Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2005 21:21:23 -0700
Reply-To: John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Bange <jbange@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: rebuilt auto transmission
In-Reply-To: <4344735F.6020108@deterministicnetworks.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> anyone have advice on good value source for a rebuilt auto transmission
> for an '81 Westie (standard engine) please?
I am quite happy with the auto transmission I got from German Transaxle Inc.
in Oregon. I ended up paying under $600 for it and it includes a new torque
converter. <www.gtainc.biz <http://www.gtainc.biz>>
how hard is it to put in? I've no tools beyond socket set and wrenches
> at present - should I try do-it-myself?
I understand it's not terribly hard to swap out just the transmission unit
itself, leaving the engine and differential strapped up in place. Changing
the torque converter is a bit more trouble, as it's sandwiched between the
engine and differential, meaning you'd need to drop the differential. You
don't NEED to change the torque converter necessarily, but GT won't warranty
the transmission if you don't. If you're going to do the torque converter,
I'd almost recommend dropping the whole engine-differential-transmission
assembly as a unit onto a dolly, pulling all three apart and reassembling
them out in the light of day, and putting it all back the same way. I did
that with my 2.1 wasserboxer, but I was also changing the engine. I
understand the 2.0 AFC engine is markedly heavier, and you definitely need a
reasonably roomy paved garage type place to roll an engine around on (plus
you'd prob need to buy/build a dolly!), so that may be considered "the hard
way". Question is, is dropping the differential and transmission alone
easier, or is it "the hardER way"...
One of the CVs needs replacing too -- is it easier to do the CV and the
> tranny at the same time?
If you're dropping the differential to change the torque converter, you'll
be unbolting the axles from the transmission side already, and it's a whole
lot easier to get the differential out if you just go ahead and unbolt the
axles from the wheels and set them aside out of the way. So yeah, then you
might as well grease/replace the CV joints as necessary since you're mostly
there anyway. If you're just swapping out the transmission unit for a
rebuilt, there's no particular advantage to doing the CV joints at the same
time. It's as good a time as any, I suppose, since you've already got your
tools out and the back end up on ramps/stands.
As far as whether or not to do the torque converter, I couldn't say. Much
easier not to, definitely, but I don't know much about the reliability of
torque converters. I don't imagine they go bad very often, having only a
couple moving parts that don't even touch each other.
--
John Bange
'90 Vanagon
"Keine Bange, wir holen die Zange!"
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