Odd that we have been talking about all this because last Friday I did
something pretty stupid and am about to pay for it.  While diagnosing and
testing out the Digifant ECU out of the '87 I had it in the '90 for the day,
and as it had been doing some weird things at idle when in N, I had been
placing it in N at stop lights and the like.  So I'm at the bottom of the
hill, have done this then inadvertently put it in 2, start up the hill and
notice it isn't going into D so I look down grap the handle, and under full
power at about 45-50 mph (top of green in 2) promptly toss it into REVERSE.

HEY I still am not used to autos in buses and vans, always go stomping for
the clutch, you get the picture, I know I had no business depressing the the
button just to tap it into D, but so goes life and all that.  Well it took
me what seemed the standard eternity to process the fact the ass end was
sliding all over the place as it attempted to lock up in R, by the time
(less than second I'd actually guess) I'd got it back into D I'd left about
20 feet of nice skid marks.  Well that can't be good I figured, guess trial
by fire on the ole Golf box for sure.  So I took a look and everything
seemed alright over the weekend then today a bit slushy taking off when
cold, drive about 10 miles and smoke pouring out of the back end.  Torque
converter is slinging ATF over everything (common actually, did to a much,
much lesser extent back before I replaced the seal when I installed this
box) particularly onto the exhaust.  So what did I do folks, is my damage
confined to the converter or while I'm at it should I just figure on
reinstalling
the probably OK origional Vanagon auto box.  I don't know shit about
automatics in a real how they work and what they do sense more than
in generality.  I need opinions on what I need to replace and a good source
for a converter at least.

Proves that natural stupidity would get me too surer than shit.

John
janderson@iolinc.net