

[HamburgerBrad]

[Mr. Unpopular]

Is there anything wrong with the 091 side-shift and mid shift tranny's that would preclude one from running it in a buggy? Will a normal VW shifter work if I were to make a linkage? What applications have the side-shift and mid shift?

[rterfert]

[Daniel G]

[Daniel G]

Using a Type 1 engine with an 091

I want to add this additional information, which I have recently learned:

If you want to use the 091 with a T1 engine, there is no need to modify or switch any parts around. However, if you do this you must use the 091 bell housing and 091-only starter.

If you want to use the Type 1 style starter (it's cheaper and easier to find) with your 091, you must do one of the following:

Get the 002 bellhousing and input shaft, and swap them to the 091.

Get the 002 bellhousing, and trim the 091 input shaft. IIRC, you need to cut about 1/2" off the end.

There is also one other option that I have heard of, and that is to simply have the starter area on you 091 bell housing milled down so that a Type 1 style starter can be used.
_________________
1967 13 Window Deluxe

1966 Beetle

1971 Panel

1978 Westfalia Camper

Transmissions For Dummies