TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:24 pm

Hey guys Im looking at a 78 Automatic Bay Window Bus. I have owned a 68 Type 3 Automatic and it was a terrible driving experience. I would most likely want to swap this to manual transmission.

Can this be done?

Thanks

Erik

Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:26 pm

Given an endless budget, anything is possible. Why don't you give it a chance before you decide to tear out a very nice transmission? I loved my automatic Bus, never had a problem with it.

Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:57 pm

while they are both only 3speeds

the 76+ bay automatics are a very differant AT than the 68+ T-III (and 73-75 Bay AT)

VW & AUdi used this same AT from 76 to 92 in ALL applications with success. even with the $30k+ Audi 5cyl turbos.. (well with 1 added clutch & spider gear to handle the torque)
but it's a fairly robust AT, and makes driving the van quite enjoyable vs rowing thru the gears. least in city traffic.

Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:06 pm

Search is your friend,

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=480044&highlight=automatic+manual+conversion

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=355607&highlight=automatic+manual+conversion

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=284585&highlight=automatic+manual+conversion

I've only ever test driven my auto bus, but I didn't mind it-though i'd prefer a stick it was still a smooth and even drive.

Wed Feb 15, 2012 3:42 pm

I scrapped a bus that had been converted. I may still have the custom shift rod extension and bracket. It did not appear to have many changes other than the rod.

If interested send me a PM.

jim

Wed Feb 15, 2012 5:11 pm

Drive it a while first, you may just discover you like it and it's not worth the effort 8) Drive someone elses standard bus too for a comparison.

Wed Feb 15, 2012 6:34 pm

x all the above ,late bay a/t's are good ,however having said that and i do agree wholeheartedly with the above my 77 is a converted a/t as i do a lot of towing and i felt for MY application a man trans to be more applicable .As for the conversion if you can find a really rusted or badly crashed shitter and grab the bits ,there is just assembly work and cleaning ,assuming you have a good 091 and thats if its going in front of a 2lt

Wed Feb 15, 2012 7:15 pm

Years ago I had a manual 78 camper and my buddy had an automatic 78 camper. Going up steep grades once and I thought I could pass him... There was no difference. We were neck in neck for many miles.

Wed Feb 15, 2012 7:32 pm

Thanks for the input guys I will def give the AT a shot!

Wed Feb 15, 2012 7:50 pm

One of my favorite bays was a/t. They are actually very fun to drive, and those old vw auto trans are completely bullet proof. No way it's worth converting.

Thu Feb 16, 2012 5:59 am

My 77 westy is an auto. I love it. Totally and completely.

Thu Feb 16, 2012 8:38 am

One of our buses is a 75 auto , we go every where with it. Yes it is a little bit of a slug on the hill but I love to drive it. I got it for my better half , she can't drive stick.

Sun Mar 03, 2013 6:49 pm

i 'll say it im not affraid to do this conversion in fact im in the middle of doing it right now,i bought a better bus than mine.the bus started life as a 79 adventurewagen 2.0 automatic.the trans and engine were already gone,so i had my rusty 73 bay.the only thing not there is the clutch tube,the old one is just tacked.this body was perfect,no rusts,no floor rot,h4 converted front headlights.i am gonna sell the trans selector,cable because of the rarety of these items.hey in life you have to do what ya have to do.when im finished this thing will be awesome.

Mon Mar 04, 2013 6:19 pm

bige311 wrote: Hey guys Im looking at a 78 Automatic Bay Window Bus. I have owned a 68 Type 3 Automatic and it was a terrible driving experience. I would most likely want to swap this to manual transmission.

Can this be done?

Thanks

Erik
Having owned an automatic T3 I can say with confidence that yours wasn't properly tuned. Mine shifted smoother than melted butter. My wife said it shifted better than her 2002 Passat.

Mon Mar 04, 2013 6:41 pm

bige311 wrote: Thanks for the input guys I will def give the AT a shot!

You will not be disappointed (assuming its a well running AT)....I had a '79 auto for about a decade and I prefer it over a 4spd any day of the week.

Mon Mar 04, 2013 8:21 pm

my 4 speed manual was working fine before i took it out of the old 73 rusty bay,i just wanted to avoid all the metal work involved.my engine only has 35 miles,it has everything for torque and power and all a vw needs to be road worthy.i will say the 002 trans needed a nose cone hockey stick and bushing because it was leaking and the nose cone was cracked because of the front hanger mount failed,other than that everything running gear was good.the automatic stuff will go on here forsale shortly and the aftermarket cruise control unit.i love manuals anyways and always will.

Sat Apr 20, 2013 8:11 am

alright its done,cut out the clutch tube and it was easy as hell,second cut out bracket under floor pan for the shifter out of the old rusty bay,grafted it in and welded using good ol spot welds,so now its a manual 1979 Volkswagen adventurewagen.man for some reason people on here are afraid to do this conversion and I ask y? its so damn straight forward,it even looks factory from outside to inside.i tell ya if you can't find a manual bus and you find a 95% rust free body like I did,go for it,don't be afraid to try something outside the box.i will put pics of it later.