the short answer is 'no.'

there's not a lot of 'labor penalty' in lowering the front of the trans to
do the oil cooler job ..
then raising it back up,
and then  doing the whole trans R & R later.
 Like not a whole lot of the work will be repated.

after the front of the trans is disconnected from body at the front trans
mount ..
and the oil cooler is dealt with .
to remove the whole trans from there ....
there is still ..

both axles to undo,
the torque converter bolts to undo,
the starter to remove,
and anything to do with undoing shift linage.
and pull the whole trans of the engine.

A warning ......
in all cases..
of moving the engine/trans around at all, or lowering it ....
on all 1.9 wbxr vanagons ..
undo that small hose on top of the engine that goes from metal heater return
pipe ( that horizontal metal pipe  across the top of the engine ) to the
plastic larlge firewall main coolant hose fitting thing ..

the small hose goes to a delicate plastic nipple on the firewall plastic
piece..
any tension on that hose..
even look at it funny ......and it will break off the plastic nipple on the
plastic firewall hose junction thing.

scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rocket J Squirrel" <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, May 15, 2011 4:51 PM
Subject: Lowering transaxle vs removing transaxle

> The GoWesty auto trans cooler kit requires that the transaxle's nose be
> dropped a bit to connect the hoses. This will be a job for my
> mechanic.
>
> There's also another transaxle job coming up that I can't afford right
> now, and that's swapping the diff for a Peloquin posi. That requires a
> full removal of the trans.
>
> I am saving my pennies for the latter, but would like to get the former
> done sooner.
>
> My question is: if the trans is being lowered for the cooler job, will
> it already be halfway toward being removed (in terms of labor hours)? Or
> more, or less?
>
> --
> Rocky J Squirrel
> '84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> '74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
> Bend, OR
> KG6RCR