1960 swapped engine mount question

[panicman]

Been gone a long time, and if I knew this before, I have forgotten.

I have a 1960 beetle, and a PO had a 40hp engine installed. A different front transmission mount was welded in.

I have a 36hp that I would like to put back in. Is this transmission mount going to screw that up?

[67rustavenger]

[EVfun]

It depends on what you mean by "screw that up." You would need to restore the original front mount and locate a 1960 splitcase transaxle if you want that part to be correct. However, the 36 horse engine will work fine behind a 40 horse transaxle, the slightly lower gearing actually helps a bit. I ran a 40 horse transaxle behind a 36 horse in an oval window Bug for a number of years.
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[panicman]

Thanks guys- long time!!

That's the strange part. The transmission is an old split case.

When I did all my resto work, it looks like the bug was in at least 2 bad accidents. I think the driver side was flattened, and the front apron was crushed, and replaced. It makes me think the impact knocked the rear axle around, requiring a new one welded in. Here's what it looks like.

[EVfun]

Interesting... It looks like that shot if from below, looking up. It appears that a stock 1959 and older front mount was welded in place of the 2 studs sticking out of the rear torsion housing (the stock 1960 only mount). It appears that you still have the correct 1960 transaxle, but more shots of the nosecone would be needed to be sure. I'm guessing the only thing to you need to know is that you now need to use a 1959 and older front mount at replacement time.

This is a '60 splitcase transaxle in my garage. The shift rod comes out of the box higher than older splitcase transaxles as 1960 was the first year VW mounted the VW drivetrain at a slight angle, to lower the axles and improve handling.

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[panicman]

Thank you so much!

I am itching to throw the 36hp in, and if it checks out solid, throw a dual carb kit in.

[EVfun]

Last cool touch for an original '60 Bug, see if you can find a factory red 36 horse dipstick. Since the engine is mounted at a slight angle in '60 and newer Bugs (and level in older Bugs) the '60 only 36 horse dipstick has slightly different fill and add level lines, and VW painted them red to identify them. If you don't have red dipstick the level difference isn't enough to worry about.
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[ekrossi]

On this subject, I have a 1960 with what must be a later model trans in it. Is this a swapped front mount?

[EVfun]

The background is rather dark in that photo, but it looks like a later front mount. The original 1960 front mount is 2 studs sticking out of the torsion housing facing back.
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[splitjunkie]

It actually looks like the welded the '60 front mount to the torsion tube a bit lower so they could put an earlier transmission in.

I had a '60 that had a 40 horse and a tunnel trans installed and they had done exactly this. It was not a good setup. It was done poorly and nothing lined up well. Also you would have to cut it out if the rubber mount went bad since it is bonded to the metal part of the mount, which is welded to the torsion tube.

I ended up cutting the mount off and welding on a '61 - '72 mounting bracket so I could use the proper mounts and have everything line up correctly.


https://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=111701173c



In order to put a '59 and earlier trans front mount in there correctly, I think a front mounting bracket would need to be fabricated as I don't think the '61 - '72 mounting bracket would work, but I could be wrong.
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Chris

You know, a lot of these scratches will buff right out... Jerry Seinfeld

[ekrossi]

splitjunkie Are you referring to the picture I sent in? My trans is a later all synchro model, though I don't know the year.

[splitjunkie]

[EVfun]

[ekrossi]

Thanks. Are the '62-67 trans mounts all the same, or are there differences?

[EVfun]

There is a change, a 1961-1965 front mount and a 1966-1971 (?? -1972) mount. The available replacement weld on frame mount for all years is the later one.

I haven’t tested this but I think all 3 mounts (1959 down, 1961-1965, and 1966-1971) have the same attachment pattern at both the transaxle and frame. It is the safety retainer lug on the front side that changed (from none to small to large going forward). The 1960 is its own 1 year only case.
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[ekrossi]

One other question. My car often jerks when in reverse, unless I'm really leaning on the throttle. I've been told it's a sign that the trans mounts need to be replaced. Is that possible?

[EVfun]

That can happen if the rear mounts are failing. When you go forward the engine wants to go down. When you back up the engine tries to lift. It’s not the only possible cause though.
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[ekrossi]

Thanks to everyone who answered my questions!

[panicman]

Thank you guys!

I never recorded the transmission serial #, so I'd have to crawl under and look for it.
I have to assume that the original trans was replaced, and they used an older split case, and that's why they needed to change the mount?

Thanks again!

[EVfun]