I am near the end of mechanically going over a customer's 85 Westy.  It
made a lot of noise and ran poorly when we brought it in.  Needed a new
exhaust system which helped quiet things down, however after that was fixed
I became aware of a loud tapping sound that was coming from the bellhousing
area.  After doing some research, I guessed that it was the flex plate
(automatic transmission van) that was broken.  It would make this noise
only at idle.  Once you revved it up, the noise would go away.  I got a
good used flex plate from a list member (thanks Zoran) and we pulled the
transmission today.  Sure enough the flex plate was cracked in an almost
complete circle where the flat plate is indented before it gets to the area
where the rivets are.  If we had let it leave the shop it would not have
lasted very long.  After we got the old plate out, I was surprised to find
that it has a VW parts sticker on the back (from the 80s or 90s).  In other
words it wasn't the original flex plate but a replacement one!

I have never had a flex plate go bad on me before.  Does anyone know why
this replacement plate would go bad?  I mean it lasted for a long time, but
the original one must of gotten damaged or went bad back in the day too so
I am wondering what would cause this type of failure?  If anyone has any
ideas or experience please chime in.

--
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com