as people have already probably said, the bell housing swap is a basic R & R
via the mounting bolts - i.e. no big deal, or 'very straight forward.'

I though I'd mentioni that you may run into a very small differnce about
bolting your 89 he shift linkage bracket to the 85 trans body .......
this 'might' happen. Sometimes it's neccessary to adjust where that bracket
bolts by about 1/4 inch, fore-aft wise.
  I can tell you this for sure .........I sent in an 87 vanagon transaxle
for rebuidling, and an 84 as a core.  The 87 wasn't good for rebuiding, but
the 84 was, so since I'll be installing a an 'early' ( trans main case )
wher e a 'late' was, they gave me a little spacer bracket to shim the shift
linkage bracket forward or aftward a bit. You might encounter this in your
deal, so if you don't have the travel you need fore-aft wise on your shifter
after your 'new' trans is installed...........this would be why possibly.
Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Doug Noganav" <vanagon@ASTOUND.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 7:46 PM
Subject: Transmission Bell Housing Question Help

Hi All,

Found a trans for my 89 VW and the used trans has a pretty bad
clutch cross shaft and bushing.

What is involved in swapping the bell housings from one trans to the other?

The used trans is an 85 , gearbox good but housing pretty rough.

Thanks,

Doug