On Fri, 13 Jul 2001 11:30:57 EDT, JordanVw@AOL.COM wrote:

>In a message dated 7/12/01 2:10:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
>d.r.collins@SYMPATICO.CA writes:
>
>
>> Hello all,
>>   I have been searching high and low for an automatic transmission, a
good
>> place  that rebuilds them, or whether I can convert my auto to stick.  I
>> have an 87 Westy that won't move and makes a hell of a whine when I fire
it
>> up.  I replaced tranny fluid and found a chewed metal band in the pan,
so
>> this is probably a rebuild/replace scenario.  I am in St. Catharines,
>> Ontario, near Niagara Falls so any local help would be appreciated.
>>
>>
>
>i have an auto tranny for sale, if youre interested.
>

I'm not 100% sure about this but I have read in the archives that you can
use a similarily old VW Rabbit or Audi 3 speed transmission in a Vanagon.
I do know from looking at my wifes 86Audi that some minor external changes
would be necessary. The Audi has an oil cooler like the Vanagon. This
fix only applies to the actual transmission which is fwd of the final drive
and does not include the torque converter so I'm not sure it would solve
your problem.

Tony
85 "Westfailure"