Volkswagen Repair: transmition problems with 60s bugs and super bugs, spur gear, intermediate shaft

Question
im buying a superbettle from a friend who has another beetle of about the same year. both have a bad problem with the transmitions. both transmitions have a bad grinding when put into reverse but the one im buying has almost no reverse at all. being that imma a big guy i have no problem just pushing it back but im wondering if this is a common problem from that era? also any info on a price range to get it fixed would be helpfull.

Answer
Hi Haden;  The transmission goes into reverse by allowing the intermediate shaft to engage a "spur" gear...ie., a straight cut gear, when all the rest of the gears are "helical" cut to reduce noise when driving.  You can always tell an old, old transmission from the 30's or 40's  they all had straight cut gears, and they howl like the wind blowing through the trees at 100 mph.  Unfortunately, the old 4 speed VW tranny's had a fairly small spur gear for reverse, because they were a light car.  MG's were the same way.  So, long story short, yes this is a common problem.  Just get it fixed, and be very careful, and deliberate when shifting into, and out of reverse.  Make sure the car is at complete stand still, and then move the selector into reverse, and out of reverse.  Don't let the clutch out too fast either, or the darned thing will break again, or worse yet break the case.  As far as cost, that I can't say.  I work for a dealer, and I know it would be REAL expensive here...$1000, to 1500....but that's at a dealer...
Good luck, Haden.