87 Vanagon. Need help with transmission!

[E_Ram]

I bought a 1987 Vanagon, but it didn't have an engine or transmission. I have come to the conclusion that it was the Automatic 3-speed "090". I was hoping everyone here would be able to point me to a good place to either purchase a used 090 transmission OR suggest a different brand transmission to mock up and fit. (I know some people have done the manual Subaru trans).

[jlrftype7]

Way Out Salvage in Arkansas is where I recently bought a complete Automatic Transaxle for our '84 Vanagon. Derrick, the owner of the place, was advertising here in the Samba Classifieds that he had a few more for sale.
I'll look up the AD and see if it's still running.
Shipping due to weight will be your added cost. We're in Chicago, so not as bad as it could have been. UPDATE- here's the link to his AD. I can't tell exactly if he has 1 water cooled Trans left, and 2 air cooled versions, or what- but call him/contact him if you want. Otherwise, you hunt around here on Samba with other sellers.
You can always go with a swap to a Manual if you want, but then you need a lot more parts than your stock version to do that. The Air Cooled Versions that Derrick has would work with a Water Boxer engine, and probably behind a Subaru engine as well, but won't have the ports in the front /oil pump end of the Transmission for a stock Trans Fluid cooler set-up.
You CAN drill the holes for adding the ports, it's safest to disassemble the transmission and get the oil pump fully out of the case before doing that.
There are several coolers that people are using.
I run with the Gowesty version from a few years ago. Others use a version with a Fan to really assist in cooling as needed.


https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2704301
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'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto

[jimf909]

I've alway had a manual transmission in my Vanagons but people here love their automatics.

Here are a few relevant threads:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7888739
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- Jim

[vanis13]

If you don't have a engine or transmission consider a Subaru engine with a Subaru transmission the automatic Subaru would probably be the easiest
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83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace

www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make

[space]

I might have a trans available after May
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82 westy
w:
2.5 JDM Subie
Rear discs