Date:         Wed, 20 Jun 2001 14:17:04 -0700
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <macmillan@HOME.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <macmillan@HOME.COM>
Subject:      Re: Transmission gross vehicle weight capacity
Comments: To: "Moritz, Thomas W NWW" <Thomas.W.Moritz@NWW01.USACE.ARMY.MIL>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Don't worry about it.  Automatics are better for towing anyway.  I used
to tow a 1200 boat with my manual Westy, and it was hard on the clutch
at the boat ramps and backing up my steep driveway.  The smell of a
burning clutch is a terrible thing.

The brakes are marginal even without an extra load, so don't follow too
close, and use engine breaking when descending hills.  The engine and
transmission will be fine, but since I'm a fan of Red Line Oil, I
suggest you call them and see if their synthetic ATF will work in your
transmission.  You already have a factory  water cooled ATF cooler on
the A/T, and you shouldn't need anything more.  If you can't use Red
Line, just drain and refill your tranny before every towing season.

Make sure the bands are adjusted, drain and refill with Red Line ATF
(http://redlineoil.com) if possible, and have fun!

--
Stuart MacMillan
Seattle

'84 Vanagon Westfalia w/2.1
'65 MGB (Daily driver since 1969)
'74 MGB GT (Restoring sloooowly)

Personal mechanic for:
'70 MGB GT (Daughter's)

Assisting on Restoration (and spending OPM):
'72 MGB GT (Was daughter's, now son's)
'64 MGB (Son's)

Stripped and gone but their parts live on:
'68 MGB, '73 MGB, '67 MGB GT