Air cooled Vee dubs

[JulesMaximus]

So, I drove my friend's Karmann Ghia today but the shifter is all over the place it seems and I had a hard time shifting it. Second was particularly problematic and it crunched a few times while trying to get it in second. Are they always like this? What could be causing this? It is a '66 Ghia coupe.

Car runs great otherwise. Clutch has been replaced recently.

Oh, and I saw a white Fisker Karma on the freeway on the way home... and it wasn't on fire. Imagine that.

 

[Sluggo]

I thought you were "done with this place."

 

[AMCRambler]

So, I drove my friend's Karmann Ghia today but the shifter is all over the place it seems and I had a hard time shifting it. Second was particularly problematic and it crunched a few times while trying to get it in second. Are they always like this? What could be causing this? It is a '66 Ghia coupe.

Car runs great otherwise. Clutch has been replaced recently.

Oh, and I saw a white Fisker Karma on the freeway on the way home... and it wasn't on fire. Imagine that.

Well, I guess missed the temper tantrum, whatever that was about.

If I had to guess, possibly a bad syncro or maybe just the transmission mounts or linkage? I've got no experience with how the manual linkage is set up in those cars though. Rear engine though so probably something quite involved I would imagine.

 

[weadjust]

Probably need to replace the plastic shifter bushing. I have a 69 Beetle so I think it would be the same for a Gia. Pay attention to the location of the shifter plate when you/he takes the plate off. Bushing is about $6.00

http://www.vw-resource.com/shifter_bushing.html

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C24-111-701-259-A

 

[JulesMaximus]

I thought you were "done with this place."

I decided not to let one asshole get to me. You're moving up on the list though.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Probably need to replace the plastic shifter bushing. I have a 69 Beetle so I think it would be the same for a Gia. Pay attention to the location of the shifter plate when you/he takes the plate off. Bushing is about $6.00

http://www.vw-resource.com/shifter_bushing.html

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C24-111-701-259-A

This. The shift linkage goes something like 2/3 of the length of the car and if the bushing wears out there's a lot of slop that you end up with.

ZV

 

[Sluggo]

I decided not to let one asshole get to me. You're moving up on the list though.

You keep a list? Nice.

Please let me know when I reach the top so I can witness another name calling hissy-fit from you. :awe:

 

[JulesMaximus]

You keep a list? Nice.

Please let me know when I reach the top so I can witness another name calling hissy-fit from you. :awe:

Thanks for your utterly worthess contribution to my thread.:whiste:

 

[franksta]

There's also the coupling under the rear seat. It connects the long shift rod to the trans which can get sloppy too. I changed the bushing which is slightly behind the shifter and it made a HUGE difference. It's kind of a pain to do. I'd start with the coupler because it's easy.

Here's the procedure for the bushing but also has pics of the coupler which you need to disconnect to get the shift rod removed. Earlier cars have a different coupler.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=436432

 

[drnickriviera]

I found that you need to shift slower in those vehicles. I would grind the 1-2 shift in my brothers 912e and 911 until I slowed down

 

[Plugers]

You would be amazed, Not sure about the air cooled linkages, but on my old '83 GTI the rebuild kit looked like a few plastic and foam washers.

Before i rebuilt it, I couldn't get into 1st and was difficult to get into 2nd. The shifter also felt like a dowel stuck in a bowl of jello. After the rebuilt I could actually feel it click into each gear and everything worked like new.