Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 18:46:24 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: Transmission or clutch gone
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600 to 800 for a 2WD trans R & R sounds like pretty fancy rates to me.
even at 100 an hour, it's not an 8 hour job, not a straight 2WD trans R & R.
( I might spend 8 hours doing one, but that's dealing with other associated
things .........cv joints, rust, etc. I wouldn't dream of R & Ring a trans
without at least changing the clutch hydrauic fluid, for example )
a syncro ........I would be cautious about having an ordinary furrin' car
shop R & R one of those. If they've done it before, fine. But for a first
timer .........they can be pretty difficult.
As is pretty well known, on a 2WD vanagon, you just pull the trans, and
leave the engine there, and all connected, pretty much.
You can do that on a syncro, but there is one trick needed to do that
cleanly :
Lower the rear of the engine by undoing the outer ends of the rear engine
support bar.
Lower it enough to remove the starter, trmobr the starter, then raise it
back up there, and hang the rear support bar by it's bolts on the ends,
don't even tighten them.
Or even better......... temporarily put in longer bolts. Like leave it down
2 inches.
THEN........lower the front of the trans, and revmove it right off the
engine. Watch that no hoses, wires or cables get stretched too much, Might
want to undo the throttle cable for example.
if you try to just remove the trans on a sycnro the starter hangs up
horribly on the tank insulation.....a real mind bender. Do it in this order
above, and it's slick and easy.
On a syncro, it's worth 800 labor easily.
such fun.
I like to say that Sycro's 'like money.' But they sure work well for the
right things !
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2009 6:04 PM
Subject: Re: Transmission or clutch gone
> Anthony,
>
> If need be, a reputable auto shop should be able to pull the tranny for
> you and re-install it. Once out, you will have to ship it out somewhere
> - like to Daryl at AAA Transaxle. Do that and you will have a jam-up
> good product to go back in there.
>
> I don't know about those Sinning-Crows, but on the standard two wheel
> manual tranny vans the R&R can run $600-$800 just for the labor. It's
> not that hard, just a lot of work. And a competent shop should be able
> to do it, even if they aren't a highly experienced Vanagon shop. If you
> know your vehicle, I would look for a shop that would allow me to poke
> around in the shop and underneath while the work is being done. You may
> head off problems, eliminate un-necessary work, and find additional
> things you want done while it is in there - more work for the mechanic
> so his pay check is bigger. Usually the mechanics appreciate that -
> though not always. If I wasn't allowed - I'd go elsewhere. You don't
> have to stand there every minute - just be there at critical stages to
> ensure things are right. If you have a Bentley and a Haynes - offer it
> up before the work starts. More often than not - it's appreciated -
> especially if they are unfamiliar with the vehicle. But like I said - a
> competent shop should manage quite well if all they are doing is R&R for
> the tranny. Let the experts - Daryl - do the rebuild.
>
> Good Luck.
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>
> Anthony Egeln wrote:
>> Well, I had a catastrophic something failure a little while ago....
>>
>> Driving down the road at 45 mph, and suddenly the car shakes like it went
>> over a pile of rocks.
>>
>> Then it smoothed out and I went another 1/4 and tried to shift and
>> couldn't shift. I turned into a subdivision and pulled over. I can't
>> shift it and when I let out the clutch it seems like it is still in gear.
>> Got a ride home and now awaiting AAA to bring the van home.
>>
>> My first thought was that the viscous coupling kicked in, because it
>> shuddered & shook so bad for that brief moment, and I never heard of a
>> clutch suddenly failing. So I'm wondering if its the clutch or maybe the
>> tranny granaded.
>>
>> Any thoughts?
>>
>> Second problem is I have absolutely no place here in north Florida to
>> take it for repair anymore. There was one shop but for various reasons,
>> I no longer have confidence in their ability to work on a vanagon.
>>
>> Thanks, Anthony
>> '89 Syncro GL (Hidalgo)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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