Help! - stranded!

nmacc

Hi folks,

Hi folks,

Tale of woe - I've managed to get my family trapped in Southwestern Brittany. We took our 1986 2.1 Volkswagen Westfalia camping as per usual, only to have the gearbox completely disintegrate.

The local garage has been helpful and we've had the box out and back already, but it's definitely scrap. We have no forward or reverse motion whatsoever and I desperately need a box or engine & box combo that we can stick in before the ferry leaves on Thursday.

The original box is an AAP code 5-speed.

Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

Niall

peasant

Bugger !

Here's a list of all Gearboxes that VW ever used in T3's


http://www.t3-infos.de/images/T3-Getriebe.pdf


Haven't got the foggiest at the moment where to get one, but will see what I can dig up

Some German collegues inform me that ASL is a good match, same as 3H which is a diesel gearbox and would need the connecting flange from your broken box swapped over in order to fit your engine.

peasant

Have you got any sort of insurance cover / roadside assistance that would cover you getting a gearbox shipped (or alternatively get the van home)?

Or do you need to get it fixed there and then?

peasant

Another update.

Apparently you can use any gearbox that has the new type gear linkage (post 82/83) to limp home.

You may have to change the bell housing from Diesel to Petrol
http://www.kaefer-co.de/technik/pdf/getriebeglocke.pdf
and you may not like the ratio of the "new" gearbox (at all), but it should get you home.

peasant

Niall

Your call for help has reached half of western Europe

There is a thread about you in all VW fora, but especially in this Fernch one (Via brickyard and 80-90 forum) ...which I think probably is your best bet for help:

http://www.t3zone.com/new/v3/viewtopic.php?t=10650

Gotta love the internet

nmacc

Thanks guys,

The Brickyard folks have been very helpful too. The info on alternatives is very welcome; just hoping we can track something down before the boat sails!

Niall

nmacc

Unfortunately the camping club insurance won't cover anything over 17 years old and at 21 ours is well outside the pale. You reallllly don't want to know how much it's cost just to get back to the campsite.

N

nmacc

Access to campsite PC very limited. Would really appreciate if anyone had contact ph numbers for any helpful French VW / Westy guys. Have a couple of offers from bi-lingual guys here on the campsite who will speak to the French contacts and translate my requirements / tech questions etc.

If anyone could provide phone numbers tonight, at least I could make some calls in the morning whilst I am waiting for campsite PC.....

Must locate gearbox by end of day tomorrow in order to have it shipped and installed to make ferry back with family on Thursday. Any help much appreciated.

Niall

peasant

Sorry, can't be of assistance here.
Don't speak French and am not in contact with the French site, but I take it you are ?

nmacc

French guys being very helpful but no luck with gearbox yet. Thanks anyway.

Niall

nmacc

Although local French help coming in the morning to see what can be done, still no gearbox in France so would still appreciate if anyone can help with this. I can rent a car from the local garage and drive where ever to pickup, so still need urgent help with this.

Did get helpful post at 7pm this evening re possible gearboxes in UK but too late to arrange next day shipping so its probably a French gearbox or bust!

All suggestions / leads / info welcome.

Niall

e42b

Hi folks,

I'm from the German forumvwbus.de in which peasant posted the question for help dealt with in this thread.

Since it seems that there is still no French gearbox available and the british opportunities will be too late I can offer to search for a gearbox in Germany and ship it over at least a part of the way since West Brittany is 1200 km away from my place.

But I need at least a bit of a feedback in order to start.
My mail address: MOD EDIT: address removed (Niall ..in case you DO need it, PM me)

regards
Elmar

nmacc

Lastest situation is that the some folks from the French T3 club turned up and have offered to give the van a home while the box arrives and to help with the install. We've sourced possible s/h boxes in the UK and there is a guy in Germany who rebuilds & improves the type AAP box.

Currently sourcing a French disposable jalopy to get us back on the Ferry tomorrow. An expensive way to do things, but the wife and kids don't need any more hassle than they've had already.

N

Malta1

When you say sourcing a "French disposable jalopy".....what exactly do you mean........are you considering buying and driving back......will you get stung for import duty
Suggest that you look at hiring a car and travelling as a walk on passenger. Get somebody to meet you this side. What port are you comming into and where are you heading to? Perhaps that is what you are doing

Best of luck