Good catch on the seal. A good engine bay seal (including spark plug
etc. boots) is important for the air cooled.

Shifting the drivetrain back may be possible. Are you certain it's not
just drooping at the rear?

Consider the front transmission mount too. There should be some
fore/aft play at the holes as they are likely oval shaped. I wonder if
moving the drivetrain would negatively affect the shift linkage?

pic looking down on air cooled transmission front bracket:
http://tinyurl.com/329zmov

Neil.

On Sun, Nov 14, 2010 at 7:43 AM, Mark L. Hineline
<hineline@ocotillofield.net> wrote:
> There's a little too much clearance at the rear (front is front) of my
> cooling tin, and not as much in the front. At the rear, there is a gap
> of about 3/16" between the seal and the body.
>
> Is there enough slop in the engine carrier and the mounts to account
> for this? Can I fix it by just loosening everything up and shifting it
> rearward a little?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Mark
> '82 Westy
>

--
Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"

http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines