Yo Brian,

Yep, I've done this more times than I want to remember.  On the older vans,
like my 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1971 it was relatively easy because the rear
bumper and sheet metal came off to expose the engine and you had a straight
shot at it.  You could pull the engine, fix the tranny, install the tranny
and then the engine.  All rather straight forward.

On the new "improved" Vanagon with the solid frame behind the engine,
well....

It is easiest to put the tranny and engine together when they are both on
the ground or bench.  When you still have the engine in the Vanagon and are
just trying to stick the tranny back in......  the fun begins!

You will have to pivot the front of the engine down as much as you can so it
is at an angle to receive the tranny.  This way the front of the tranny will
not be up against the sheetmetal in the early part of the game.  Try to
support the tranny in such a way that it is aimed as straight as possible at
the engine so the pilot shaft will enter the torque converter spleens in a
centered alignment.  Rotate the crank pulley a bit to try and get the
spleens lined up as you push on- just wiggle the crank pulley bolt back and
forth a bit with a wrench.  Two people are required, one turning the crank
and one laying in the dirt lifting, pushing, swearing and sweating.  Any
sideload as the pilot shaft engages the spleens makes it very hard to push
on.  A perfect alignment is hard to achieve while laying on the ground and
swearing but...  swear you must.

I helped my friend Ed install his tranny this past weekend while it rained
and got dark. We started at three in the afternoon!  We finally got it at
seven in the evening!!  Several times we gave up and took the tranny back
down to check and see if we had somehow done something wrong.  The memory is
still fresh in my mind but my bruises are beginning to fade!!

It ain't easy but it can be done.

Have fun and pay your dues.

Ron