Vanagon Shift Box/Shifter tab questions

[brockmeeks]

Hi folks,

I removed the shiftbox (which sits right above the spare tire) today and found a couple of things I need some advice on.

First, the shiftbox itself. As you can see in the image, there is a "rail" or "shelf" along the right-hand side. Along the left, there are three holes and a definite pattern of the sift tabs rubbing against the metal housing of the shiftbox.

My question: Bentley seems to indicate that there should be a "shift plate" where I have nothing but three holes. Am I correct in assuming my shift plate for this side has been removed for some reason? What is the purpose of this shift plate? When the van was drivable (just two months ago, I didn't seem to have any trouble shifting or finding gears, they all just seemed a little "loose" to me.

If so, what would you suggest I do to correct this situation?

The second picture is of my "shifter tabs." I bought the GoWesty shifter tabs kit to fix what I believed were shift tabs worn to the bare metal. But as you can see, only the right tab is bare metal; however, the left tab still has some of the original material left encasing it (though it's extremely worn down).

What would you suggest I do here? Try and pry the remaining material off the left shift tab, and then install the GoWesty kit as normal? Install the kit only on the right-hand side (where there's nothing but bare metal)? Or ???
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1982 2WD "Adventure Camper" 2.0L, FI, air-cooled
2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
2017 Ford Escape SL
2018 Ford Escape SEL

[MarkWard]

Guessing early year van. From the factory the 3 holes supported a plastic type flat bushing. The bare metal tab road against it. Later vans did away with that and had a plastic tab on both ears. Don’t have them handy, but there are threads where members made their own. Might check VanAgain. He has a lot of the early shifter parts. In may gallery I posted years ago parts diagrams of both the early and later shifter. Im sure others will chime in. I don’t believe the second tab will fit your ear.
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[brockmeeks]

[ALIKA T3]

Uniwerks has the early pad

https://www.uniwerksdesign.com/product/jounce-bumper-stop-buffer/
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Silicone Steering Boots and 930 Cv boots for sale in the classifieds.
Syncro transmission upgrade parts in the Classifieds.
Subaru EJ22+UN1 5 speed transmission
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=416343
Syncro http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...num+gadget

[brockmeeks]

Excellent! That's exactly what I need.

Many thanks for looking this up!
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1982 2WD "Adventure Camper" 2.0L, FI, air-cooled
2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
2017 Ford Escape SL
2018 Ford Escape SEL

[brockmeeks]

Just to follow up. I called GoWesty and asked them about installing their kit when part of the original material is still intact. They told me that I should pry off the old, worn plastic and install the new parts.

The pictures below show the original material still in place (which I subsequently pried off—not an easy task, mind you, while you're under the van). The original plastic tab has a plastic dowel in it that helps hold it in place. Snapping that dowel took some doing.

The second picture shows the original material removed and the replacement parts.

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1982 2WD "Adventure Camper" 2.0L, FI, air-cooled
2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
2017 Ford Escape SL
2018 Ford Escape SEL