I recently bought a nice '68 type 1, it's been loads of fun and I love it to bits. It's had its dramas, and many surprises, but it's been worth it.
The current issue is 4th gear, or rather the lack thereof. When i bought it 6 months ago it would occassionally pop out when going over a bump or on a rough road, then it began popping out whenever i accelerated (and so i had to hold it in constantly) and now it wont go in at all, it just makes loud banging noises when i try to select 4th.
Has anyone had this problem? I assume it is the gearbox dying, so with that assumption made is it better for me to look for a new (used) gearbox, or does the problem sound minor enough to warrant opening up the gearbox and having it repaired?
I hope to go to the wreckers next weekend, are there any other boxes I could look for? Kombi, porsche etc?
Thanks
BEN-986
Volkswagenboy ·
Sounds like it could be your 3rd to 4th synchro.
Where are you located?
-Staggers.
BEN-986 ·
the Hills above adelaide.
is the 3rd/4th synchro repairable?
11CAB ·
Its not the syncro.....its the Dog teeth on 4th gear, the corners are rounded off and they cant hold it into gear. It requires dismantling the gearbox to repair, and once you've done that you may as well do a full rebuild
BEN-986 ·
Cheers for your suggestions 11cab and vwboy
cost/value-wise, is it better to rebuild the current trans, or track down a replacement from a wrecker?
What are my options with replacement boxes? It's only running a 1600 twin port, so its not making massive power, but I'm hoping to change that in the future.
[ Edited on 10-9-2006 by BEN-986 ]
PurpleT3 ·
While a second hand gear box may be cheaper to buy, it will be, well second hand. Especially if you are buying it from a wreckers, you have no idea what condition the box is in, it may be the same or worse than yours. If you have the money, get yours rebuilt.
68AutoBug ·
Hi Ben,
It would be better if buying a used transaxle to buy from someone who pulled it out of a road going beetle...
as, many people have had success with used gearboxes..
Having Yours repaired would be costly...
and hard to quote for, before it is pulled apart...
as pieces of steel from the worn parts may have damaged bearings or other parts in Your gearbox...
If the used gearbox is from a badly damaged/ rolled beetle, it may have problems which will surface later on...