Semi auto bugs
Abbeyborg - August 3rd, 2013 at 06:53 PM
How hard is it to convert a auto bug to manual? I was just given a free 1970 semi auto. Is it just the gear box that needs changing?
Bizarre - August 3rd, 2013 at 06:56 PM
no
there is peddles, shifter and biggest job is a clutch tube
"some" semis had a clutch tube in them
Not easy - but worth it as you get a beam car with IRS
MISS VDUB - August 3rd, 2013 at 07:21 PM
If you choose not to keep the semi auto bug, might know someone who may be interested as they can't use a clutch now due to an injury and miss being
behind the wheel of a VW.
Abbeyborg - August 3rd, 2013 at 08:07 PM
| Quote: |
Originally
posted by MISS VDUB
If you choose not to keep the semi auto bug, might know someone who may be interested as they can't use a clutch now due to an injury and miss being
behind the wheel of a VW.
|
I got it for free and saved it from the crushers. The lady that owned it gave it to her husbands brother to get some work done. It ended up being
striped and they broke up and she only got half the car back. It's not a complete car. But I will probably be selling it on someday.
MISS VDUB - August 3rd, 2013 at 08:44 PM
Please let me know if you do, i know of a good home.
mackaymanx - August 3rd, 2013 at 08:53 PM
I can get you a semi auto box.
mackaymanx - August 3rd, 2013 at 08:54 PM
Or irs gearbox + pedals + shiftrod
bajachris88 - August 3rd, 2013 at 09:33 PM
Not hard, just time consuming and cost a couple hundred in parts to do yourselfl.
I was an 18 yr old when i did mine, with no trade qualifications and simply did alot of reading. If you aren't using the pan for offroad or hi-perf
street applications you should see if you can trade it/swap as the semi auto pans are sort-after in those categories for the irs and front disk
brakes.
68AutoBug - August 4th, 2013 at 11:39 AM
| Quote: |
Originally
posted by Abbeyborg
I got it for free and saved it from the crushers. The lady that owned it gave it to her husbands brother to get some work done. It ended up being
stripped and they broke up and she only got half the car back. It's not a complete car. But I will probably be selling it on someday.
|
How much of the car do You have?
who stripped it?
not a very nice story..
LEE
Craig Torrens - August 4th, 2013 at 12:11 PM
| Quote: |
Originally
posted by Bizarre
no
there is peddles, shifter and biggest job is a clutch tube
"some" semis had a clutch tube in them
Not easy - but worth it as you get a beam car with IRS
|
Plus you need a flywheel, pressure plate and clutch for the motor, new oil pump for the motor, different starter motor, removal of all the oil lines
and solenoids for the semi auto, Axles for the manual Gbox as the semi auto has one short one, new gearshift (optional), new shift rod.
Bizarre - August 4th, 2013 at 12:54 PM
detail detail 
Craig Torrens - August 4th, 2013 at 01:08 PM
All easy stuff to find/buy,just a pain if you don't have it all when youre doing the conversion......and Ive probably forgotten stuff too !!
pfillery - August 11th, 2013 at 11:53 PM
Don't forget different carby and manifold with vacuum points on it.
I bought one a couple of months back. People knock them but only because they haven't had the fun of driving one (right Lee?). I love mine. You could
do worse than resurrect it. But from what I hear they have to be just right in a lot of areas or they just won't drive.
Step one was saving it from the crushers. Now step 2 bring it back to life.
grumble - August 12th, 2013 at 04:30 PM
| Quote: |
Originally
posted by pfillery
People knock them but only because they haven't had the fun of driving one (right Lee?). I love mine. You could do worse than resurrect it. But from
what I hear they have to be just right in a lot of areas or they just won't drive.
Step one was saving it from the crushers. Now step 2 bring it back to life.
|
I agree with pfillery,they are great little cars and when everything is spot on they are fun to drive. We sold a lot to old ladies when they came out
and even they could drive them.Don't butcher it, rehabilitate it and enjoy.
pfillery - August 13th, 2013 at 08:35 PM
They are just a quirky fun car. Plus the previous owner used to enjoy taking it for things like tyres. Watching them get in, look for a clutch and try
to work out how to start it.
68AutoBug - August 13th, 2013 at 11:17 PM
Great car to drive plus I just had an operation on My left knee, so I can still drive it...
well, I have been driving it one legged for about 6 months.. lol
a couple of years ago, I went to get tyres put on My rims and the young P plater tyre fitter wouldn't drive it onto the ramps, as he could only drive
automatics... and with a normal looking gear shifter He wasn't driving it... lol
LEE
1303Steve - August 13th, 2013 at 11:38 PM
Hi
Save it. You can use a semi auto starter in a manual but not visa versa.
Joel - August 14th, 2013 at 09:47 AM
| Quote: |
Originally
posted by pfillery
Don't forget different carby and manifold with vacuum points on it.
|
The extra ports just get capped off.
New carbs have them all anyway as US models use some of them for pollution gear and Kombis use the big port for the brake booster hose.
The biggest problem with trying to keep a semi auto on the road these days is replacement parts, many are non existant now and not many people know
how to work on them.
They're not too bad to drive when everything is working right, I wouldn't go as far as saying fun, especially if you've come a manual Beetle
(spinning up the torque converter and taking off in what is 2nd gear normally makes them slow off the mark) but they are certainly a novelty in city
stop/start traffic.
You can get lucky and find an unused clutch cable tube in most of the 70 onwards ones, just pop up the coupler cover and youll see it next to the
throttle cable or a hole for it if its not there.
One with the tube in is a pretty easy conversion.