All,
Here's a list of gearbox codes for Semi-Automatics:
BA 1300 / 1500 4.375 Semi Automatic from 8/68 – 8/70
BC 1300 / 1500 4.375 Semi Automatic from 8/68 – 8/70 with LSD
BE 1600 4.125 Semi Automatic from 8/70 – 8/71
BF 1600 4.125 Semi Automatic from 8/70 – 8/71 with LSD
BG 1600 4.125 Karmann Ghia Semi Automatic from 8/70
BH 1300 4.125 Karmann Ghia Semi Automatic from 8/70 with LSD
BJ 1300 4.375 Semi Automatic from 8/70
BK 1300 4.375 Semi Automatic from 8/70 with LSD
BL 1600 4.125 Semi Auto
BK 1300 4.375 Semi Automatic from 8/70 with LSD
By no means authoritative. Lee has a different prefix!!!
Where do I find this?? Here :
(http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e210/ctefeh/VWsemiautobox/Gearbox02.jpg)
The blue square is where the code is located. In situ, facing down towards the ground on the drivers side (RHD).
The arrows are where the ratio is generally stamped. E.g. G833 - Gleason gearset, 8 pinion, 33 ring = 4.125:1.
Enjoy
Volkenstein
Hi Sean,
I wonder if I ever wrote down what was written on My crownwheel ??
I'd love to know if I had a 4.125 or 4.375 ratio...
not that it will make any difference...lol
I should have a 4.375 ratio but I've read in two books i have [written in the UK]
that I could have a 4.125 ratio...??
as 1300cc engined Autosticks were sold in the UK
with 4.375 to 1 ratio...
I can't see much room in Your gearbox Sean to make the Crownwheel Larger.. lol
I wonder what countries had the LSD..??
but seeing My Beetle was made in the early months of 1968
it is an early one although i believe they started making them in late 1967
[which still makes them 1968 model VWs]
cheers
LEE
BA021 6090 [spare] [gray]
BO107 848 [in car] [gray]
BO075 416 [original] [red & yellow]
Maybe we can all register our codes Sean..
and see what differences there are...
LEE
Hi Sean,
Yes, I have found those codes in a couple of books I have..
and they are the same as what you have...
No BO...
not even in manual gearboxes....
cheers
LEE
Anyone else want to share their transmission numbers with Us?
I'm really interested what numbers are out there...
whether any LSD autosticks were ever made...
how about a list/register of gearbox codes....??
LEE
Well I just went out and looked to see what I have. And I only came back with questions...
The spare drive that I picked up a few weeks ago is supposed to have come out of a 68. It reads...
BO 119
741
The drive on my 73 is even more enigmatic. It seems to be cast differently than the earlier case. There is no stamp at all on the bottom of the case. In addition, the drain plug on the bottom of the earlier case is non-existent on the newer one.
Ah, another BO gearbox...
all My 1968 gearboxes have a drain plug under the differential.. [from memory]
one in the bottom plate would have been handy..
I think it was Sean who said that later gearboxes were different..
I've only ever seen 68 models....
LEE
Quote from: volkenstein on 24 January 2009, 07:46
All,
Here's a list of gearbox codes for Semi-Automatics:
BA 1300 / 1500 4.375 Semi Automatic from 8/68 – 8/70
BC 1300 / 1500 4.375 Semi Automatic from 8/68 – 8/70 with LSD
BE 1600 4.125 Semi Automatic from 8/70 – 8/71
BF 1600 4.125 Semi Automatic from 8/70 – 8/71 with LSD
BG 1600 4.125 Karmann Ghia Semi Automatic from 8/70
BH 1300 4.125 Karmann Ghia Semi Automatic from 8/70 with LSD
BJ 1300 4.375 Semi Automatic from 8/70
BK 1300 4.375 Semi Automatic from 8/70 with LSD
BL 1600 4.125 Semi Auto
BK 1300 4.375 Semi Automatic from 8/70 with LSD
How interchangeable are these? what I mean is I am picking up a replacement(s) for my
gearbox that went bad, my car is a 1971 1600 Karmann Ghia, do I have to make sure that what
I replace it with is the same?
Airhead
Airhead,
Any '71 and earlier GB will do. Note that if you get an early box you'll have a 4.375:1 ratio. It'll also have extra senders etc.
A correct GB for your car will have a single temp sender, "old style" mounts (front and rear), 1 drain plug and a 4.125:1 ratio.
A BE/BF/BG/BH code box should do the job without drama.
If you find a GB with a strange code, ask what it was out of and whether it uses new style mounts or has two drain plugs (post '72 and pre '71 ish.)
HTH
Sean
Sean
Even though a BH is for a 1300 will that still do?
Do I have to make sure that whatever I use is for a 1600, I have come acros a few of the 1300 variety here in the UK.
Thanks
Airhead
Airhead,
Looks like it could be good. Same gearbox as a 1600cc, just for a 1300cc which is dimensionally the same (engine).
Same ratio, Post 1970 type and fingers crossed uses pre '73 mounts... And an LSD as well! Interesting to see whether it would have an LSD.
Regards
Sean
Sean
Please excuse my ignorance but is there a way of telling if the gearbox has a LSD other than the gearbox code?
My old gearbox has the reversing light switch is it unlikely that the older boxes would not have this mine is 1970/71
Steve
Steve,
Like my pic shows, rip off the GB sump plate. You can see mine has the R & P, then a narrow casting that goes to the left hand side of the casing (in the pic). An LSD would have a much wider area running to that side. I have seen pics of VW LSD's but can't remember which forum.
Maybe try the transaxle forum on STF for pics?
The reverse light switch was legislative. Mine doesn't have one because reverse lights weren't mandatory in 1971 in Australia. In the US they were. Dunno about the UK. You can always bung your current switch into a switchless gearbox. Mine has a plug, undo that and lo and behold the gearshift shaft has the notch for a reverse light switch, so does my '68 spare box...so I could run one if I could be bothered....just need to find a switch!
Regards
Sean
Sean
Just checked my old transmission and its a 'BA' so its obviously not the original to the car as mines a 1600?
Steve
Steve,
I'd say your GB has been replaced at least once before. More pickup but less top end due to the 4.375 final drive versus 4.125 which should have been in your car.
That leads me onto part deux. Does your bellhousing have one or two temp senders? I am hoping that in a previous life just the GB part of the trans was replaced, not the whole thing.
Doesn't matter. Grab that 1300 box with both hands if it checks out!
Regards
Sean
Ok the plot thickens the gearbox I have been offered has the code BO 011521 any idea what that means? ???
The guy who has it is saying the BO part of the code was outside the blue box (on Seans original picture), below the other side of the bolt "bulge". ??? ???
Airhead
Airhead,
Marvy ::), another BO code ??? . As Lee and Herc have found, such boxes exist - just never made it onto parts lists >:( .
So...you have a 4.375:1 Gearbox (theoretically) in your beast at the moment. You want a 4.125:1....but do you really care?
I would either take it or walk away. You'll have enough spares left over to make one good box!
Maybe the owner would let you check the ring & pinion ratio marking if you desperately want a 4.125:1 box?.
HTH
Volkenstein
I am sure my '69 Auto is the original gearbox. Will find the number sometime.
Hi
the code is quite easy to see with the gearbox OUT of the car... lol
the 4.375 to 1 diff ratio was also used on 1300 engined cars in Europe
so You can see that running a 1500 or 1600 engine they are really geared for racing lol...
well that is what mine goes like with the SVDA distributor and My throttle cable adjusted properly
so Now I am getting heaps of vacuum with the throttle depressed...
and it goes like a rocket...
shame it took me over 6 months to find the problem... lol
cheers
LEE
Quote from: volkenstein on 19 February 2010, 14:05
Steve,
Like my pic shows, rip off the GB sump plate. You can see mine has the R & P, then a narrow casting that goes to the left hand side of the casing (in the pic). An LSD would have a much wider area running to that side. I have seen pics of VW LSD's but can't remember which forum.
Maybe try the transaxle forum on STF for pics?
The reverse light switch was legislative. Mine doesn't have one because reverse lights weren't mandatory in 1971 in Australia. In the US they were. Dunno about the UK. You can always bung your current switch into a switchless gearbox. Mine has a plug, undo that and lo and behold the gearshift shaft has the notch for a reverse light switch, so does my '68 spare box...so I could run one if I could be bothered....just need to find a switch!
Regards
Sean
My 68 gearboxes all have the plug where the reverse switch went..
the reverse switches were a long switch similar to the 3 prong drive 1 & 2 oil temp switch..
I have fitted one of these to a spare gearbox with some shim washers and it seems to work OK..
Will have to do final test hooked to power...
LEE
(http://inlinethumb40.webshots.com/47911/2924147520050767931S425x425Q85.jpg) (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2924147520050767931tJDxrT)
Hi,
It's been too long since the last entry. However, my factory transmission code is BJ16073 with 4,375 ratios and 1300 cc engine. And I upgraded my engine to 1600 cc; there is no problem with the trans, and it is so fast :)
Quote from: olgunc on 07 February 2018, 11:48
Hi,
It's been too long since the last entry. However, my factory transmission code is BJ16073 with 4,375 ratios and 1300 cc engine. And I upgraded my engine to 1600 cc; there is no problem with the trans, and it is so fast :)
Unusual code from memory... with the 4.375 to 1 ratio they are much faster in take off and acceleration but use more fuel at top speed.
I always use LOW gear then 1st and 2nd gear. Does Your gearbox have two senders on the RHS of the box near the hoses..? All mine have the two senders.
I have 2 spare gearboxes all with 4.375 to 1 ratio, I always wanted a 4.125 to 1 gearbox for better economy.... but they are hard to find in Australia.
Lee in Australia
Hi Lee,
Samely, It is nearly impossible or too expensive to find these gearboxes in Turkey.
My bug is 74 model and it has no temperature sensors. Later models were produced without them. I think and observe that 1300 ccs were mostly sold to Turkey and they all have 4375 gearboxes.
As you indicated, 4375 ratio is faster in take off and has more fuel consumption. However it may also because of the slightly more RPM than the manual bugs.
Hello again,
Today I have learned what our codes mean. So, my transmission code : BJ 16073
BJ : I. D letters,
16 : Day
07 : Month
3 : Year 1973
Hey all!!
Have not posted here in many moons! But, came across this thread and decided to resurrect it to ask about my spare tranny in the garage:
It has code BA 0230438, as shown in the attached photo. Have not seen another with that many numbers (7) after the "BA" designation- any ideas what the extra numbers are for?