Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:45:40 -0700
Reply-To: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil n <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Manual Transmission Removal - 89 Westy
In-Reply-To: <CAAymtAZnjn1wt8Qp-8u+HZUtrtntbY4mrOLqRRhDcYGVv1i3wg@mail.gmail.com>
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How many miles on your Westy? This may help others provide tips on what to
look for.
Replace the pilot bearing and felt seal.
Been a while since I've done this, but with floor jack under transmission,
lower the drivetrain down so transmission looks like it will clear the
underside of body when sliding it out. Put a bottle jack under forward end
of engine. You may need to further adjust how far up/down the drivetrain
is. Once the transmission is out, you can raise and support the engine with
the bottle jack. Alternatively, a piece of rope attached to engine and
chunk of 2x4 across the engine hatch opening does same and allows more room
to work underneath.
I built a wood saddle to fit in the cup hole of my floor jack. I used an
old socket, but a chunk of pipe would do same. Find one that fits the cup
hole of the floor jack saddle, bolt that to the wood. I backed up the bolt
with large fender washers. Shape/add wood as needed so platform supports
the transmission at sides to keep transmission from rocking. The larger
base obviously provides a larger surface area so transmission won't slip
off jack as easily. This platform won't take a lot of levering, if that
makes sense, but is strong enough if transmission is stable in the saddle.
Neil.
On Wed, Aug 29, 2012 at 5:20 AM, Paul Smith <paulwithwesty@gmail.com> wrote:
> Well the diagnosis is in and the transmission needs to come out and go to
> AA Transaxle for a rebuild. I've found a reputable local mechanic who's
> done work on air cooled VWs in the past. He was surprised to hear that the
> vanagon did not require dropping the engine and transmission as a unit. I
> have my Bentley manual, which I'll leave with him. However, once again I
> turn to the list for any advice, tips, or things to watch out for. It seems
> to be a fairly straightforward procedure, but on a 23 year old vehicle,
> things are not always so straightforward.
> We don't have the VW tool for supporting the engine with the transmission
> out, I assume it's simplest to just leave it with a jack supporting that
> end.
> I'll be buying a clutch kit for when the transmission comes back. I believe
> the CV joints were replaced about 50k ago when the PO had a rebuilt engine
> installed - the boots are in very good condition and the bolts are the 12
> point type. I'll inspect, clean and repack (or replace if needed). What
> else should I look at to inspect/replace while the transmission is out?
> As always, thanks for any replies and insights from the list.
> Cheers - Paul
>
--
Neil n
65 kb image Myford Ready For Assembly http://tinyurl.com/64sx4rp
'88 Slate Blue Westy to be named.
'81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco" http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
Vanagon VAG Gas I4/VR Swap Google Group:
http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
