Dennis,

Thanks for the info.  That's more than I knew before.
What do you think is making the clanking noise?

John

>>> Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET> 12/26 7:45 PM >>>
The Auto transmission is really two parts. You have the Automatic
section and the final drive or differential section. The Automatic
section is relatively easy and low cost to overhaul as long as you only
need hydraulics and "soft" parts. The parts in the final drive can be
very expensive. If the price of $899 includes both sections and you
believe you have a problem with the final drive, then go for it.  One
thing you may want to try is changing the Auto Trans fluid and filter.
When the filter gets loaded up with clutch pieces, the flow while cold
will keep the trans from up-shifting.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of John Hawk
Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2001 12:02 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
Subject: Where to get 84 GL Automatic Transmission rebuilt?

Happy Holidays list.

A couple of days ago I removed the transmission from my 1984 Vanagon GL.
The transaxle seals where leaking.  The transmission wouldn't shift into
higher
gears until it warmed up and pressure built up.  (I have been told the
reason it
didn't shift was because of pressure.)  It also started making a
clanking sound
that progressively got worse.  At first it sounded like something
clanking around
a wheel like a bad bearing or something.  But I jacked it up and rotated
the rear
passengers tire by hand.  While slowly turning the wheel backwards I
clearly
heard the sounds coming from the bottom of the transmission.

So, does anyone have experience with Mofoco in Milwaukee, WI rebuilds?
They quoted me $799.00 a month ago, which was incredibly cheap.  I just
called
and now they say the price has always been $899.00.  The warranty is
parts
only.  I asked how do they know the rebuild is good?  How do you test
the
transmission.  He said they have vehicles.  I do have a manual
transmission
I got from them a couple of years ago which is fine.

What do you all think?  Any other idea's on getting a rebuilt?  I am in
the
middle of Illinois.

John
84 Vanagon (brown bus)
84 GL Vanagon (blue bus)
68 Bus (old bus, shaggin wagon, scooby do mobile.)