Date:         Mon, 14 Aug 2006 18:17:29 -0700
Reply-To:     Aaron <lists@MYCOMMUNITYNET.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Aaron <lists@MYCOMMUNITYNET.NET>
Subject:      Auto tranny questions...
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

Hello all. I'm back again with more tranny related questions..

I have removed the tranny and just had some easy questions. I do have
to say that so far I much prefer doing this on a manual, but it isn't
so bad. Just a few extra things to take care of. MY biggest mistake
was thinking I had removed the accellerator cable and it wasn't quite
disconnected and I may caused some damage to it when trying to drop
the tranny.

Anyway, my tranny was INCREDIBLY dirty. I started to clean it all off
so that I could find the bolts. I'm not exaggerating when I say that
the greasy dirt was 1/2"  thick on the top. The problem I was having
with the starter removal was that it was crudded in and I couldn't
get it to separate. Anyway, on to the questions.

While handling it, I allowed the torque converter to come out a
couple of inches (I did a bad job of wiring it in). I stuck it back
in, but is there anything that will go wrong with it if it comes
slightly loose but is stuck back in?

The inside of the ?bell housing? is extremely greasy/dirty as well.
Should I just leave it alone or should I scrape/blast/??? it out. I'm
afraid that dislodging dirt might be worse than leaving it alone.

As long as I'm mentioning dirt, what do you all use to clean it off
well. I used a large and small wire brush, some solvent, and elbow
grease. It's good, but not perfect. Is there a miracle product beside
liberal amounts of elbow gerase?

Thanks all for the help so far. I'm hoping to have this van back on
the road this week for some end of the summer fun!

- Aaron
'85 Sunroof Vanagon with 300k miles
'85 Brown Westy 140k miles