Date:         Thu, 22 Dec 2005 12:34:42 -0500
Reply-To:     Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: replaced tranny but no move. What next?

Are you sure the torque converter is filled? If you are reasonably sure
about your parts and work,go ahead with the seafoam. If that shows some
improvement, do the valve body.Other wise, I would remove that trans and
check the tc.My first tc instalation would have gone wrong unless the tech
told my to pour a qt of fluid in it before installation.I was 17 and this
was my ford econoline(32 years ago). I think archives says that many
contemporary vw transmissions(minus final drive) fit these vanagons(same
with the valve bodys). Now aircooled is different, and I dont know.I think
other vanagon valve bodys will fit(bentley tells for sure),but shift points
will be a bit different.You can overcome this by grinding off metal from
the govener(see subaruvanagon.com --automatic trans modification) Bentley
tells of cleaning the valve body fully assembeled in a "cleaner" , but
dosent specify which cleaner. You must keep your replacement part
surgeacally(sp) clean.No lint. I use a  new newspaper to wrap mine in. The
exploded view of the valve body seems straight forward. I have never had
the pleasure of dissembeling one.However, no special tools or proceedures
are needed.I think there are about 9 holes bored through the aluminum valve
body that have springs and pistons in them. The object is to remove the
cover plates that hold them in ,and remove and clean the springs and
pistons and bore.I wouldnt split the valve body in half though(but then
again ,it may be simple).If you have a used replacement,perhaps you can
muster the courage to do the deed on your old one,since you have a
replacement.Gotta get the bentley section for valve bodys first.Dont mess
with any adjustments on the valve body.If you have to unscrew
something,count the turns of the screw that you make(write it down), and
return any adjustment to where you found it. It seems that the only problem
is keeping the parts in the proper bore with the proper orientation and the
springs cannot be interchanged. Photograph every step with a digital
camera, or draw pictures of each bores' contents.Orginazation!Maybe use
percription pill bottles that are labeled 1 throuth 9 to store each bores'
parts.Clean one bottle of parts at a time.Then clean the  empty valve
body.I swear I can see no rubber parts in the valve body from the exploded
view.I dont think any new parts or gaskets or o-rings are needed. The
bentley says parts with minor score marks are ok to reuse.I think it is
very doable,but if you got a dry torque converter,neither seafoam nor this
cleaning will help.Your kids will love watching this dissambelly and
cleaning.If they stick around for the entire proceedure ,you better
watchout,as they will all become mechanics,and not the doctors or lawyers
that your wife wants.