Can Audi transmissions be made to spin backwards?

[David Marshall <david@volkswagen.org>]

This is an on going debate on the Vanagon mailing list.  As many of you are
aware the Vanagon is a rear engined car.  The axles must rotate in the
opposite direction to make the van go forward as opposed to the axles on an
Audi.  In South Africia VW uses 2.6L Audi engines in their vans - this is
acomplished by using a different bellhousing on a Vanagon transmission.
The problem is Vanagons are approaching their age when the engines and
transmission are due for a very expensive rebuild.  Everyone wants more
power and the luxury of a 5 speed transmission in their Vanagon.  Is it
possible to flip the differential over in an Audi transmission to make the
axles spin backwards ( as it was possible back in the Type 1 era )?  

Thanks in advance!


-- David Marshall   				     --
-- 78 1.8L VW Rabbit, 80 2.0L VW Caddy, 87 Audi 5KSQ --
-- 85 VW Cabriolet, 88 2.0L VW Syncro 16" Double Cab --
-- Volkswagen Homepage   http://www.volkswagen.org   --
-- Volkswagen/Audi Parts http://parts.volkswagen.org --
-- mailto:david@volkswagen.org - Quesnel, BC, Canada --