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Converting to automatic

Posted: 03 Oct 2020, 14:25
by Spailpin Fanach
Hi
I'm wondering if it's possible to convert a 1989 VW T25 1.6TD JX to automatic transmission . It has 5 gears.
I have an old shoulder and hand injury and, although I never notice it, changing gears on my recent t25 sets it off. ​​​​
Many thanks
Brian

Re: Converting to automatic

Posted: 03 Oct 2020, 21:21
by Mr Bean
Me too plus my knee gives me gyp if I get my knickers in a twist trying to get into first on stop/start traffic. I do find those top two gears useful though to keep the 2.1 WBX on song cruising along on long gentle motorway slopes.
Not sure I could warrant the upheaval or cost of a box swap at the moment but would be interested to see what  advice comes up for you.
:ok BTW at age 79 never owned a diesel .
 

Re: Converting to automatic

Posted: 03 Oct 2020, 21:30
by Mocki
Bean, yours is easy, you just need to find the bits, it all just swaps over 

as for the OP , vw never made a T25s diesel auto , so that would take a fair bit more jiggery-pokery I think 

looks like there will be a race for T25s auto boxes ........
linkages, shifters , throttle cables , pedal box sets , starter motors ....

Re: Converting to automatic

Posted: 03 Oct 2020, 21:37
by Spailpin Fanach
Mocki wrote: 03 Oct 2020, 21:30 Bean, yours is easy, you just need to find the bits, it all just swaps over 

as for the OP , vw never made a T25s diesel auto , so that would take a fair bit more jiggery-pokery I think 

looks like there will be a race for T25s auto boxes ........
linkages, shifters , throttle cables , pedal box sets , starter motors ....

Oh well, pass the ibuprofen..... 🙄

Re: Converting to automatic

Posted: 04 Oct 2020, 07:02
by Mocki
That isn’t to say you can’t , it just won’t be as straight forward .
Finding the right bell housing and or adaptor plates will be the thing . 

Re: Converting to automatic

Posted: 04 Oct 2020, 09:54
by muttleypup
it might be worth trying fitting a short shift kit to the gear stick to reduce the amount of travel/effort needed to select gears, in conjunction with a stick extension to bring the stick closer, did this to mine and made it more comfortable (subjective I know and I used a straight extension rather than cranked) for little money and easy to do.  this assumes the linkages are in good order, if you do decide to do this I would at least fit a gear lever repair kit at the same time

Re: Converting to automatic

Posted: 04 Oct 2020, 10:48
by sarran1955
Hello,

As you have a diesel, hence vacuum pump.......

What about fitting a clutch servo kit.... :?:

I have a mechanical clutch air-cooled and have looked at various models

Cordialement,

:ok

 

Re: Converting to automatic

Posted: 04 Oct 2020, 12:55
by davidoft1
ive heard of one auto diesel, an adapter plate is probably your best bet, im currently going from auto to manual its not to difficult to do but sourcing the parts can be, i sold mine as a conversion kit. its definitely doable 

Re: Converting to automatic

Posted: 17 Oct 2020, 16:38
by Spailpin Fanach
Mr Bean wrote: 03 Oct 2020, 21:21

Thanks

Re: Converting to automatic

Posted: 17 Oct 2020, 16:38
by Spailpin Fanach
davidoft1 wrote: 04 Oct 2020, 12:55 ive heard of one auto diesel, an adapter plate is probably your best bet, im currently going from auto to manual its not to difficult to do but sourcing the parts can be, i sold mine as a conversion kit. its definitely doable 
Thank you.
 

Re: Converting to automatic

Posted: 17 Oct 2020, 16:40
by Spailpin Fanach
sarran1955 wrote: 04 Oct 2020, 10:48 Hello,

As you have a diesel, hence vacuum pump.......

What about fitting a clutch servo kit.... :?:

I have a mechanical clutch air-cooled and have looked at various models

Cordialement,

:ok


Thanks for this.

Pardon my ignorance but what does a clutch servo kit do?
 

Re: Converting to automatic

Posted: 18 Oct 2020, 12:20
by Mr Bean
Spailpin Fanach wrote: 17 Oct 2020, 16:40
sarran1955 wrote: 04 Oct 2020, 10:48 Hello,

As you have a diesel, hence vacuum pump.......

What about fitting a clutch servo kit.... :?:

I have a mechanical clutch air-cooled and have looked at various models

Cordialement,

:ok

Thanks for this.

Pardon my ignorance but what does a clutch servo kit do?

One way of putting it is that it makes your clutch pedal afraid of your foot in that as soon as you push on it with your foot it tries to move away thus reducing the load on you knee joints and associated muscles. 
8)
Regarding the short shift device - unless I have got it wrong :roll: , I had formed the opinion that simply changed the velocity ratio i.e. operated the linkage with less movement of the gear  lever at the knob. In any other non - servo assisted linkage a calculation of the mechanical advantage which includes friction will reveal a lower efficiency. So without any clever geometry or similar tricks like ball raceways etc, a short shift would take more effort to shift.
​​​​​​​(Waits for contrary views :wink: )
 

Re: Converting to automatic

Posted: 18 Oct 2020, 12:38
by Mocki
The short shift just does what it says on the tin, it makes the shift in the cab shorter
2cm in the cab is 2mm at the gearbox , so it changes the fulcrum point of the stick making the movement in the cab less to do the same at the box .
However , if you have linkage issues a short shift won’t cure them, infact it may well amplify them.

Re: Converting to automatic

Posted: 18 Oct 2020, 19:36
by Spailpin Fanach
Thanks for the responses, guys. More to think about... :)