TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Apr 11, 2011 8:01 pm

hi here i have a gm 3800 with a kennedy adapter plate and flywheel bolted up to a 3 rib bus tranny and question is what starter do i use? i was told i should use a vanagon automatic starter but after purchasing one i find out that the starter gear doesnt reach far enough to contact the flywheel. so any help would be appreciated thanks

Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:40 am

Anyone have any suggestions on a web site were I could maybe get specs on different VW starters?

Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:57 am

3-rib should take 70's bus or bug starter.

Wed Apr 13, 2011 9:53 am

Whomever mentioned the automatic starter might have gotten things a bit mixed up, other than a stock VW, or high torque after-market starter, lots of folks use the starter from a semi-automatic Beetle. I've had them recommended to me when I put the Buick in my Ghia.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/File0002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/eng9.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/TeamEvil/eng12.jpg

Unless the engine is a fresh rebuild/re-ring, the VW starter will work OK.

Wed Apr 13, 2011 10:32 pm

thanks alot for the replys i appreciate all the help i can get at this point. i took my old starter back and exchanged it for what they had in stock which was for a 71 transporter. came home with high hopes but ony to find out it also does not extend far enough. its still close to 1/2" from connecting with the flywheel. what weird is the adapter plate is roughly that same size thick so it kinda makes since in a way but there would have to be some way for it to work out since they build these adapter plates like crazy.

Thu Apr 14, 2011 8:49 am

What year is your Bus transaxle? If it's '71 and under, you really ought to be all set. The later Bus transaxles were designed for the bigger "flat" engines similar to those in the 411/412 and 914.

I believe that there is a one year/one model VW flywheel that will work with the swap, surely Kennedy Adapters can help you out with tech info and/or an after-market flywheel.

Maybe an email to them is in order?

Luck !

TC

Thu Apr 14, 2011 9:38 am

I'm running an adapter with a 2.3 ford, and the starter has nothing to do with the adapter. ?
Maybe it uses the GM starter? But that won't match the flywheel.
How about a picture?
Or I believe the 091 (6-rib) starter is longer, by about 1/2".
Hmm. . .

Thu Apr 14, 2011 9:41 am

I had emailed them already cause the flywheel is also from them cause it had to be balanced and patiently waiting a response. As far as trans year goes how can I find that out?

Thu Apr 14, 2011 12:30 pm

What year and type of vehicle would I tell the parts Guy so I could check out a 6rib starter?

Thu Apr 14, 2011 1:13 pm

TC/TeamEvil wrote: Whomever mentioned the automatic starter might have gotten things a bit mixed up, other than a stock VW, or high torque after-market starter, lots of folks use the starter from a semi-automatic Beetle. I've had them recommended to me when I put the Buick in my Ghia.

Unless the engine is a fresh rebuild/re-ring, the VW starter will work OK.

fixed it

you need a high torue starter there about $200-250

Thu Apr 14, 2011 4:56 pm

well i got ahold of kennedy and they seem to think that maybe my bell housing was swapped to a 092 and said i should try 87 vanagon manual trans since thats what they suggest. so off to autozone once again and hopefully the last time. thanks for everyones help i appreciate it

Fri Apr 15, 2011 9:10 am

If the bell housing has been swapped, there will be a part number on it that starts out 091-xxx-xxx. If it's 002-xxx-xxx then it's still a 3 rib.

Good luck!

Fri Apr 15, 2011 9:42 am

The transfer is stamped 002 so ill have to check out the bell housing. Thanks

Sat Apr 16, 2011 11:28 pm

Well the answer was 87 vanagon manual trans thanks for all the help now time to figure out how to route the belt without the AC and power steering