Date:         Mon, 1 Jun 1998 10:14:23 -0500
Reply-To:     Jon Christensen <vvwca@PRIMENET.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Jon Christensen <vvwca@PRIMENET.COM>
Subject:      Re: ?Auto to 4-speed change over
Comments: To: Sam Scholten <vwvanagon@yahoo.com>
Comments: cc: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
In-Reply-To:  <19980601144937.14969.rocketmail@send1d.yahoomail.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Mon, 1 Jun 1998, Sam Scholten wrote:

> Jon,
>
> I wouldn't swap the tranny- in a Wasserboxer, you're better off with
> an automatic than a stick, which is vice-versa from the aircooled
> models, where you SHOULD swap out the auto, so I'm told (although I
> have heard from a few satisfied automatic baywindow owners).
>
> The acceleration is the same, and the automatic tends to be more
> reliable. Besides, if you look in the Bentley, there are TONS of
> peripheral parts specific to the automatic models, and
> finding/swapping them in the interest of better performance will be a
> real bitch. Remember, although Vanagons are nice, they're not exactly
> the user-friendly Nordhoff buses of old, and a swap is a bigger affair
> here.
>
> I can understand why you would want to explore this option, but it is
> simply not worth it.
>
I'll expand on the project--there is no drivetrain in it presently.  I
have the shifter parts etc. and did have a manual tranny located, but it
fell through.  Given the choice, as I do now, I'd rather have a manual.
Again, if anyone has done this swap, I'd like to hear about it.
--
Jon in KC
Vvwca@primenet.com        http://www.concentric.net/~Vvwca