Does anyone have any idea as to what sort of motor a semi-auto gearbox will handle. I currently have a 1640 in the car which is slightly worked but as it is in need of a freshen up I was considering going for a bit more oomph. Has anyone put a 1776 or similar in a semi auto without changing the box.

Yes I know I could convert it to a manual (and I have the gearbox to do it already) but as I have just had a year of driving a manual I have come to value not having a clutch peddle. Being 6"2 it can be a bit cramped in the front of a bug, beside I want it to stay fairly original.

I have read of 1776cc engines being used in semi autos in the US & the UK...

in Beetles & Karmann Ghias....

so You shouldn't have any problems....

they do only have the 180mm clutch but its either in or out..
so there shouldn't be any slippage...

cheers

Lee Noonan
http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug 

interesting..i had been wondering the same thing for a while now.. i have 2x 1600 TP's.. but nothing bigger to go into mine..... YET!

and Lee is the man for anything Semi-Auto!

btw Lee im going to get the semi-auto shift pattern sticker made up for our ash trays next week! i woulda thismorning but i slept in will get plenty done, so all the semi's can have one

Thanks for that Lee. I have been given a reco'd box that I would probably chuck in th car as well as mine has done a few km's now.

Have you seen anyone relocate the bits and bobs etc so that they can run twin carbies? I would think it possible to move the solenoid to under the left guard so that you can get the carbies in there but would like to know if anyone else has done this and what issues they encountered.

A lady named Karen Muller (from Jerrys Plain)has a Maroon 1500 semi-auto 1770cc with kads , its been set up like this for several years now.

Umm your risking your clutch plate putting anything over a 1700 as it is alot thiner then a regular clutch. So for a daily driver where you only really drive it like its a 1300 (no offence intended to anyone) family mover you will be fine but if you have the tendancy to pull up to lights look at the guy in the commodore next to you laughing about your lowered beetle and u just floor it i wouldnt think about it... stay in the 16 hundred range just to be safe, but i must say i have a 68 semi-auto with a dp 1600 and it will take most cars off the lights once u reach the 80-90km mark u loose but up untill that your way infront. (yes i'm a hoon i guess but that look of "holy crap im loosing to a beetle" gets me every time)
-M

I plan for this car to be a Sunday driver so I am tempted to put in something bigger as it is probably only going to do 2-3000km per year. I am just wanting to have something that when I turn the key I get exicted.

What auto gear box you got e.g year?
Like if i remember right the first lot of semi-auto gear boxes were quite slow to get up to speed stumbeled under acceleration, but the later semi-autos super beetle ect were improved and are great, i have a 68 semi auto but i think it has a later semi-ato installed.
-Marc

Hi Marc

I too have a 68 and I believe it is the original box. I do howevr have to later model boxes one of which looks recently overhauled tha I can transplant if I want.
The car does stutter a bit and the clutch is about stuffed with a bit of slippage, well I thought it was the clutch but may have been just the box from what you say.
Cheers Campbell