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Posted by: type11969 Jan 10 2007, 07:52 AM

Curious what parts are needed and what is a fair price for them to convert a tail shift transmission over to side shift. Someone local is switching a side shift over to tail for a 5-speed in a beetle application and is looking to sell the side shift guts. Ultimately I'd like to know what all is needed to convert a tail shift car to a side shift car (probably can find out through search), but right now I'd just like to know what is needed from the tranny and a fair price for it.

Please let me know when you have a minute.

Thanks,

Chris

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Jan 10 2007, 10:33 AM

Chris the problem with the conversion being reasonable in cost is that everyone wants to do it, the parts are therefore scarce, and the new parts that are available are outrageously priced.
The three shift forks the oval shift plate assembly the rear tail cover and a gasket kit is what is needed from the transaxle and a great price would be 200.00. the other parts needed are (from these transmission parts forward) the ball cup bushing the rear shift head the rear shift set screw the rear shift cover band and boot and tie the rear crown bushing the rear shift rod assembly including the aluminum coupler the engine mounting bar the two engine mounting tabs on the engine the two ourboard solid mounts all of the associated engine mounting hardware the front shift boot at the firewall (hard to fit to the early firewall) the firewall shift conversion bushing the firewall shift bar the coupling set screw and finally the complete front shifter with its coupling and hardware. It is a bolt together process once the transmission is converted.

Posted by: type11969 Jan 10 2007, 10:49 AM

Wow, really that expensive? I had no idea. Thanks for the help!

-Chris

Posted by: Travis Neff Jan 10 2007, 10:52 AM

You will need the following from a side shift car:

Shifter
Shift bar (in the tunnel and in the engine compartment)
conversion bushing at firewall (around $10 new)
engine cross bar
Engine cross bar mounts
motor mounts (available new)
solid mounts for the body (where your old motor mounts went)
transmission

Posted by: Dr Evil Jan 10 2007, 11:01 AM

I dissagree with George on his pricing and availability estamates. These trannies are dropping like flies and you can by a core side shift for $125 usually. This gives you all of the internals and direct tranny parts that you need. You can get them for less from memebers here, I tend to charge $100 for the parts because I have to source them and so forth.
Travis has the correct list of parts you will need to get for the peripherials. If you need internal parts I either have them or can usually get them.

Posted by: type11969 Jan 10 2007, 11:22 AM

Thanks, I was hoping you would chime in. Those prices are more in line with what I was thinking, so that is good to know that I wasn't out of line.

-Chris

Posted by: biosurfer1 Jan 10 2007, 11:24 AM

I got all of the external stuff I needed for $125...and the the internal stuff from the good Dr. for an extra $100.

Posted by: rhodyguy Jan 10 2007, 11:41 AM

when you are getting bushings, order the ones that cradle the ball on the shift lever, the shift rod coupler, where the rear rod goes thru the support housing on the trans, and the ball cup bushing where the linkage enters the trans.

k

Posted by: type11969 Jan 10 2007, 11:43 AM

Thats a ways out if you have seen my progress thread, hopefully I will remember when I start putting this thing back together!

Thanks,

Chris