I'll check around again, but all the local tranny shops quote in the
$1500-$2000 range to rebuild it.  (a high profit operation for them.)

Probably 7 years ago I rebuilt one of these.  I know how simple it
is.  I got a free tranny from FL, unfortunately it had been sitting
for a while and had been in a very moist environment.  The clutches,
etc inside it were not even worn out, but I replaced them
anyway.  Got the Torque converter rebuilt at a "reputable" shop.  Put
it all back in, and it not go well at all.  ATF leak in the TC area
and not shifting problems immediately.  I had access to an AT
pressure gauge and it was showing pressures out of spec.  I suspected
valve body, so I swapped in the VB from my original tranny.  Hey, it
acted just like my original tranny!  The original probably just had
VB problems too.  I threw in the towel at that point and had a
trusted guy throw in a good used tranny.  The AT parts supplier I
used had no VB parts.  I understand that the VB is the trickiest part
on these and I think that is where the skills are needed that exceed
my (and average home mechanic) capabilities.

Edward

At 08:09 AM 4/18/2010, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>Any auto tranny shop should be able to do this for you at a reasonable
>price. They access to the parts including getting the torque converter
>rebuilt.
>This really a very simple automatic box.
>Dennis
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
>Edward Maglott
>Sent: Saturday, April 17, 2010 8:09 AM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Vendor choices for rebuilt Auto Tranny
>
>I'm trying to decide how to go about correcting my AT troubles on my
>'86.  You might remember my posts about my leaking ATF in the torque
>converter area.  So tranny  is going to need to come out to address
>that, and might as well replace/rebuild the AT section at that
>time.  The AT has a few quirks that make me think that it will bed
>rebuilding in the next couple years anyway.  I don't know of any
>reputable tranny rebuilders that I would trust to do the R&R and
>rebuild the tranny and not charge me $2000 for a few hours work and a
>few hundred $ in parts.  So I'm thinking of buying an AT and torque
>converter from an expert and doing it myself, or having a local
>trusted guy do the R&R.
>
>There's Daryl at AA in Oregon who seems to get rave reviews here.  I
>know he's whipping up on cancer right now and not sure if he's
>shipping out trannies.  German Transaxle?  Others?  I'm in NC, so I
>guess closer would save some time and $ on shipping these heavy items.
>
>Thanks for any opinions.
>Edward