Transmission is in.  It took at least 15 trial installations to find all the areas that required clearancing.  This required:
* Cutting out the old transmission mid-mount
* Cutting a hole in the body, above the stock nosecone hole.
* Relocating the clutch and throttle tubes
* Relocating the rear seatbelt mounting points
* Notching the frame horns
* Clearancing the trans mounting holes to shift the transmision to the right and center the CV flanges
* Welding in a mid-mount support

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
I have everything I need for Superbowl Weekend:
Transmission mounts
Throwout bearing
Shift linkage Adapter
New Mechanix Gloves
Welding gas
New grinding wheel
Blue Loctite
Misc. Weld Tabs

Hopefully by the end of the weekend I'll have this sucker installed.

My "new" 002 transmission arrived today.  It's definately alot beefier that the Type 1 'box.

 

 

 

 My 002 transmission, picture fresh from E-bay.  This will require a bunch of additional cutting/welding and monkey business to install.  While waiting for delivery, I did an autopsy on my old transmission.  I have no aspirations of fixing it, but I always wanted to look inside and see the "guts".  I'm glad I didn't try to just fix the differential.  The sincro teeth were trashed.

Transaxle is out and differential removed.  This would be repairable by swapping parts from one of my spares.  It's the sincro teeth that were stuck to the drain plug magnet that I don't like.  It's definatly time for a Bus trans.

The engine is back out of the Thing.   Hopefully I'll get to pulling the transaxle tomorrow.

I got the Beetle back on the road this weekend.  All it needed is a new starter, battery charge and a good wash.  The Thing is off the trailer and in the garage.  I started the proccess of pulling the engine and transmission - there's a bit more work to go.  It took several hours to remove the skid plates exhaust and rear cage.  The engine should come out pretty easy from this point.

B