Jeff, here is some info from my '84 that I verified again on my way to work
this morning.  If you do a full throttle acceleration from low speed, the
final upshift will be at 4600 rpm (about 50 mph or so).  If you start having
problems with the transmission, one sign is that the transmission won't
upshift at 4600 rpm, but will not upshift until you let up on the
accelerator pedal.

John Lauterbach
Macon, GA
'84 7-passenger

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Stewart" <fonman4277@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2003 7:28 PM
Subject: Advice Needed-Auto Tranny Experts

Hey Folks,
     My "new" '84 Vanagon Westy made it down and back to Everybus, but has
some issues I think are related to the auto tranny (rebuilt by the PO, not
by a shop). On flat roads the van accelerates and runs fine. It shifts up
out of first at about 15 MPH, into second at about 25, too early I believe.
On any grade is where the trouble starts. The van gradually loses speed, and
flooring the pedal won't make the trans kick down until 35 MPH, and then it
upshifts again around 40, again too early. The engine was lugging so badly I
finally resorted to manually downshifting on grades. I also noticed if I put
the trans in second gear from a dead stop, it starts out in first but does
not shift up into second, and when I manually shift it up into "D" @ around
35-40 MPH it seems to go directly into third, or "D". I have no owners
manual with this thing, and I'm not sure if how I'm expecting it to behave
is correct. What I mean by that is this is not how the auto trans in my
Chevy van behaves. With the Chevy, the pedal does not need to be floored in
order for the trans to kick down when going up a grade. I've already started
studying my Bentley manual on adjusting the accel. cable and kickdown lever,
but any advice would be helpful! Thanks,  Jeff