Swapping to an automatic transmission?

[morgoon]

Hello,


I know folks swap out their auto trans to swap in a manual most of the time.

But due to some physical limitations with me, I would like to swap an auto trans into an 81 4 door.

I currently have a 1.6 but being from Canada I could find an AAZ with a little effort, or I have a couple ALH's on hand. (MTDI?)

Looking for drivability and reliability and it would be nice if the transmission wasn't so super rare to find parts for...

Any thoughts on what might be best?

Not afraid of a little hard work if it is feasible.

[echassin]

It can be done for sure, but it's not for the faint of heart. We converted a 16V Scirocco to automatic: https://forums.vwvortex.com/showthre...-thread/page25

The adventure starts near the bottom of the page. Basically you need a whole car, there's a lot of parts you need besides the trans itself.

Oh, and when you're done, you will be shunned .

[LT1M21Stingray]

Oh, and when you're done, you will be shunned .

[morgoon]

Yeah until I pull out my wheelchair and spell Fawk dat with my fingers

even if it is a bit ugly, its still better than the sidelines.

Thanks for the link... I will go take a look.

[ToddA1]

I don’t think diesel automatics were too common, at least with the 1.6D. Finding that trans may add to the complexity.

-Todd

[morgoon]

Well as it happens while cruising Kijiji I found an 1.7 w an auto for 75.00 so I just sent the seller a message.

He is about 14hrs from me but I have friends and family about 40 min away from him, so I am sure I can find an excuse for a visit.

If I have to leave the diesel world..uhhhh I guess I could reluctantly

I am hoping he might have some of the other bits as well, but won't know till we chat.

I am sure the shift points are different enough between diesel and gas, but its a starting point...see how it turns out tomorrow.

[briano1234]

List of Trannys that will work on a diesel.
http://a2resource.com/eandt/transmissions.html

Ratios of the transmissions.
http://a2resource.com/eandt/ratios.html

You will need the Pedal assembly.
You will need the shifter mech.
You will need the Cables for them
You will need the interlock relay, and wiring
Starter, Heat Shields and Brackets.
Shifter console (if you have a/c heater box, the one from a latter Cabriolet should work fine.)

That is about all I can think of.

[morgoon]

Thanks for the link, and I think finding the peripheral stuff will be the slow down.

I'll see what the seller says about all the parts.

[Butcher]

This guy has a lot for $200. As with all sellers, most will take what they can get. Yeah, it's for a Mk2 VW, but I bet there are more parts that will work than not work.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifi...php?id=2209582

[Muldermutt]

I ran an '82 Jetta diesel with auto from 50k miles to 435K miles. I made it last by pulling the pan every 5,000 miles and swapping the atf.

The problem which you are unaware of is that:
1) The two throttle cables needed are no longer made to my knowledge....especially the one from the trans to the fuel pump....and this one has a very short life-span due to how it works. I always carried two for spares back then.

2) The starters on these cook being in such close proximity to the pipe. Once they get so hot for so long, the windings in the starters apparently never work right again. Finding these starters is next-to-impossible ("rare" for all you little crowd-followers out there). About 18 years ago, I bought the LAST one on VW's books in North America.

My advice: buy a Toyota. A gas Toyota.....with automatic.

[briano1234]

Heat shielding for the starter and the advent of adding a heat soak relay resolves the iffy starter issues.

http://cabby-info.com/Files/Installi...startRelay.pdf

[morgoon]

Well I appreciate hard truths even if it involves a little swearing.

I have located an entire auto set up complete from a vintage vw auto recycler up here for a somewhat decent price, although the rarity and current state of the cables is a concerning point.

Ive been running air-cooled, MK1, MK2 and MK3 for the last 11 years or so but this would be my first VW auto.

Thanks for taking the time to chime in, it is appreciated.