AT question

dudebuggy · Post by **dudebuggy** » Mon May 28, 2007 10:23 am

I have been thinking of getting back into owning a 411 or 412 and have noticed once and awhile a decent automatic for sale. I'm not sure if I would be happy with am automatic. On the plus side my wife only drives an automatic (easier sell). If I upgrade the engine how much power can the automatic handle and how's the gearing for cruising at 75 mph?

Thanks for any advice

raygreenwood · Post by **raygreenwood** » Tue May 29, 2007 5:54 am

Of course....99% of all you will find on this continent are automatics. I amstill trying to even get a handle on how many manual transmission models were ever shipped. Dang few.
The gearing is excellent for highway. The final drive ratio is usually 3.91:1.
If you get one with an automatic...there are a few things you should do or have done before you really drive it. Namely...change the seals between the final drive and the transfer case. Ray

dudebuggy · Post by **dudebuggy** » Wed May 30, 2007 12:20 pm

Thanks for the info.

In my extended family we had 3 and they were all standards. I guess we got lucky.

raygreenwood · Post by **raygreenwood** » Wed May 30, 2007 1:59 pm

Wow!

Very lucky! I have had two with 4 speeds. My first was an automatic. I bought a total basket case with a 4 speed and put that into my second automatic. I then was able to convert my next two 411/412 to standards through lucky part finds. My latest one was 4 speed from teh factory. Ray

MGVWfan · Post by **MGVWfan** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:39 pm

Ray's right, replace the diff section seals (one for torque converter, two on pinion shaft, and one on the governor shaft). take a look at the mechanical solutions sticky...

http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=86052

Scroll down to the AT overhaul topic. Mine's got almost 30K miles on the overhaul, no leaks, shifts great.