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[email protected]
Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2021
Posts: 1
Location: Novato, CA
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 Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2021 10:33 pm Post subject: Autostick to Manual Conversion |
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| Hello my fellow Sambians! I am the proud new owner of a 1969 Ghia Coupe Autostick. I am planning on converting to manual. I have all the parts and trans on order. Does anybody know if there is the clutch tube retrofit thread? I have been able to find specifics of where to cut the tunnel to weld up the tabs. Any help is greatly appreciated. |
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Adam L
Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2016
Posts: 2
Location: UK
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rcooled
Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2008
Posts: 2780
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2021 11:18 am Post subject: Re: Autostick to Manual Conversion |
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I did this conversion on my old '69 Ghia. It's not really that difficult. Here's a very detailed explanation of exactly how to do it on a RH-drive car: http://www.mclaydon.com/beetle/autostick/tube.html
All dimensions and procedures are the same for a LH-drive car, with one exception. In step #3 of the instructions, it states "Make sure the front end of the tube is located in its notch in the LEFT SIDE of the front mounting." In a LH-drive car, this notch will be on the RIGHT SIDE of that front mounting bracket. I cut the needed access holes in the passenger side of the tunnel.
Pay careful attention to the part about having enough of the tube extending out from the rear of the pan. If this isn't done correctly, you'll have trouble getting the proper amount of sag in the Bowden tube.
For the tube itself, I used 1/2" OD X .05" wall stainless steel tubing. Carbon steel tubing would work just as well but would need to be painted to prevent rust. If this isn't available locally, it can be ordered from McMaster-Carr: https://www.mcmaster.com/metals/shape~round-tube/stainless-steel/od~1-2/wall-thickness~0-049/ --or-- https://www.mcmaster.com/metals/shape~round-tube/s...bon-steel/
_________________
'63 Ragtop (current)
'65 Ghia coupe (totaled)
'67 Ghia convertible (current)
'69.5 Ghia convertible and
'62, '63, '65, '69 Bugs (all long gone) |
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GhiaNorth
Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2021
Posts: 2
Location: Toronto, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2022 3:20 pm Post subject: Re: Autostick to Manual Conversion |
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Hoping for some advice.
I just purchased a '74 KG Autostick Coupe. It doesn't run... hasn't run in 15-20, was stored away this whole time.
Question - if I had a 4spd tranny, and could get a clutch, flywheel, pedal cluster and shifter, would it be better to convert to a 4spd, or spend the time to see if the Autostick still works and keep as is?
Thoughts? Suggestions?
Thank you! |
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Braukuche
Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2004
Posts: 11215
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| Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2022 3:25 pm Post subject: Re: Autostick to Manual Conversion |
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| GhiaNorth wrote: |
Hoping for some advice.
I just purchased a '74 KG Autostick Coupe. It doesn't run... hasn't run in 15-20, was stored away this whole time.
Question - if I had a 4spd tranny, and could get a clutch, flywheel, pedal cluster and shifter, would it be better to convert to a 4spd, or spend the time to see if the Autostick still works and keep as is?
Thoughts? Suggestions?
Thank you! |
I would at least see if it works and if I like it or not.
_________________
Go Reds! Smash state!
Retirement is here!
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now
1989 Westfalia |
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rcooled
Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2008
Posts: 2780
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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| Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2022 9:53 pm Post subject: Re: Autostick to Manual Conversion |
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| GhiaNorth wrote: |
| Thoughts? Suggestions? |
My old '69 Ghia was an Autostick before I converted it to a 4-speed. The most annoying aspect of it was that every time your knee happened to touch the gear lever, or you inadvertently went to rest your hand on the shift knob, the vacuum servo would disconnect the clutch. If the engine was under load, like when accelerating hard or climbing a steep hill, it would over-rev quite easily and the car would lose momentum.
_________________
'63 Ragtop (current)
'65 Ghia coupe (totaled)
'67 Ghia convertible (current)
'69.5 Ghia convertible and
'62, '63, '65, '69 Bugs (all long gone) |
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Raymond73
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2010
Posts: 394
Location: PA
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| Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2022 6:49 pm Post subject: Re: Autostick to Manual Conversion |
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| rcooled wrote: |
The most annoying aspect of it was that every time your knee happened to touch the gear lever, or you inadvertently went to rest your hand on the shift knob, the vacuum servo would disconnect the clutch. If the engine was under load, like when accelerating hard or climbing a steep hill, it would over-rev quite easily and the car would lose momentum. |
By chance did you check the gap in the shift knob? The '70 to '79 SB. B, and K. Ghia Bentley lists between .25 to .40 mm adjustment. Not sure what your '69 needed, but it might have been adjusted too tightly.
I've also wondered if anyone has ever considered modifying the shifter so the ground is activated with the press of a button on the knob vs weight of the hand. Or even extend the ground wire through the tunnel and mount a traditional clutch pedal. That way your foot disengages the clutch by grounding through the pedal.
Maybe that's a bit too involved, but I'm just thinking about what the system is technically doing by just connecting the circuit to ground to disconnect the clutch inside the A.S. transmission. Probably several ways to lightly modify an Auto Stick without going through the more involved process of conversion to Manual, assuming that there isn't a different reason or reasons all together.
_________________
'70 Auto Stick Beetle
113 905 205AD
30 PICT-3 |
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Redlabel6
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2016
Posts: 390
Location: Minnesota
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| Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2022 7:52 am Post subject: Re: Autostick to Manual Conversion |
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I love my autostick! As Raymond says there are adjustments to help prevent inadvertent operation. I had the same problem with my knee hitting the stick. Then I found that there is an adjustment to prevent that.
As far as enjoyable driving, I find the autostick much more enjoyable than my '57 Beetle that requires constant shifting... not to mention that autosticks are getting harder to find!
just my $0.02...
d
_________________
1957 Oval Window Beetle
1973 Karmann Ghia Coupe
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=666792&highlight=73+coupe |
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Legacy
Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2008
Posts: 231
Location: Charlotte Hall, MD
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| Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2022 8:14 am Post subject: Re: Autostick to Manual Conversion |
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| Redlabel6 wrote: |
I love my autostick! As Raymond says there are adjustments to help prevent inadvertent operation. I had the same problem with my knee hitting the stick. Then I found that there is an adjustment to prevent that.
As far as enjoyable driving, I find the autostick much more enjoyable than my '57 Beetle that requires constant shifting... not to mention that autosticks are getting harder to find!
just my $0.02...
d |
I second what Redlabel6 said. When we had our 69 on the road it was fun to drive once all the adjustments were set properly.
I'm in the process of restoring the car. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=730829&highlight=
All the bodywork has been completed and once the weather in MD warms up a little more I'll be spraying the car and hopefully by mid summer have it back on the road.
Regardless of what you decide to do the bottom line is you have a really cool car. |
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kingkarmann
Samba Member
Joined: November 05, 2003
Posts: 4544
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| Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2022 8:17 am Post subject: Re: Autostick to Manual Conversion |
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| GhiaNorth wrote: |
Hoping for some advice.
I just purchased a '74 KG Autostick Coupe. It doesn't run... hasn't run in 15-20, was stored away this whole time.
Question - if I had a 4spd tranny, and could get a clutch, flywheel, pedal cluster and shifter, would it be better to convert to a 4spd, or spend the time to see if the Autostick still works and keep as is?
Thoughts? Suggestions?
Thank you! |
Hey?!?!
I thought we talked about this  |
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