VW Beetle Gearbox Codes

At the rear of the gearbox there are two rubber mounts at the bottom of the gearbox which mount to the gearbox frame-horns.  There was only one design change of these mounts over the production which took place in 1972.

Drive to the engine is supplied by a threaded input shaft.

All standard Beetles were fitted with Swing Axle rear suspension which used a Swing Axle Gearbox.  The 1302 and 1303 VW Beetles were IRS.

1956 Oval Gearbox Bellhouse

Clutches

1200cc and 1300cc VW Beetles were fitted at the factory with a 180mm clutch.  The 1500cc and 1600cc engines were fitted with a 200mm clutch.

The Clutch is located in the bell-housing at the rear of the gearbox where the engine mounts. The clutch pressure plate and the release bearing changed in September 1970 to a much stronger and more reliable version.

All clutches fitted to a VW Beetle are operated by a clutch cable which runs through a tube under the chassis to the clutch pedal.  The clutch cable changed 6 times over its production:

• 1947 to 1960 – 2270mm
• 1960 to 1961 – 2255mm
• 1961 to 1963 – 2270mm
• 1963 to 1966 – 2258mm
• 1966 to 1971 – 2260mm
• 1971 to 1974 – 2281mm
• 1974 to 1979 – 2270mm

Automatic Gearboxes

Automatic Badge

In August 1967 the introduction of a semi-automatic transmission was offered as an extra option to the VW Beetle.  First made available to the 1500 model and shortly after available to the 1300 and 1600 model.  It had a conventional gearstick but no clutch pedal.

Like a true automatic the Beetle Automatic featured a torque converter so that the car creeps forward if left in gear.  The 3 speed semi-automatic gearbox is simply a standard 4 speed manual gearbox with first gear removed.  The remaining 3 gears and reverse are then arranged in a H-pattern where reverse is located where first used to be.  First gear is now called ‘Low Range’ and is located where second is on a standard manual gearbox.  The next two slots are now Drive 1 and Drive 2 which is 3^rd and 4^th gear in the manual version.  To change gear it is as simple as moving the lever from one slot to another.

VW Beetle Gearbox Codes