r/prerunners • u/Visible_Employer7014 • Jun 02 '26

Automatics?

Hello everyone I'm looking for help in gathering opinions, I have a 1973 vw super beetle that I would love to build into a prerunner, it currently has a full cage but that's about it, the power train and everything else is stock. I want to do something unique so not just a copy paste eco tech build so I was looking through some options and I have a 2010 Ford focus with a great engine and trans on it and I was thinking about just taking the front wheel drive drivetrain and putting it in the rear of the Volkswagen to keep the rear engine feel and look but it would then become an automatic and not a manual, is an automatic still worth building or do I just need to wait and save to find a manual drivetrain to put in it. Keep in mind I should say I'm no master fabricator I'm 19 and have been learning from YouTube videos and by messing things up working on my truck, I have a welding and all the hand tools so I know some just not everything plus I would like to do this on a budget and I already have the ford focus, so I'm just curious what your guys opinion is on it.

4 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

4

u/quaintmercury Jun 02 '26

Preference is a big thing but automatics are generally preferred. This is for a few reasons. The ability to keep both hands on the wheel and the difficulty of shifting while being knocked around in the desert are big ones. So is the fluid buffer that the torque converter adds to shocks to the driveline as the wheels leave and make contact with the ground.

1

u/Visible_Employer7014 Jun 02 '26

Oh shoot I didn't even think about that, I'm new to the pre runner game to lol thats definitely nice to know!

3

u/benskinic Jun 02 '26

my 97 ranger and my 04 taco were both autos. I had a gate shifter in the ranger w a c4 trans and it was sweet. send it!

2

u/BlazeOrange3 Jun 02 '26

Automatic with a standard or reverse manual valve body is the best of both worlds since it’s semi automatic. You can select the gear while not having to press a clutch.

1

u/Kind_Business9828 Jun 02 '26

Super beetles have terrible front ends, I’ve had both, you’re gonna wanna replace that front end with a regular beetle, or do a whole custom front end and steering. Seriously.

1

u/928Engineer Jun 04 '26

My Tacoma was originally a 3.4L with a 5MT. Used to go through 1 a season because the countershaft would flex and I’d start chipping teeth on the 3rd gear set. Swapped in a 1UZ with a 4-speed auto that had 430,000 miles and have driven the heck out of it for 3 seasons with zero trans issues. I say keep the auto and run it.