After the oil change another thing to look at is your front transmission to
body mount. It also has a ground strap on it. I noticed my gear shift lever
moving around quite a bit when letting off /stepping on  the gas. If you
take your van for a ride and notice the shift lever moving back and forth
quite a bit when stepping on and letting off the gas pedal check out your
front mount. The first thing my wife noticed after replacing the mount was
the van shifted better.

B.

On Mon, Oct 12, 2009 at 7:39 PM, John Meeks <vanagon@gmail.com> wrote:

>  On Mon, Oct 12, 2009 at 6:00 PM, David Cohen <Mtbdavid2@aol.com> wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> >  I recently purchased a 1990 Vanagon GL with manual  transmission.
>  Around
> > town and before the van heats up I can shift up and  down to third
> without
> > grinding but as soon as I drive on the freeway for any  amount of time
> and
> > then downshift or up shift into third it grinds.  I  assume it's because
> of
> > the heating up and thinning of the gear oil and a bad 3rd  gear syncro.
>  Is
> > this correct?  I assume I am looking at a full  rebuild or replace with a
> > rebuilt 4spd tranny.  Your help is  appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > David (new owner of Vanagon and love it)
> >
>
> David,
>
> Welcome to the wonderful world of the Vanagon. Sadly changing tranny oil is
> something that many owners neglect. Before spending the big bucks on a
> rebuild, change the oil with some good synthetic gear oil. I like Redline
> MT-90. It will make a big improvement in shifting anb works much better in
> hot operating temps.
>
> To get an idea of the job see:
> http://www.vanagonauts.com/Changing-gearbox-oil101.htm
>
> Good luck and enjoy the Vanagon
>
> Oh and check out the Rescue Squad link below.
>
> John Meeks
> '91 Multivan
> Northern Michigan
>
> Vanagon Rescue Squad
> http://www.vanagonauts.com/Vanagon_Rescue_Squad74.htm
>
> Radio Call:KC8ZFN
>