I bolted two 2x4s together to form a "T".  I placed this over the engine
opening (left to right, so the "T" is transverse, more or less), placing a
jack under the base of the "T", and fastened a chain from about the middle
of the "T" to the engine support holes.  This supported the engine with the
tranny out and allowed be to control the angle at which the engine was
hanging (kinda critical when removing or reattaching the engine to the
tranny).

Hope that made sense.

Karl Wolz

|-----Original Message-----
|From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
|Robert Downes
|Sent: Tuesday, August 10, 2010 8:51 AM
|To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
|Subject: 5sp trans determination was: 5sp trans woes
|
|WELL! i'd like to thank all on the list for the sound advice. After talking
|to some helpful gentlemen at various vw rebuilders, i determined that my
|problem is most likely the pinion shaft 'double tapered bearing'. so, i
|have
|a pretty complete rebuild kit(including about $400 just in tools) on the
|way
|from long enterprises and i'm getting myself psyched up to get all up in
|some dang gearbox! WOO!
|
|so here's a good discuss-o-question: what kind of setup do you use to
|support the engine while the trans is out? i have to roll the van out of
|the
|shop while i work, and i'm sure i'll figure something out but do you folks
|have any super cool, non-obvious tricks? is it worth it to fabricate
|something like the tool shown in the bentley manual? it doesn't seem like
|there will be all that much weight to support, will there?(my van is
|diesel)
|
|updates/pictures to come
|thanks again, dudes
|-bob