Already swapped to the aaz myself, and up for a challenge as it was a
challenge to restore Velma back from being a basket case/wreck of a Westy
to begin with. It's handy to have a neighbor who has a nice machine shop,
helped him out a bunch with his 1938 Packard and this winter with his 32
Chevy barn find to turn it into a hot rod.

Velma 82 1.9L AAZ td westy
On Oct 22, 2013 4:28 PM, "Jim Felder" <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:

> Yes, but if you got EVERYTHING--mounts, shifter, transmission, box, stick,
> etc from an 83 it should be a piece of cake, right? the only original piece
> in the drivetrain wold be the engine.
>
> Jim
>
>
> On Tue, Oct 22, 2013 at 4:26 PM, mark drillock <mdrillock@cox.net> wrote:
>
> > As Scott said, changing to a 5 speed is not a simple bolt in starting
> > out with an 82 diesel van. The engine is mounted too far forward for the
> > longer tranny and there are some complications with the linkage even if
> > you get the 5 speed linkage parts. I won't go into all the details but
> > it is a project to do it. In 83 they moved the diesel engines back for
> > the newer type of trannys and changed a bunch of related things. The 83
> > and newer diesels and waterboxers are built to accept either a 5 speed
> > or 4 speed with little other change needed. Earlier vans have some
> > issues to deal with. Sorry.
> >
> > Mark
> >
> >
> > ralph meyermann wrote:
> >
> >> Think I can handle that pattern, now the hard part of bolting it in and
> >> the
> >> connection of the shift linkage.
> >>
> >> Velma 82 1.9L AAZ td westy
> >> On Oct 22, 2013 4:08 PM, "Jim Felder" <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>  The layout for a factory five-speed is all the way left and forward,
> >>> reverse. All the way left and back, first. Forward in the middle slot,
> >>> second. Pull back into third. Forward to the right is fourth, and you
> >>> pull
> >>> back into fifth. Fourth and fifth  on all but your very steepest hills,
> >>> that's what you get with a five speed. There is no pushing down to
> engage
> >>> any gears, just click click click. Mine was rebuilt 100K miles ago and
> >>> shifts very smoothly and precisely.
> >>>
> >>> Jim
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On Tue, Oct 22, 2013 at 4:00 PM, ralph meyermann <
> >>> ralphmeyermann@gmail.com
> >>>
> >>>> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>  so instead of pushing down left and forward for reverse, it would be
> >>>> down
> >>>> left then back ? I could handle that, Velma is primarily a road
> >>>> trip/camping vehicle. This is my first VW and not informed on the
> >>>> various
> >>>> shift patterns.
> >>>>
> >>>> Velma 82 1.9L AAZ td westy
> >>>> On Oct 22, 2013 3:02 PM, "mark drillock" <mdrillock@cox.net> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>  There is no way to make 4 gears as useful as 5 for a non-tdi diesel.
> >>>>> Spreading out 4 gears to cover the same range as 5 leaves gaps that
> the
> >>>>> weaker engine can't deal with.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> You don't need to go down before left if you have the original 5
> speed
> >>>>> shifter. If you use the 4 speed shifter then the reverse lockout
> guide
> >>>>> blocks 1st so you have to go down before you go left and back.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Mark
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Stacy Schneider wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>          First is like going in to reverse on a classic beetle every
> >>>>>> time
> >>>>>> you come away from a stop sign .
> >>>>>>         Of course this is my opinion . Some people may just shift
> >>>>>> around
> >>>>>> it  and put the wear on their clutch instead .
> >>>>>>           Sure it may give you a spread in shifting . But so will a
> >>>>>> well
> >>>>>> built. 4 speed and none of the dreaded down and left every time you
> >>>>>>
> >>>>> stop .
> >>>>
> >>>>>           My. 914/6 had the same set up ,except you didn't have to
> push
> >>>>>> down to get in gear and I didn't 't care for it either. .
> >>>>>>            I grew up driving and stick and have never owned any
> thing
> >>>>>>
> >>>>> else
> >>>>
> >>>>> . In my opinion  1st gear belongs up and left  . Add as many gears on
> >>>>>>
> >>>>> the
> >>>>
> >>>>> end , I am fine as well . But left and down for 1 st ,no thanks .
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>                                  Stacy
> >>>>>>                             Vanagonsplus.com
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
>