Our new beetle! Help!?

[Zylinderkopf]

[vwfreek61]

[rsthj]

[Starbucket]

First look at the axel boots, if torn or rotted and the oil is coming from there and the trans is not growling at you, boots are easy and oil coming from them will whip the oil all over the place and the dust will turn it black and don't drive it until you fill the trans until it comes out the fill hole.

[57BLITZ]

[phyregod]

[scdevon]

[andk5591]

There are laundry lists of what you do when you yank the engine on here. X 20 on just getting a rebuilt tranny. Didnt really pay attention to what engine you have, but if its at least a 1300 and up, go with a later model gear set so you are maxed out at 65 MPH. But you need enough engine to push it...doesnt need a lot though...45 or so HP is plenty.

And most likely you will have the tranny shipped, so it doesnt really matter where it comes from. I have been using Mofoco lately with good success. But also have a Rancho in one of my cars and the VW store in St Johns PA did a couple for me as well.

Plan on new axle bearings and all that while you are doing it.

Welcome and have fun.
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D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...

[pbenn]

Yes, everybody's right. Even spending $1000 - 1200 on a new swingaxle trans with options like 3:88 r&p you will be ahead.

While you have the motor out and the trans pulled, replace your trans mounts while it's easier. Mark your axle locations on your trailing arms with a chisel.

While you are waiting, check shifter bushings while the shift rod is disconnected.

Now also look to see if any leaks are coming from your motor while you have that opportunity.

If there is wear in your axle splines where they fit into the drums, this is the perfect time to get better axles/drums.

There are a number of transmission professionals in the southern US, maybe check Samba's banner ads. My trans (Mex swing 3:8 came from Trans-Form but they might have changed business names since the '90s.

[phyregod]

I believe the input shaft seal is leaking quite badly. Both drain plugs are leaking and it appears that there is another leak up by the shifter. Driving at parking lot speed it leaves a dribble of about 1 drop every 2 inches, when parked it leaves a 10 inch puddle, but stops leaking after it’s cooled off.. or after all the residual oil drips off.. there is a quarter inch of old hard black sludge all over the trans.. I could power wash what I can and see where I end up.

The two plugs in the bottom.. do I just torque them down to stop the leaking? Teflon tape? I haven’t pulled them to look quite yet. But the oil coming out is pretty black. If it’s the input shaft seal that means the clutch is covered in oil as well.. something that needs to be addressed.

All of this combined makes me want to pull it apart and fix it. I’m a bit of a perfectionist and solidly addicted to tinkering.

[MMW]

Before you tear into it why not give the underneath including the trans a deep clean, drain and refill the trans with the proper oil and drive it for a while? The leaks may look worse than they are if it hasn't been cleaned in decades. Of course if there are shifting issues then the above is not recommended.
_________________
Mic
1959 356 coupe
Missing the original engine 72488
Update - third pc. found!
Now just need the case halves.
1965 fenderless beetle

[rcroane]

[marklee]

[phyregod]

We’re in Brownwood, TX. Right in the center. Anyone recommend a shop?

Also, what do I look for to purchase a 4.12 geared trans? What did it come out of? I like the idea of better gearing, but they’re All old.. swapping old for old doesn’t seem to help much. I see rebuilt units for $900-1500.. that’s way over budget.

I am very much a do it yourselfer. My passion is in Honda CRXs, and i’ve Rebuilt a few Honda motors and transmissions myself. So a ‘64 beetle trans.. to quote Jeremy Clarkson.. “How hard could it be?”

[gt1953]

Like mentioned above let the professional shop go through the transmission. Like mentioned some special tools are required for the trans to be correct. Plus a shop will or at least should give you a warranty. I too have heard that the early trans parts are drying up.
What part of Texas as it is over 268 thousand square miles and like a whole nother country.
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Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.
68 type 1
72 type 1
73 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 69 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold})

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[Pruneman99]

This?

http://www.jbugs.com/product/98-2077.html

[phyregod]

I have the factory service manual.. Transmissions don’t scare me. I just need to know exactly what it is so I can order parts and get crackin’!

[Jody '71]

There's a nice cross section pic of the transmission in the owner's manual for '64 Beetle available in "Technical" above. In fact, if you don't have the original owner's manual, spend some time and look at each page. Post some nice pics of the engine if you can, underneath as well....
_________________
'66 Beetle
2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring

[[email protected]]

My understanding of the chart is to disregaurd the "A (B)", and go by the number. I can't remember if the number is the start, or end of production. July of 64 was 6 963 436, and August was 7 051 272, so you're somewhere in between.

If it's literally leaking everywhere, I would look into a shop that does Aircooled Beetle transaxles, and have them go through it. There are quite a few special tools required to rebuild a transaxle that makes just rebuilding one not very economically feasible. If it is the original 64 trans, there are certain components, like certain syncros, that are no longer readily available new. There are modern counterparts that can be retrofitted, but knowing what they are, and having access to them is easier left to a knowledgeable shop.