If you had an auto tranny - not a problem. Go for it. But a manual
tranny is a horse of another horse feather. You need some special jigs
to get it back together right. It's a task best sent to someone like
Daryl at AA Transaxle. I don't have his contact information but I know
someone on this list does. maybe they will pout in their two cents.

You might try changing the tranny fluid out and putting in Redline MT
90. It has solved a lot of problems for a lot of folk, including me.
Then again it might not do the trick. But 4th gear sticking makes me
think Redline. You will be gambling about  $35 if it doesn't wor, but
thats cheap compared to a rebuild.

Good luck.

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver

Weibel, Pius wrote:

>Hi,
>
>I have an 85 westy with a standard tranny that works great in 1st, 2nd,
>and 3rd gears.  The 4th gear is the problem.  Usually I can shift into
>4th without a hitch, getting out can be a problem.  I have found out
>that as long the vanagon is moving I can downshift or at least get it
>into neutral. I have learned to never stop the van with the tranny in
>4th gear-it gets stuck in 4th gear!!
>
> Occasionally, it seems like I cannot find any gear.   It seems obvious
>that the tranny should be replaced or rebuilt.  Question:  How difficult
>is it for the home-grown mechanic to rebuild this tranny?  I have access
>to a real lift (whew!) and lots of the usual tools.  Do I need any
>special tools or measuring devices?
>
>
>
>
>
>Pius Weibel       (I'm new to the list-Pius is my middle name, for the
>curious)
>
>85 Westy
>
>Champaign IL
>
>
>