Date:         Mon, 21 Jul 2003 11:00:38 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      Re: Automatic to 4 speed conversion
Comments: To: Terrence Clark <clarktp@DIRECWAY.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <000001c34f81$3f2e72d0$4bdb030a@Pituiterry>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

DON'T!!!!
Rebuild your auto tranny. In the old days of the "The Splitties, and the
Loafs" the manual tranny was the ox, the bear, the moose of trannies.
The auto tranny was the pits. Not so with the Vanagons. The Vanagon Auto
tranny is the better of the two. The Vanagon manual tranny is prone to a
number of really aggravating problems, and you can't repair it in you
home garage/shop without special tools and jigs. The auto tranny on the
other hand can be rebuilt in the home garage by the home mechanic with a
good toolbox and some mechanical moxie. And once it is in good running
order, if it is religously maintained with fluid checks, changes, and
filter changes/flushes it will perform beautifully.

Big mistake to change an auto tranny  for a manual tranny.

My $0.02

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver with manual tranny and sore left knee from driving in the city.

Terrence Clark wrote:

>My automatic transmission died in my 1991 Vanagon Carat and I am about
>to embark on a 4 speed conversion.  All my VWs are manuals and I've
>grudgingly lived with the automatic because I love the Vanagon.  Now
>that it's dead it's time to change.  Any words of wisdom before I start?
>Has this been discussed before on this forum (I am a newcomer)?  I
>appreciate your comments.
>
>
>
>Terry
>
>1982 Rabbit Pickup
>
>1967 Kombi
>
>1991 Vanagon Carat
>
>2003 Beetle Turbo S
>
>
>
>Terrence Clark
>
>9357 East 500 North
>
>Wilkinson, IN 46186
>
>
>