Vanagon Diesel/turbo Diesel convesion

[vegiDsl]

i just had an 85 1.6 turboDiesel engine installed in my 82 Westy along with an 85 4 speed (bought as an 83 5 speed) transmission.
i learned that the later Diesel gearbox mounts about an inch toward the passenger side, takes a late style shift linkage, and is engineered for different engine support bars and mounting brackets. the  Turbo requires different drivers side support bar and bracket from the NA engines. The passenger's side bar can be used, but the turbo oil fill tube won't clear.
it was quite a project without any of the proper parts, but we fabricated a working set up from the early bars and brackets. and if you heard that a 5 speed for the Diesel vanagon has a different shift linkage than the 4 speed, not true. the difference is between early and late style shift linkage. all 82 Diesel tranys were early style; 83 5 speeds could be either.
any questions on the project, don't hesitate to ask.

[deepseafortydog]

If its not too late to ask...

I have an '84 and an '85 both vanagons.  One is a 4spd manual with the 2.1L and the other is a 3spd Auto with the 1.9L.

I will eventually put a TDI in one or the other.  I was wondering how to find out what the gear ratios are for the 4 and 5 spd manuals and the automatic.  

Judging by the cruising speed RPMs for both vehicles, it wouldn't be worth swapping in the diesel...

Any thoughts?

[vegiDsl]

Sorry it took me so long to get back here.
i know next to nothing about the ratios in Gasoline engine transmissions. the only thing i can tell you is the Diesel 5 speed does not have a much higher top ratio than the 4 speed box. it might be the same as the 4 used with the turbo Diesel.
the low gear is a real stump puller. I've been stuck on a couple inclines when i could have used it. My rig will not pull much hill from a dead stop. i have backed down for a running start more than once. the big advantage of the 5 speed in the Diesel is closer ratios. with the power to wight ratio the Diesel Westy has, it would be a big help.

[vegiDsl]

i now have a genuine JX turbo Diesel Vanagon engine with 5 speed gearbox installed. what a head ache. mostly because of work that was done by a previous owner being done badly.
i was wrong about the shift linkage. there is one important difference in the 5 speed rear link rod; it connects to the gearbox higher off the ground. the front linkage is made to bolt up to a different shift lever. VW basically changed the gender of the parts; on the 4 speed the pivot bolt goes through a tube on the end of the shift lever and two ears on the end of the linkage rod. on the 5 speed it is the other way around and a different "shift guide" or what i call a lockout box is used.
so much for the accuracy of the picture i was relying on.