Questions, I Need Answers... Thanks

[vwjohn53]

hi, can anybody help?  1st... what does a VW THING IRS TRANNY  look like, does it have a single side cover, is the rib pattern on the top of the tranny different than a stock IRS bug tranny. can you tell me what to look for? what is the gear ratios compared to the bug or ghia?................ also......... what years are the single side cover bug trannys and what are the gear ratios?..  also can you tell which bug tranny has the 3:88 gear in it, what is the year and is there any outside indication on the case to tell you what have?  john

[Geoff]

John,
Single side cover trans came in all irs beetles from 1973 on, the later \"bent rib\" came in 1975-79 on FI cars. A thing trans is easy to spot due to the flanges being the larger t2 style. This being said, anyone can instal thing flanges and say its a thing trans. The Thing has it's own trans codes that will give you the ring and pinion ratios. Bruce T will know those, on my trip to Mexico last week all the thing trans i found were late bent rib.
Geoff.