From: Dianaronb@gateway.net
   Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2001 21:47:37 EST
   Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

   I have a 1982 diesel vanagon with a blown motor. It has the four speed trans
   (which slips out of first gear).

If you are (very) lucky this may only be due to bad shifter linkage
adjustment. How is 3rd and reverse? If all "push forward" gears are hard to get
lengthen the shift rod a few mm with the adjustment behind the fuel tank,
and see if that helps.

   I am going to install a 1.6 TD from a
   Jetta.  Can I use a 5spd trans from a gas motor?

No the trannys from cars don't fit. Ideally you rebuild your existing
trans with a .70 or .77 ratio fourth and maybe slightly changed 3rd
also. Less ideally get a used tranny from an 80-82 aircooled vanagon
(too low engine revs), or keep the orig tranny ratios (too high engine revs).

You will have to do some changes to your left motor mount to make the Jetta TD
fit. Also make a slight bump on the engine hatch for the aneroid.

More info in vanagon archives: gerry.vanagon.com, and my www pages:

http://cs-www.cs.yale.edu/homes/jag/vw/engine/diesel1.9/motormountExpo.html

http://cs-www.cs.yale.edu/homes/jag/vw/engine/diesel1.9/

Best,
Martin