Gear boxes 60ies and 70ies

Is there a difference? I have a 1600tp in my 62 Beetle and I assume it has the 1200 gear box in it. Would it go better with a later gear box?

Look up your gearbox code located on the bottom right side if viewing from the rear, might have been changed at some point.

Yea, you need to look up the code so you can see what gearing you have in there but in essence a 1200 box will run out of revs on the motorway more so than a 1600 box but apart from the GT box, freeway flyer, none were really meant to cruise at 70mph all day long. 🙂

Are there any recommended local shops that can refurb a gearbox?

Is it better to get a 70's (1600) box or can you change the gearing in an earlier one?

Also what changes need to be considered given the different suspension setups?

Dangerous is the guy most people trust on this forum. He's very good at building a strong box and knows the specific parts that need changing to make it a better box.

I bet most local gearbox rebuilders wouldn't know this type of info and would use the most economical parts to rebuild your box but you never know what state the internals are in until the box is apart and then a quote can be made on the rebuild cost.

Now if you are meaning just swapping gearsets from one box to another then that's pretty straighforward as not much changed internally on Beetle box casings. Changing ratios requires the gears stripping from the main and lay shafts with all the baulk rings and then gets tricky putting that back together.

Suspension is no different on swing axles but the driveshaft length did change from early to late boxes but I think the springplate position didn't change but the hub housing length. I'm no expert on this but know the basic differences but never had a need to change driveshaft lengths so I hope someone else can fill in the gaps 🙂

As mentioned, there's Dave Butler, Shimmo
If you want someone local Hans Klaack in Fairfield will build you a nice box

psimitar wrote:Yea, you need to look up the code so you can see what gearing you have in there but in essence a 1200 box will run out of revs on the motorway more so than a 1600 box but apart from the GT box, freeway flyer, none were really meant to cruise at 70mph all day long. 🙂

So if its a 1200 box what would be the recomended highway speed as to not stress the box or 1600 engine on a long trip? 80-90 kph?

My stock 66 pulls along at 100km/h no problem
1300 single port

From my knowledge the most constant engine revs you want to pull is 4500rpm on a 13-1600 engine. Any engine guru's feel free to correct me.

Then you have to do the maths of the tyre circumference and gearset/differential ratio to see what gearing would let you cruise all day at your desired speed.

I mean at the moment does it sound like it is screaming it's head off at 90-100KPH?