Crash Box vs Split Case

[Bruce]

no
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[bajabug420]

I have a 1st and reverse bus split case in my 68 baja bug and it really isn't a great idea for ANYTHING offroad or at least not slow crawling types (unless I am doing it wrong).

I am thinking of either replacing it for a fully synched bus tranny OR if possible can I add sync gears to the split case?

[Cabriothusiast]

In all the years Ive been driving in or actually driving early cars, only one person I have even been in the car with, could call himself an expert at driving those crazy transmissions. Joe Crocket can drive a pre 52 split beetle like nobodys business.

I will never for get getting a ride in his 51 or 50 beetle thru Santa Barbara area in the hills on his personal side street road circuit. He had that split working like a swiss watch. He was up shifting and down shifting, double clutching like a sewing machine and had that car working at max potential. Never once did he grind any gear up or down!

It was remarkable and when its done right, its something to see. Maybe Joe can give lessons?

[Mike Peckham]

[BartD]

[drpete]

Just re-read this thread to re-learn the difference in crash case and splitcase. I learned to double-clutch in my father's Model A. And it came in handy once when I was leaving college to come home for the Holidays in my '59 bug. The clutch cable broke as I started my trip, but I made it home (120miles) without any trouble, double-kicking on downshifts. When I came up on a red light in Milpitas, I just went into the adjacent Safeway parking lot and circled in 1st gear until the light changed. Had to cut into a long line of cars to get back on the road for the green light, which earned me a 1-finger salute from a guy in a Camero . Dad was grinning ear to ear when I told him what happened....
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Happy to be alive. Hey Dad, Mom, wish you were here to see all this.

Pete Keesling
Driving a VW every day.....

[CommodoreCollector]

I have two crash box transaxles cases and no gears - do they make reproduction guts for the tranaxle?

Also have the axle tubs but no drums, is there anything unqiue about crash box drums compared to later transaxle drums?

thanks
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Christopher


Not For Sale:

1969 Karmann Ghia
1961 Type 2 DD Panel
1960 Euro Kombi
1959 Type 2 Single Cab
1958 Type 2 Panel
1958 Type 2 Single Cab
1958 Karmann Ghia

[allsidius]

[Zwitter UK]

On the Grossglockner pass in Austria this Summer, I HAD to double declutch into first on the steepest sections as I doubted we'd get going again if we stopped. At 8000 feet the poor little 25 horser was running out of puff!

Each time it worked fine with no crunch, much to my amazement and relief. The trick is to blip the throttle more than you think you need to, then let the gear go in, rather than push it in. Think handshake as opposed to high five.

Coming down was actually harder than going up as it didn't like being hung on 2nd gear for long so it was a case of descend in 3rd and brake more - using the proper technique of course, not riding the brakes all the way down. I stopped to let them cool off and they were just beginning to smoke a little.

At lease with cables there's no brake fluid to boil!
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Good day sir

[Dan14]

Can anyone confirm if a crash box trans from a 55 standard (UK Model) would have the same gearing as one in a 50 from the US? Assuming that because its still a crash box and not a next generation split case it will but don't know enough to be confident. Looking to buy one and use the guts to fix mine...

[sled]

[Dan14]

Thanks Sled. Appreciate the feedback. Looks like I'm good to go.

[splitjunkie]

This copy of the 1960 parts manual is useful for determining cross compatibility of parts. The early split case non synchromesh transaxles had a different smooth sided case from the ribbed split case synchromesh transaxles introduced with the Zwitter. At that point they used the later style case machined for the non synchro internals and with a separate part number. It appears that the internal parts were interchangeable between the two case styles.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/60partsmanual.php
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Chris

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

[Dan14]

Thanks Chris. Very useful document.

[rod_vw]

There is a difference in the way that the non-synchro box has its reverse gear shaft secured. The early box (change date not known) has the shaft secured with a lock plate whilst the later ones have it secured with a circlip. This change also affects the matching machining of the gear change housing.
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Rod,
Please visit http://www.historicvws.org.uk
https://www.facebook.com/historicvwclub/

1946 Beetle (Back on the road after over 50 years! Last major outing - Hessisch Oldendorf 2022)
2016 T6 Selfbuild Camper and a LWB MAN TGE in build.

[Dan14]

Ok. From the literature above it looks like a 55 standard transmission has the same gearing as a 50 crash box. The case of the trans I'm looking at is smooth sided,with no ribs, like a crashbox. Its a European model which seems to line up with previous discussion about later crash box's being around in staqndards. I guess the question is now, can I remove the internals from the 55 standard trans and put them in my 50 as they appear to be the same?

[rod_vw]

Hi Dan14,

If you go ahead with this change over of internals please let us know how it goes and any problems that you may have.

I ask as I have a late factory reconditioned crash box in my '46 which I would like to use the internals of in an early case at some time in the future. The box that is in the car was actually purchased by me in the late 1980s still in its crate from the factory being complete with axels, brakes, cables etc.
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Rod,
Please visit http://www.historicvws.org.uk
https://www.facebook.com/historicvwclub/

1946 Beetle (Back on the road after over 50 years! Last major outing - Hessisch Oldendorf 2022)
2016 T6 Selfbuild Camper and a LWB MAN TGE in build.

[Dan14]

Absolutely. The vw community has been great to me and if I can pay it forward in any I will. Will keep you posted on progress.

[buggen]

Does anyone know what month the crashbox/side bowl fill went away? Was it exactly when the first Zwitter was released? Would a November 1952 Zwitter still have one or do all Zwitters have a synchro tranny?

Thanks,
Matt

[Two Glove Boxes]