Ok, we all know a sportomatic will work with a 6 and probably a 4 but could a late model tiptronic trans work with a 4 and some custom linkage?
-Rich, drives in silicon valley traffic, Hilgersom

--DD

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a auto 914 would be fine for some people, and I'm sure you will learn a great deal and gain a sense of pride from completing the conversion but...
WHY!!!
If you want a car with A/C a radio and an automatiiiiii (I can't bring myself to type it) transmission then find a water cooled Porsche.
I've owned two Corvettes, an 86 and an 89, both had the 4+3 auto. My pick-up (a 93 F-150 Lightning that does 14.6 in the quarter at 4700 lbs. thank you very much) has a 4 speed electronic auto, but take the gear banger out of my 914 BLASPHEMY!
It may grind a little (usually right when some model is walking down the beach and looks over at my car), and 2nd and 4th seem to relocate on occation, the clutch burns, etc. but take the stick out of the 914, then you can take the 914 out of me.
Just my two cents, but whatever floats your boat I guess. Good luck.

hey, I have a suggestion, get ahold of the 914ner you have issue with, and have a beer or two with him, get drunk and HAVE FUN!!!!

posted 04-20-98 10:49 AM ET      

---

No criticism just a question.
The Audi idea sounds interesting, the places that make those 914/chevy 350 kits could probably help.
If the trans work like a domestic auto then you need to think about "step down linkage" for down shifting and some sort of way for the car to sense it is in drive but stopped like at a light so it won't stall (it has to increase the idle). This may limit you to a carb only setup. Also auto trans need coolers. Most stock one are simply a second core in the radiator. We don't have them so a large trans cooler (like one for towing) would be needed.

-Wayne

Just talked to a 911 friend and....
Tiotronics are real $$$
Also a shop near us put a 3.6 from a tiptronic car into an 88 with a G-50 and the car became a dog. The one computer is for both tranny and engine i.e. it is waiting for shifts that aren't there. Plus the number of sensors is mind numbing. So after you buy a trans, even if you already have one, you're looking at maybe a grand (guess based on what it is to put a Ford E4OD electric trans in a older F-150) for a custom programed computer and wiring harness. When ordering a torque converter from any of the high performance companies out there (B&M, Level 10,T.C.I.) they need to know your h.p., torque, what cam and induction you have before they can sell a converter. When building an engine the machinist must know the application first. What I'm saying is the linkage and such are the least of your problems. Also automatics aren't known to be effecient. Yes electric ones are better, but the 914 only has 80-100 h.p. to spare, there will be a serious performance drop.
The Audi idea might work, but the only Audis I've seen (grand total of two, years ago) had transverse engines. The CV shafts would point toward the front and back of a 914.
My best advice would be to look at VW Transporters (bus). I think that some 411 sedans also had autos. Another freind put a 914 2.0L in a BUG with a manual BUS tranny. Some place called Fats,or something,in CA specializes in this kind of work. So if you use a bus "driveplate" and trans it may work. The 914 case has a hole in the back of it to allow access to the tourque converter bolts. There is one vaccuum hose that comes from the tanny (easier then the my preivious mention of kick down linkage). The ring and pinion carrier (I forgot what Porsche calls them) will have to be reversed. Also some sort of cable shifter will be needed, but it should not be that hard to make one up from a domestic car application. I'm not sure but I think VW used a double oil pump in the stock location. Both driven by the cam but one for engine oil, the other for tranny fluid, most other autos have their own pump.
Look at Chiltons "Aircooled VW Transporter, Bug,Thing, Ghia ..." book and also Tom Wilsons "How to Rebuild Your VW Air-Cooled Engine"
As for the comment that we "go have a few beers" look at the time of my first posting, I was beligerant because I already HAD a few beers!

(HALF BAKED VAGUE MEMORY), Somewhere in
my past I read about the very first VW Foxes used
only in BRAZIL. The fox uses the Longitudinal engine arrangment (again vague memories) and I saw somewhere that the first ones also used the AIRCOOLED Type 1 engine. The Foxes sold in US where all watercooled, but I wouldn't be surprised if a factory adapter (custom bellhousing) exists for a Type 1 (and thus Type 4) - to Audi Longitudinal Transaxle.

Thanks to everyone for the help.. certainly more info than I expected ;-).
I should have mentioned I was putting in a high horsepower type 4. This (I think) would make the AUDI VW trans option unusable (my '89 golf trans is a dog and the linkages with their plastic bushings are sloppy)
I think I will continue to reasearch what the heck they put into the sportomatic sixes and see if it will handle the higher HP.
Thanks again.
Rich Hilgersom

Rich,K.E.P out of palmdale california sells the audi adapter,I have dealt with them for several years,they have been around longer than i have been alive"27years" They know conversions,let me know if i can help in the conversion..I'm in Mountain View for some contract work..so I know about "101" traffic.
Brad Roberts "Infosolutions" 650.968.2950