On Thu, 12 Mar 1998 10:24:27 -0800 Backus, Brian G said:
>Let me get this straight.  Does Gene Berg offer a shift kit of any kind
>for the Vanagon?

yup. and it really really works! :) it slices, dices, parries, and makes
Julian Fries!!

no, it really is a good buy. it's $20 and fits all Vanagons from 1980 to
1991. but i do NOT know if it'll work on the Syncros ... it should, but
i don't know for sure. i DO know from experience that it works on a 1980
bus, and a 1986 bus and a 1988 bus. it should also work on Diesels.

here's the info:

Gene Berg                    item # GB 6790, Vanagon short shift kit,
1725 North Lime              $20. shortens that 2nd-3rd gear rowing
Orange, CA 92665             distance. well worth the money. FOLLOW THE
(714) 998-7500               INSTRUCTIONS!

and again, i stress: follow the instructions!! especially the part about
MARKING the position of the little bolts that hold the shifter plate onto
the floor of the bus (all of this is underneath the rubber boot). cause if
you do NOT mark their original position BEFORE you start moving things
around, you'll spend about two weeks trying to "adjust" it back into the
right place!! <Voice of Experience: the third bus i put this on, i got
cocky and figured i already knew what to do. guess what? :)

what it does is raise the pivot point of the shift lever, so the 2nd-3rd
gear shift distance is much less than before. and 3rd gear isn't so close
to the dash/panel.  i like it. :)

no, it will NOT work on automatic transmissions. :)

joel