I believe they call that a porta band, have a few at work. It should make
things a bit easier with the drivetrain lowered an inch too.
Velma 82 1.9L AAZ td westy
On Oct 22, 2013 5:06 PM, "Scott Daniel" <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

>  Sounds good.
> I love working metal myself. Heck ..
> just 'repairing' something is boring compared to making some creative part
> that's elegant.
>
> the front trans mount is thicker than sheet metal of course..
> but a torch and a few tools and you can do a lot there.
>
> I modified the cross member there the front trans mount mounts. I made the
> two forward frame holes be the new aft once....welding in a piece of 2 inch
> angle iron  for the new two forward holes.
>  I also built a hump in the firewall for trans clearance to the body.
> And I relocated the brake line going across there.  Tons of work.
>
> there was a big discussion about this  a couple of years ago I think ..
> and people mentioned a method similar to your idea I believe..
> which would be simpler than what I did.
>
> yeah..building the components..that gets to be fun.
> I just scored a new tool at a flea market ...10 bucks.
>  A power band saw ..
> but not a band saw like the normal kind..
> It's  Milwaukee brand ' hand- held power hack saw' ..
> I cut a syncro skid bar with it last night ( to extend it for a subaru
> conversion ) and that saw cut through it like it was butter..
> much nicer than a chop saw or hand hack saw, or cutting torch.
> for 10 bucks too ...had to have cost 200 new .
> It's way more fun if you fab up things yourself ..very rewarding that way.
>
> if you move the trans forward , you have to shorten the rear shift rod a
> like amount usually. Not too hard to do.
>
> yeah....5 speed 1.9 TD Westy ..
> doesn't get better than that until you go to TDI or Syncro.
>
> Scott
>
>  On 10/22/2013 2:57 PM, ralph meyermann wrote:
>
> Hmm? 2 " moving the engine back could make the throttle cable and coolant
> lines an issue? A bit of cutting/sectioning/welding for the trans mount to
> move forward shouldn't be that hard. I ave done plenty of sheet metal work
> building dirt late model bodies and other components.
>
> Velma 82 1.9L AAZ td westy
> On Oct 22, 2013 4:43 PM, "Scott Daniel" <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
>
>
>   That's not hard at all Ralph ..
> well, depending on what you mean by 'hard .'
>
> You might be able to do it without removing the gas tank ...
> and really ..since you have a guide bushing in a metal tab above your gas
> tank that you won't be using ..
> the right way involves removing the gas tank.
>  and dealing with engine mounting location and bars.
>
> the 5 speed being two inches longer puts the engine two inches further aft
> , VW's solution.
> Mine was to move the front trans mount forward in the body two inches..
> but it was a lot of work the way I did it. Worked out really nice though.
>
> Scott
>
>  On 10/22/2013 2:15 PM, 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> <jim.felder@gmail.com> <jim.felder@gmail.com> <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> <mdrillock@cox.net> <mdrillock@cox.net> <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
>
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