CMS and transmission rebuilds

[bugstrider]

Is CMS still in operation regarding transmission rebuilds and what has been your experiences?

Good or bad

I have read past posts about the quality of work that they do. I was thinking of dropping our tired 915 out of our 78 SC off with 260K on the clock in April when we pass through the region moving my son’s family to AZ. I wanted to have the drop scheduled and not show up unannounced. However, emails have not been answered and their phone just rings. My last email correspondence was back in 2017. I understand that they are/was a working shop but it’s been a week since the first email reaching out to them again and I just tried calling the shop and no answer.

Kinda curious if they were still in business or if ownership has changed and everything was all good.

Cheers


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[Matt Monson]

Keep trying. I spoke to Roger on Friday. He said they've been having some problems with their system the last week or two. He works from his home here in Colorado and when you call the shop is forwards to him. Something hasn't been right with it of late. I've called a couple of times and just got a busy signal.

Shawn, Bobby's son, does all the gearbox work these days. He's a very good mechanic. His father taught him well. Bobby does all the CNC manufacturing now and no longer turns wrenches on the boxes.

Another alternative would be to take it to Bill Rader Motorsports in Las Vegas. 702-767-9773. If you take it to him, you could take a peak at my Cayman that he's converting to a sequential gearbox. It's quite the project.

[Jeff Alton]

Roger/CMS just did 2 964 front differentials for us in the last month. We didn't have the time to do them, sent them out and pleased with results. Good experience on both...

Cheers

[ian c2]

Might be worth getting in touch with Tyson Schmidt at pro in Burbank .
https://www.promotorsportsla.com/services

All the good guys are busy , and they’re busy because they’re good .
It’s a pain , but it’s worth it knowing what you’re getting in the end ..

But he should be able to talk to you about what your best options are .

[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by ian c2

Might be worth getting in touch with Tyson Schmidt at pro in Burbank .
https://www.promotorsportsla.com/services

All the good guys are busy , and they’re busy because they’re good .
It’s a pain , but it’s worth it knowing what you’re getting in the end ..

But he should be able to talk to you about what your best options are .

Thanks for the info. I’ll give them a call and ask some question.

Cheera


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[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by Jeff Alton

Roger/CMS just did 2 964 front differentials for us in the last month. We didn't have the time to do them, sent them out and pleased with results. Good experience on both...

Cheers

Hi Jeff,

That’s good to hear. Being pleased with the work as well as the experience is important. I have no plans on tracking the car and just looking for a solid rebuild making it last for another few decades. If I just reassemble all of the bits that are out, then drive as is, then brake something internally while under power, I am afraid that the cost of the fix then could easily be 4x the amount of an overhaul now.

Literally, it doesn’t get any easier(I assume) to get the engine and trans out now. It’s the only thing left in the car. I just have never dropped the motor solo and it really sucks not having a garage and doing it outside. I really feel like I am at the mercy of the fickle weather.

Cheers
Trevor


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[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

Keep trying. I spoke to Roger on Friday. He said they've been having some problems with their system the last week or two. He works from his home here in Colorado and when you call the shop is forwards to him. Something hasn't been right with it of late. I've called a couple of times and just got a busy signal.

Shawn, Bobby's son, does all the gearbox work these days. He's a very good mechanic. His father taught him well. Bobby does all the CNC manufacturing now and no longer turns wrenches on the boxes.

Another alternative would be to take it to Bill Rader Motorsports in Las Vegas. 702-767-9773. If you take it to him, you could take a peak at my Cayman that he's converting to a sequential gearbox. It's quite the project.

Hey Matt,

I’ll keep trying to at least make contact. When I reached out in 17, Roger was quick to respond. Unfortunately, life kept getting in the way and the 911 got put on the back, back, back burner.

I was just trying to make contact again but I know things change in the industry, and it sounds like things have for Roger from your info. Especially if he spends most of his time in Colorado.

I just want to clarify what you mentioned. Bobby, Roger’s son now just focuses on the CNC and doesn’t work on the boxes? Do they do the overhauls anymore or do they just focus on all of their custom components?

I’ll reach out to Bill Rader as well, the more info the better. I think it’s going to be a road trip anywhere I take the trans too. I just want to be comfortable handing it over to a reputable shop for the work. There are a few shops here in Sac but none stand out as far as 915 specialists. Looking for something a bit more than, “we will give it a try, it’s not our regular type” response. I also realize there are other shops I don’t know about too. Just tryin to make the best informed decision.

Before turning the SC into a hover Porsche, the trans did what I would think is “natural”. Protested going into 1st at a slow roll. Slipped into gear most of the time with an occasional protest. It did do something that wasn’t normal though. Twice, while exiting the freeway at speed in 5th, I engaged the clutch and when I attempted to shift from 5th to 4th, it would not budge. Had to use some serious man muscle to get it out of 5th. Acted like it was locked in that gear. So, with those experiences, I thought it a good idea to get it looked at by subject matter experts.

Thanks again
Trevor


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[cnielsen]

Roger and the gang at CMS have done numerous transmissions for me and friends. Only had quick and reliable service...will definitely use them again.

[Matt Monson]

Bobby Hart is the founder and owner of CMS. He’s been doing it for decades. Shawn is Bobby’s son. He builds the gearboxes in the shop. Roger Brown is the sales manager/technical consultant. He’s always been in Colorado. He used to have the same job at Powerhaus II until about ten years ago, when they went under. He’s so good at what he does that Bobby hired him and agreed to let him work from Colorado. He flies or drives down to the shop in AZ several times a year to keep everything running smoothly.

[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

Bobby Hart is the founder and owner of CMS. He’s been doing it for decades. Shawn is Bobby’s son. He builds the gearboxes in the shop. Roger Brown is the sales manager/technical consultant. He’s always been in Colorado. He used to have the same job at Powerhaus II until about ten years ago, when they went under. He’s so good at what he does that Bobby hired him and agreed to let him work from Colorado. He flies or drives down to the shop in AZ several times a year to keep everything running smoothly.

Thanks Matt for clearing it all up. Makes sense now that I understand the players.

I was just finishing reading up on anther transmission thread you contributed on. Saw a pic of Shawn standing next to a box.

Cheers

[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by cnielsen

Roger and the gang at CMS have done numerous transmissions for me and friends. Only had quick and reliable service...will definitely use them again.

That is good to hear. Any idea of approx (I understand each box is unique) expectation of cost on a 915 with 260K, typical protests in 1st and a temperamental 2n on occasion. Just trying to get an idea of what to expect.

I was told of a box that had extensive repairs running $5900.00. I guess I’m asking if that is a “normal” number of what to expect?


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[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by ian c2

Might be worth getting in touch with Tyson Schmidt at pro in Burbank .
https://www.promotorsportsla.com/services

All the good guys are busy , and they’re busy because they’re good .
It’s a pain , but it’s worth it knowing what you’re getting in the end ..

But he should be able to talk to you about what your best options are .

PM sent


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[Jeff Alton]

We can rebuild that gear box for you as well, but it would need to ship across the border...

[3rd_gear_Ted]

Aase Motors in Fullerton is well known in the SoCal region for their 915 capabilities and results.

[Matt Monson]

If I were in Placervulle I would just have John Holleran build it.

https://www.holleranperformance.com

[bugstrider]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

If I were in Placervulle I would just have John Holleran build it.

https://www.holleranperformance.com

I’ll look into it. The only Porsche shop I knew of in Auburn closed a few years ago.

Had no idea that shop was even in Auburn. Who would have thunk it.

Thanks


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[bugstrider]

Random thought time........

I have been spending a ton of time reading as many 915 transmission threads as I can find. I know that I am potentially looking at several thousands of dollars depending on what is found once it's cracked open.

I would love to be able to tackle this job but there are several factors preventing me from attempting it. Since there are many folks on the forum that are way wiser in the ways of the 915 than me, I have a couple of questions.

1. Am I off base by thinking it might be a good idea to have the transmission gone through since it has 260k sitting on the clock?
-Due to suspension upgrades, everything it currently out.
-it wouldn't get any easier to drop things out.

2. What would be the dooms day scenario if I don't pursue a rebuild with the level of miles on the box and just keep driving it? I was told that if this was done, and something breaks then the repair bill would be substantially higher. Seeing gear sets range from $700-1100 each, this seems plausable.

3. If I pull the trigger on the rebuild, what upgrades/improvements are recommended for the stock 3.0 L, aside from any case related issues discovered? So far the CMS bearing support plate is at the top.

I guess the real question is either rebuild the transmission or start putting the funds towards the engine overhaul since it has the same amount of miles. This is when I really wish I was independently wealthy and could just say "screw it, do it all" lol. Then again, what fun would that be without these little challenges.....right?

Input is welcome.

Cheers


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