Using Vanagon 6 rib gearbox in Bay?

[Henrik_K]

Hi,

Due to the shortage of good working 6-rib gearbox, I cam across the idea of using one from the Vanagon.

But is it doable? The gearshift is on the side aso.

Anyone succeeded in using one of these in a bay?

Thx.

[Wildthings]

If it is the early Vanagon box <1983 1/2, I think you may be able to just bolt a Bay nose cone on the box and be on your way. No expert here though.

[SGKent]

Big Bore discussed this. It would require many changes on an 094 - as much work as rebuilding an 091 plus the parts. They are not a direct swap. The answer according to Big Bore (who rebuilt them for a living) is no - you cannot use an 094 by just swapping a nosecone.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[Wildthings]

[SGKent]

he wrote :

[Wildthings]

[notchboy]

Hey Wildthings, one more time for those in the cheap seats?
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[vwwestyman]

There may have been something I missed, but I remember doing research on this a few years ago.

I seem to recall that even the early Vanagon gearboxes required much more than simply swapping the nosecone to make work. Having been inside the nose cone of a Bay 091, I can't picture how that would be shifted via any kind of side-shift. But who knows, I could have missed something.

Basically my conclusion was that you, in therory, could convert a Vanagon gearbox to work in a Bay, but it was more complicated that some initially imagine and therefore not really worth it. I almost wonder if it'd be easier to change the Bus to side shift? But it has been more than 10 years since I've had eyes on a Vanagon shifter system.
_________________
Dave Cook

President, Wild Westerner Club

1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing

[Henrik_K]

Thx guys,

I'll put that thought to sleep...

[Wasted youth]

This is what the nose cone interior looked like on my old 1981 Vanagon... which does not look at all like the hockey stick and roller arrangement of my old 1977 Baywindow.

I have zero experience refurbishing these manual transmissions, so this picture is all I can offer.

[SGKent]

[Wildthings]

[SGKent]

[Wildthings]

Comparing a Vanagon 091-1 to a Bay 091 is pretty worthless, as that conversion can not be reasonably done. To do a Vanagon 091 to a Bay 091 still doesn't seem to be impossible for a motivated individual who has both a good 091 Bay core and a Vanagon 091 in good overall condition.

If Gears or Big Bore say it can't be reasonably done or an experienced shop says it can't be reasonable done, then I will yield.

[SGKent]

[danfromsyr]

that 094 (Mid shift) vanagon transaxle on the left isn't even close to the 091 variants

[stigma]