A true re-manufactured transaxle should include a torque converter and oil cooler. A local transmission or repair shop should be able to repair yours. There are all sorts of level or repair to rebuild levels here. 

Torque converters get rebuilt for a number of reasons. For one thing centrifugal force makes them an excellent filter. All the clutch lining material and metal shavings are in there. During the handling of the tranny repair some of this will get dislodged and some stuff will get into your nice clean rebuilt unit. Two, they do fail. There is a one way clutch in there and when it goes bad the torque converter no longer multiplies torque. Poor acceleration is the result. Three, the bushing and seal area wears making for leaks. The  bushing is an easy fix but the seal surface is weld and machine repair. Tranny shops have the connections to get converters rebuilt. 

Dennis 

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of John Lauterbach
Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2010 12:12 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Automatic transmission failure

The automatic transmission on my '84 finally gave out this week.  I do
not know how many miles are on my van.  I have had it for 12 years.
Body is in very good shape and I put in a new long block in 2003.

I was pulling away from a stop sign, there was a loud clunk, and the van
coasted to a stop.  Reverse gear works fine.  My local VW repair shop
has the van.  Does it make sense to do more than put in a rebuilt
transmission and not work about the torque converter and final drive?

John