Ralph,
  A long time ago, I had an '80 AC MT with the same symptom, idling noisy
with the clutch out, quiet with it in.
It was a bearing that could be replaced from the out side of the trans
without opening the main case.  Probably the input shaft like Miguel said,
but I don't remember completely; it's been a long time.
  I do remember that i had to make a small puller hook to extract the
bearing.

Good luck, worth a try,
Larry A.

On Tue, Oct 22, 2013 at 5:32 AM, ralph meyermann
<ralphmeyermann@gmail.com>wrote:

> There are no trips planned until spring, thankfully I should be able to get
> it gone through before spring.
>
> Velma 82 1.9L AAZ td westy
> On Oct 21, 2013 9:04 PM, "Miguel Pacheco" <mundopacheco@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > It could be only the input shaft bearing. It could be much more. The only
> > way to be sure is to pull it. The way to ensure its demise is to leave it
> > there and keep driving it....
> >
> >
> > Miguel
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Mon, Oct 21, 2013 at 3:49 PM, ralph meyermann <
> ralphmeyermann@gmail.com
> > > wrote:
> >
> >> I believe this one came out of an air cooled gasser due to the faster
> >> final
> >> ratio. May have to get that rebuilt this winter
> >>
> >> Velma 82 1.9L AAZ td westy
> >> On Oct 21, 2013 3:44 PM, "Scott Daniel" <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> >  Vanagon transaxles are not noisy at all Ralph ..
> >> > unless they are getting tired.
> >> >
> >> > that test....idling in neutral...
> >> > push in clutch, noise goes away ..
> >> > let clutch up ..noise comes back.
> >> >
> >> > that's worn bearings or other parts .
> >> > Almost all vanagon transaxles at this point ..
> >> > If they have not been rebuilt yet ...
> >> > they're either due or getting there.
> >> >
> >> > Waiting to deal with it can cost more in the end too ..
> >> > as bad as your trans not being even a rebuildable core ?
> >> >
> >> > which trans is it ..
> >> > a DK ?  ..
> >> > I consider those semi-rare ...
> >> > and 'maybe' they can be a bit noisier than 83 and up later style
> >> > transaxles.
> >> >
> >> > Time to start thinking about trans rebuild.
> >> > Scott
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >  On 10/21/2013 1:31 PM, ralph meyermann wrote:
> >> >
> >> > Hi Volks! Just returned from a 500+ mile trip most of the way across
> >> Iowa
> >> > with silent and issue free cv joints. The more time I drive Velma with
> >> the
> >> > much quieter turbo diesel than the previous n/a diesel I've noticed
> more
> >> > transaxle noise when under load and when I push in the clutch and keep
> >> the
> >> > engine rpm there is a big noise reduction? There is also some noise I
> >> hear
> >> > Idling in neutral that goes away when I push in the clutch (New throw
> >> out
> >> > and pilot bearings).Are Vanagon 4 speeds noisy? I have yet to ride in
> a
> >> > Vanagon other than my own to compare with, I believe I need that to
> know
> >> > for sure.
> >> > Velma 82 1.9L AAZ td westy
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >
> >
>