that's odd.
There are people who don't even believe 5 speed US model Diesel Vanagons
exist, they seem so rare.
The vast majority of diesel vanagons are 82's ( in the US ) and they all
have either a DZ or a DM 4 speed trans.

there are far fewer 83's, and those all have 5 speeds.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig Morton" <rangermorton1972@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, January 09, 2010 4:56 PM
Subject: Diesel Transaxles

All the diesel Vanagons I ever knew of had 5-speed transaxles with 5.43:1
R&Ps. Now comes a knowledgable Vanagon owner telling me all he ever saw were
equipped with 4-speed transaxles. The Bently clearly shows a 5-speed
transaxle for these vehicles. Were some built with 4-speed boxes? Inquiring
minds want to know the truth of the matter.

Craig