Hey, all right, thanks for posting the link.
The show a race winning 3 speed automatic transaxle.
http://www.transaxleengineering.com/automatic_trans.html

not sure what they mean though....the mention ring and pinions of 4.11,
4.56, and 4.86 ...
4.11 would be pretty high so that sounds good. 
Then they say 'final drive ratio' from 2.60 to 8.80.
Not sure what to make of that.
Also, a nice racing transaxle like that.................well, some people's
entire vanagon didn't cost them as much as one of these transaxles costs
I'll bet. You are looking at something in the thousands.     At least $
2,500 , if not 3,500 is my guess, and more than that. 
Maybe that can do something stock-based that's got the right gearing and not
all that expensive. 
 But we'd sure have the gearing we'd like with that box all right !
Scott 
www.turbovans.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
pedro dos santos
Sent: Friday, December 28, 2007 9:41 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Any real automatic trans upgrade for vanagon?

Thanks Al, I just sent them an email and will wait
patiently for their response.

Here is the web site:
www.transaxleengineering.com

Pedro

Date:    Fri, 28 Dec 2007 08:57:25 -0800
From:    Pensioner <al_knoll@PACBELL.NET>
Subject: Re: Any real automatic trans upgrade for
vanagon?

Google Transaxle engineering in Chatsworth CA.  Jeff
will know of folks
 who
have that sort of stuff.  He builds racing transaxles
that have been
 very
successful in off-road racing.  (Baja 1000 etc)  If
you tell him Al
recommended him, he may laugh, hang up, or just
welcome you to his ever
growing group of satisfied customers.

Jeff Field's the name.  Winning is the game.