Thanks guys for the recommendations.  Dennis, yours was especially useful
since it caused me to rethink my diagnosis.  The ATF on the dipstick is
nice and clean, no obvious corruption at all.  I assumed the trans cooler
would still be the culprit since oil floats on water.  But maybe it's not
the cooler.  I'll follow Larry's advice of draining via the filler tube
opening and that should give me a better idea of the state of the ATF.

Likely won't get to this until next weekend but I'll report back then with
my findings.

Thanks again for the help,

Rick

On Sun, Feb 22, 2015 at 9:00 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>  If the fluid is contaminated with coolant it will be an obvious milky
> white mess. If not look for  differential fluid or a bad valve body, torque
> converter or clogged vent.
>
> Dennis,
> From my phone.
>  ------------------------------
> From: Rick Cooper <rickdcooper@GMAIL.COM>
> Sent: ‎2/‎22/‎2015 11:00 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: A/T problems -- fluid level high
>
>  After having the auto transmission in my '87 2WD overhauled last month, I
> noticed the ATF fluid level creeping up. I've only driven the vehicle three
> or four times, for a total of maybe 50 miles.  When I checked today the
> fluid level was way, way up -- maybe 4 inches up the dipstick!  I'm
> guessing the stock cooler has failed, and that I ought to have replaced it
> at the time of overhauling the transmission.
>
> What are the next steps now?  Can I resolve the problem (pending installing
> a new cooler) by simply taking the stock cooler out of the equation?  Is
> this as simple as connecting the coolant hoses together with a coupling or
> perhaps removing one and connecting the remaining hose to both connectors,
> thus creating a loop?
>
> What about the polluted ATF?  Will a drain and refill eliminate the problem
> or do I need a more rigorous flushing procedure?  Any and all advice much
> appreciated!
>
> Rick
>