----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg Marshall" <earthboy@ROGERS.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, March 28, 2003 7:27 AM
Subject: transmission removal.

> 1) In my tranny, the oil is coming out between the transmission case and
> the clutch housing, not between the clutch housing and the case.  I
> assume when dropping the transmission that you must drop the
> transmission and clutch housing together, and then seperate them on the
> ground, is this right?

I'm pretty sure that's correct.  As I recall, the bolts holding the two
components together are *inside* the clutch housing so you can't seperate
the two without first dropping the trans.

> 2) What and where is the rear main seal?  Is this the one between the
> engine case and the clutch housing?

If you're talking about the transmission here, I believe the rear main seal
is the one that goes around the shaft at the front of the clutch housing.

> 3)  To seperate the clutch housing from the transmision case, is it
> necesary to remove the drive flanges?

That I'm not sure of, but I don't think so.  Off hand I can't think how one
affects the other.

> 4) While I'm at it, should I replace the drive flange oil seals?

I would.  I've done it with the trans in the vehicle and it would be so much
easier with the trans on the bench.  In addition to the large rubber oil
seals there's also some plastic caps you need to remove first, to be
replaced by new ones.

> 5)  How long fo you figure this whole process might take?

For me, I'd guess a couple of hours to drop the trans, maybe three hours for
flange seals and new gasket and rear seal (that's just a wild-ass guess
since I've never seperated the two housings) and another two to three hours
to put it all back together.  I'd guess a weekend should be enough to do the
job without breaking your hump.

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Tom Young                       '81 Vanagon
Lafayette, CA 94549         '82 Westfalia
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