Hello,

I'm currently off list due to lack of time, but have a few quick questions (please
cc: me directly if you could, thanks):

My faithful '88 Westy is over 350k kms now, and the transmission developed
a loud whine last fall, which now is present in all gears. It's approx 200k km
on a VW reman trans installed in 1993 by PO. Originally the noise was in 4th,
then 3rd, now it seems to be throughout the range. At highway speeds it's
louder than the engine.
I've had estimates from $1000+ for a rebuild to $2400 for another VW reman
transmission, and have been considering these two options all winter.

Now an '85 Vanagon with 275k km is available which I can probably get for
under $3K CDN. My thought is to pull the trans from it and swap into the
Westy, and leave the rebuild/replacement until later, or just drive it as is in the
Vanagon. We're planning a 2500km trip in July, so I don't want to risk taking
the Westy as is.
Questions:
1. I assume the 85 4 speed trans will drop in to my 88? (I have had it out once
already).

2. Does $3K CDN for an average condition Vanagon with 275k km, new
tires (2 LT, 2 P series), typical seam rust, a few dings, appears to be original
paint (a plus to me), well used but mostly intact interior, sound reasonable?

3. I can't recall: is an '85 still the 1.9L, or is it a 2.1L?

Thanks in advance.

========================
Shawn Wright
Computer Systems Manager
Shawnigan Lake School
250-743-6240
swright@sls.bc.ca