-- [ From: John H. Rodgers * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --

"Free at Last, Free at Last, Great God Almighty Free at Last!!!".
*****************************
To Martin Luther King, there was deep meaning in those words. And there is
strong meaning for me too, but in a different vein.

I'M FREE AT LAST!!!!   I have my vanagon back on the road!!!!!!

It's a story!!!!

Somewhere around the end of July or 1st of August my tranny seemingly went
out. Hard shifting, some grinding. At first had a difficult time finding
someone to work on it. A canvas of the shops in the greater Birmingham Area
Turned up a bunch of VW shops that wouldn't touch a Vanagon with a ten foot
pole. Very frustrating. Finally, someone put me onto a shop that specialized
in V-Dubs. Unfortunately, they only would work on air-cooled models.

However, they DID know someone who did work on the Vanagons.......and that
was my salvation. They sent me to Rogers Automotive, Bessmer, Alabama, right
down the street.

Roger saved my bacon. I dropped the van off with him, and he test drove it
while I was out working. When he go back he started to work. Out came the
transaxle, out came the clutch. Roger called and said come over. He had
something to show me.

When I arrived, he took me to his work bench. There was my clutch, clutch
housing, pilot shaft, and dismantled transaxle. He showed me the flywheel
all scarred up. Recommended having it machined. I agreed. he then showed me
the pilot shaft, and clutch housing. he showed that the pilot bearing had
failed allowing the pilot shaft to wobble which in turned wobbled out the
oil return  sleeve and the hole in the casting that it passed through. He
also showed me threads that had separated from  the stub axle retaining nut
boss in the transmission housing. All this added up to trouble.

He told me....new pressureplate, new clutch disc, new pilot shaft and
bearing, new throw-out bearing, AND a new clutch housing casting, AND a new
transmission housing.

The saving grace was that he did not recommend replacing/overhauling the
internal works in the transaxle.

I was blown away. $$$$$$$$ I saw them passing in front of my eyes. After a
considerable discussion about the internal components of the transaxle,
Roger said that ordinarily he would recommend that it be overhauled, but it
was in such good condition he didn't feel the expense was justified.

That was a relief. So while Roger took care of getting the parts for the
clutch, and got the flywheel machined, and a few other things, I went to
work looking for a clutch housing and tranny case. First call to the VW
dealer told me I was in trouble. $780 for the clutch housing. I didn't even
ask about the tranny housing.

After a bit of thought, I contacted Todd Hill of Volkswerks in Olympia Wa.
Todd had the clutch housing that I needed and he shipped it right out. He
also knew where to get the tranny housing. So, in time, all the parts
finally came together at Rogers garage. Two days later Roger called and said
its ready.

And was it ever. New tranny and clutch work like a dream. Total cost....$875
.

Roger and Todd ......a couple of good guys across the continent from each
other, two good guys to know and do business with.. Todd is on the list,
Roger is not, but he is in the phone book for Bessemer, Alabama. which is
within the confines of the greater Birmingham area.

John Rodgers
'85 GL Driver
Clayartist/Moldmaker

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