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Fri Jan 07, 2022 5:56 am

Hello to all....

Happy New Year 2022.... Question for Advice and guidance... Due to an upcoming personal project, I want to convert my 1970 Type II Bus from Manual transmission to Automatic.

I am lookiing for advices on what will fit i.e. 003321105 or any other style automatic transmission, and any experience shared on do's and don'ts... "besides the fact"... of don't do it... but it is for a project...

Thank you all in advance.... Hit me up with the comments and suggestions....

Blessings
El Coqui....

Fri Jan 07, 2022 6:03 am

My suggestion would be to find a donor vehicle from 75-79. That would give you all the necessary parts you need to do the conversion. Those years also had the better automatic that was used until the early 90s. I swapped out the parts from a 1977 automatic to a 1978 manual and virtually everything was a bolt-in. I made enough off of the spare parts to pay for the donor vehicle and then some.

Fri Jan 07, 2022 6:37 am

Rich

Thank you so much... I will put that suggestion in motion... Thanks for takiing the time to answer....

Thu Feb 03, 2022 1:00 pm

Need mechanical advice.... does 003321105D automatic transmission fits a Baybus?

Thu Feb 03, 2022 1:30 pm

elcoqui wrote: Need mechanical advice.... does 003321105D automatic transmission fits a Baybus?

Yes, that transmission is the earlier automatic used in the 1973-4 bay window bus but the later 010 automatic used from 1975-on is the better transmission. Parts availability is also better for the later one since it was used all the way to the early 90s.

Thu Feb 03, 2022 1:33 pm

IMO you are better with '73 donor, not the later one.

I won't say 'don't do it' but it's a LOT of work and you might not want to do it. If you have a '73 donor it's much more doable.

'73-'75 Bus used the 003 transmission, but the '74 & '75 model years are very different in terms of the body itself, hence my recommendation to find a '73 donor - the body of the '73 is close to the '70.

The 010 will work also but the throttle linkage will be a challenge. The front floor of a Bus with 010 is quite a bit different than a manual trans model due to the loads involved with the throttle linkage, and as well everything connected to the throttle pedal itself is different.

Fri Feb 04, 2022 12:25 pm

Just a quick note on the 003 versus the 010. My automatic 76 Westy had an 003 in it when I bought it and I swapped to an 010 from a Vanagon when I did my Subaru 2.5L swap to have an external transmission oil cooler.

I ran the 003 for a while while I had the 010 rebuilt and it has slightly lower gearing so at the same speed (60mph) the engine was running about 3800-3900 rpms with the 003 and 3400-3500 rpms with the 010. Not a big deal but thought I would share as this would affect gas mileage depending on how you drive.

Both transaxles connected up to the shift linkage with some light modification (opposite sides shift levers and slight mounting bracket mod needed) and the kickdown function on the 010 was easy to connect using an automatic bracket and cable kit from Small Car Performance. The 003 uses a vacuum modulator and electric kickdown switch on the accelerator pedal which would be slightly easier to install, but not much.

I understand that the 003 is harder to find parts for if it needs a rebuild so you may want to factor that in as well.

Sat Feb 05, 2022 2:05 am

https://www.germantransaxle.com/VW-Vanagon-3-speed...mp;id=1170

SubaruGears also has a 4EAT Subaru automatic conversion kit
https://www.subarugears.com/irs-kombi-baywindow/

I would use a Vanagon AT with an external cooler.

Sat Feb 05, 2022 6:29 am

OK so I don't see it mentioned here but you have a Type1 1600cc engine right?

you will not only need a T-III flexplate..
but you will need to figure out how you are going to attach the flexplate to torque converter bolts.

so make sure you can fasten it together once it's in place.

Sat Feb 05, 2022 9:19 pm

here this thread has some pics of the modification you'll need to do to a T1 case for the automatic flexplate bolts.
also note that they mention that the cam plug needs to be installed reverse that of a Manual transmission engine.

best luck and keep us posted.. it's not a simple nor a impossible task.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...p;start=20

Mon Feb 07, 2022 11:10 am

I had similar plan years ago: I like the early bumpers & lights but wanted automatic transmission. After I realized transmission won't fit between trailing arms (early arms are longer so there is less space in the middle) I decided it's a LOT easier to find a later bus and have bodyshop weld in early taillights...
Also as mentioned it will be difficult to use type 1 engine with automatic. Nothing really fits, you have to make new engine mounts, throttle shaft has to go through fan shroud, flex plate etc. etc.

Fri Jul 15, 2022 2:28 pm

Bonesberg55 wrote: My suggestion would be to find a donor vehicle from 75-79. That would give you all the necessary parts you need to do the conversion. Those years also had the better automatic that was used until the early 90s. I swapped out the parts from a 1977 automatic to a 1978 manual and virtually everything was a bolt-in. I made enough off of the spare parts to pay for the donor vehicle and then some.

Nice to know the Vanagon shares the same automatic :) .

Fri Jul 15, 2022 3:59 pm

The info on the 003 vs 010 is correct. The engine needs to rev higher to do the same speeds as a manual, at least in 3rd gear. I think the tough part will be finding everything for the linkage. I’m running a 003. It’s a sturdy box and works well. The lower top speed doesn’t really bother me. My biggest concern is parts availability when it needs to be rebuilt.

Mon Jul 18, 2022 3:27 pm

hmm doh, 1970. scratch what i said about the 4eat, not gonna fit/work.
will the 010 fit?
T4 vs T1 matters in terms of the chassis clearance for the AT
first year auto was what...73?

this swap may be tougher than one might initially think

Mon Jul 18, 2022 9:19 pm

indeed if you are staying T-1 upright the throttle linkage will need be more creative with a 010.
we have a 010 in an unconventional vanagon swap that required a dual/Y-throttle cables
one cable to the AT lever one to the throttle body. have to get each one set to the correct range of motion.

the 003 just has a vacuum signal and kickdown electric switch.

Tue Jul 19, 2022 8:03 am

as an updated thought to this thread, someone in another thread recently broke their automatic shift cable. They could not find a replacement. Unless a scrap bus has one they will have to shop cable makers to see if someone can duplicate it. It has complex parts swedged onto it, so it isn't just a piece of cable. It is a major job to replace it too. I tried to find one, new or used, hoping to help that person posting but after hours of searching came up empty handed. At this point, I would be not make a change from a manual to an automatic. If someone needs an automatic to drive, I would suggest another type vehicle. And, if I owned an automatic bus, I would be collecting used NLA parts like the cable in case mine broke. The manual trans are pretty common, and replacement parts are made because they are used in off road applications.

Tue Jul 19, 2022 12:59 pm

You can use a universal B&M shifter cable, 10 ft long or something. Don't remember the exact length but I've had one in my bus for years. This repaces the steel rod too... just need to fabricate a small bracket to the front near the shifter.

Tue Jul 19, 2022 1:57 pm

Takamotti wrote: You can use a universal B&M shifter cable, 10 ft long or something. Don't remember the exact length but I've had one in my bus for years. This repaces the steel rod too... just need to fabricate a small bracket to the front near the shifter.

X2

that's why i laugh when vanagon guys want 300 bux for a used cable, which isn't really a cable...it's a super stiff wire