Steve:

I just removed and replaced the trans in my Vanagon.  Don't really see
the need for anything "special", especially if you have someone who can
lend you a hand.

The trans is not *that* heavy (I carried it around, put it up on
sawhorses, etc.) and your floorjack can handle it easily.  I first
removed the engine and then the trans; if you want to remove *just* the
trans then you need another jack (your scissor jack will probably do) to
lower the front of the engine.

I think the hardest part might be manuvering a jack around in that
location of the car, especially with another jack (the one holding the
engine) in the way.  The trans also doesn't balance easily on a jack the
way the engine will.

I moved my trans out from under the car myself by putting one end of the
trans on a milk crate and my little (1/4 ton) jack on the other end.
Then I slid the crate (holding onto the trans) out from under the car and
the jack (and the other end of the trans) followed along.

If I was going to remove the trans without removing the engine, and I
didn't want to try to rig up anything "special", I'd probably slide under
the car with a buddy and we'd manhandle the thing out!

On Mon, 8 Jun 1998, Steve Frisbee wrote:

> I would appreciate anyone's creative solutions and advise in dropping
> the manual tranny out of my 85 Westy.  I have none of the specialized
> jacks, chains, I see mentioned in service manual.  I have one small 2
> ton floor jack, 2 scissor jacks, and numerous jack stands. I want to
> replace tranny and clutch set.  Do I need special tools to do this?

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Tom Young               young@sherlock.SIMS.Berkeley.EDU
Lafayette, CA  94549    '81 Vanagon
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