How to know it’s time time for a tranny rebuild?

[E1]

Great video, Thanks!
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If ever twice as rich, we’re gettin’ a double-wide
’84 “Westfailure”/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s

AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans

[zerotofifty]

Here is a nice little video on tranny synchronizers you all may enjoy.. Even has strobe light action video!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e-Lk3FXHubw
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Sorry About That Chief.

Give Peace a Chance.

Words to live by.

[E1]

I’d personally trust any core that Arizona Transaxle or Mr. Gas had approved for rebuild. They worked long and hard to build reputations that wouldn’t be worth risking for a few hundred bucks.

I can’t comment on other builders, but myself would in general trust their judgment over buying a completely-unknown core, especially from a private party without personal knowledge of them.

Builders not only know what they’re looking at that a private party isn’t likely to, but the last thing a builder would need is rebuilding on a bad core just to have it come back for warranty.
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If ever twice as rich, we’re gettin’ a double-wide
’84 “Westfailure”/2.1 Digijet/5.43 Ring & Pinion/Peloquin/D-rated BFG KO2s

AI has spoken to further illiteracy, to steal, to cheat, and to replace humans

[WillRB]

[Sodo]

Bummer about the R&P.
Thass why I say keep clean oil in it.
Theres no economy in running contaminated gear oil longer when clean oil is only $30.

Especially in an old trans that may have an old gear or 2 ready to start shedding steel into the oil at any time.

Well at least you have an Aluminum case!!
Those are hard to find.
Big engine fellers be envious.

Good thing you didn’t “exchange” it away.

============
I just saw a video where an aussie guy used a compressed air nozzle to force oil out of a soda bottle, up a tube into a gearbox.
It looked like a great DIY trick.
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'90 Westy EJ25, NEW oil rings (!) 2Peloquins, 3knobs, SyncroShop pressure-oiled pinion-bearing & GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox.
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered original gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[WillRB]

Well a bit of an update. Not ideal news on my transaxle teardown at builder. Ring and pinion damaged. Potentially a couple other issues. Turns out someone had “hodgepodged” together the transaxle at some point. 4.83 r&p, 2 spider gear diff, with aluminum case. All on my 84 westy. I guess its good that it was discovered as part of a rebuild not after a breakdown across the country..

Might be needing to locate another core. Leads welcome..

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1984 Vanagon Westfalia w/ Subaru Conversion (99 Legacy 2.2 Phase II) 2WD 4speed 4.57 R/P (.828 straight cut 4th) GT TBD

[WillRB]

[MarkWard]

I do not know the answer to that question. Do you recall if the adapter plate was attached to the engine case and then the flywheel installed? For the adapter plate to unbolt from the engine, it would need to be able to pass over the flywheel. That would not leave much meat for the adapter. Might want to start another thread to get better response.

edit, mis read your last post. I don't see a problem loosening the engine carrier if it gives you more droop on the transmission end. You need to be able to clear the chassis with the nose of the transmission. I usually remove the complete transmission bracket to gain more room.

[WillRB]

I don’t need to loosen the engine carrier (RMW) at all do I?
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1984 Vanagon Westfalia w/ Subaru Conversion (99 Legacy 2.2 Phase II) 2WD 4speed 4.57 R/P (.828 straight cut 4th) GT TBD

[MarkWard]

Gentle pressure would be ok I believe. There is likely a register on the adapter plate for the bell housing, dowels, or something to index it square that could be sticking.

[WillRB]

Have everything removed including the starter bolt but struggling to get transmission to release from engine studs. Have an adapter plate (2.2 Subuaru). Any tips? I have removed motor but never transaxle. Would some gentle prying between adapter plate and transmission case be out of line?
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1984 Vanagon Westfalia w/ Subaru Conversion (99 Legacy 2.2 Phase II) 2WD 4speed 4.57 R/P (.828 straight cut 4th) GT TBD

[steve244]

I gave the wrong length of the plastic box above.

It's 26 to 27 inches long inside. The earlier type 91 fit with a inch to spare.
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82 AC vanagon approx 200K miles (3K are mine).
DD is a 2015 Leaf
Road Trip to Hell (FL 2023)
The Vanagon's drivetrain and chassis restomod thread. Best sung to the tune of I Did It My Way...

[steve244]

Correct. The box had a couple inches to spare, but it'll be snug.
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82 AC vanagon approx 200K miles (3K are mine).
DD is a 2015 Leaf
Road Trip to Hell (FL 2023)
The Vanagon's drivetrain and chassis restomod thread. Best sung to the tune of I Did It My Way...

[MarkWard]

The 091 4 speed is about an inch and a half shorter than the 091/1 4 speed. Don’t have the measurement you seek, but wanted to point that out since the packed one above is from description an 091 4 speed.

[steve244]

It'll fit in a 27 gallon plastic box. Weighs in at 100 lbs. This is an 82 AC type 91 on the way to the Rancho tranny spa in Fullerton. UPS picked it up. Easy peasy.

It's about 31 inches 26 inches nose cone bolts to the end of the input shaft. I loosened the bracket for the clutch slave so it doesn't stick up. Bell housing just fit under the cover.
_________________
82 AC vanagon approx 200K miles (3K are mine).
DD is a 2015 Leaf
Road Trip to Hell (FL 2023)
The Vanagon's drivetrain and chassis restomod thread. Best sung to the tune of I Did It My Way...

[WillRB]

Does anyone have the general dimensions pf the transaxle? With bellhousing still on. I can measure after i find time to get mine dropped, but figured if I ended up near a walmart I could see what cheap coolers were available. Thanks.
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1984 Vanagon Westfalia w/ Subaru Conversion (99 Legacy 2.2 Phase II) 2WD 4speed 4.57 R/P (.828 straight cut 4th) GT TBD

[Sodo]

I’m trying to develop test procedures to evaluate Vanagon gearbox condition.
Cuz I know they’re 35 years old and the chickens are coming home to roost (etc)
Anyway I’m happy to get some feedback. Its seldom. Need others to test & report.

You could be correct on a 2wd.
But on my syncro with a new gearbox (16,028 miles) even “jerky accel/decel” the shifter doesn’t move at all, in any gear.
Syncro has different mounting, the front mount is wider, like a hammerhead shark to support against the driveshaft torque.
_________________


'90 Westy EJ25, NEW oil rings (!) 2Peloquins, 3knobs, SyncroShop pressure-oiled pinion-bearing & GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox.
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered original gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[?Waldo?]

[MarkWard]

I was thinking about this when I couldn’t sleep. This idea does not address the 3/4 hub, but if the suspicion the large main bearing was shifting or worn, in theory you could lower the trans disconnecting the mount. Remove the mount and remove the rear cover. I bet there is room. You would see tell tale signs that the wimpy main bearing retainer that also supports reverse idler has allowed the bearing to shift in the housing. You’d see the tell tail damage on the front case cover too. You could disassemble enough to remove the mainshaft bearing, replace with a new one, install the Weddle heavy duty retainer, machining the cover to accommodate the new retainer. It would require a puller that could grab the inner race. This might get you another season or two.

Disclaimer: this is all hypothetical and I may have missed a step in my thinking. Just a possibility or a brain exercise for me.

[zerotofifty]

I am at about 230K miles on my 1986 original tranny. Still works. Have been using red line synthetic oil in it since about 160K miles or so. prior it was standard gear lube.
Fingers be crossed. My motor is a 2.2 wasser boxer (over sized pistons) since 155k miles.

With the subaru massive power your mileage may vary.
_________________
Sorry About That Chief.

Give Peace a Chance.

Words to live by.