According to Bosch:

SR19X was originally used on 86 Man Trans 2WD & Syncro as well as Late 81-85
Man Trans Air & Watercooled.  This has been supered by Bosch to SR401X
SR401X was originally used on 87-91 Man Trans 2WD & Syncro and is further
used as a replacement for 86 models as well.

SR18X (supered to SR25X) was originally used on all Vanagon Automatics from
Late 82 thru 91 Air & Watercooled.

The differences on original and later starters may just be the solenoid
placement on the starter casement.

As a side bar note, I use the SR17X on my 84 Westfalia Auto, 'cause my
mechanic said it would work and has installed these on late model Vanagon
autos in the past.  Have had no problems the past year I've been running it.
SR17X according to Bosch was originally used on Beetle Auto-Sticks, Type 3 &
4 Automatics and Bus/Vanagon Automatics up thru early 1982.

Jim Thompson
84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
oldvolkshome@earthlink.net
jim@karmannghia.com
http://www.oldvolkshome.com
***********************
----- Original Message -----
From: "jimt" <camper@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2005 2:05 PM
Subject: Starters

Just reached up on my shelf for what I thought was my later model vanagon
starter.  Ooops!  it is a syncro starter.  Before I go out in the snow to my
spare transmission... Will this bolt up to the standard 2WD transmission?
Other than the solenoid being 45 degrees off I cant see any other difference
for it not to work.

........................................
jimt
Planned insanity is best.
Remember that sanity is optional.
http://www.tactical-bus.info (tech info)
http://www.westydriver.com