vertex transmission rebuild

[khamul02]

There are a ton of old posts about their rebuilds but I don't see anything recent. At $3800 I'm questioning the thoroughness of the rebuild. Anyone running one of them for a decent number of miles?

[Matt Monson]

Try Howard Freeman at Eurosport in Gulfport. He goes by his full name here if you want to pm him.

Avoid vertex and cogs in your part of the country. No Bueno.

[porschedude996]

Several things to think of. I have purchased smaller items from them and wasn’t happy. They converted a double acting distributor advance pod from a Mercedes, and I didn’t like the craftsmanship.

It’s like anything in this world. There are always several paths to get to the end result. With this way of purchasing, you don’t see the exact number until after the fact. Your price “may grow”.

I’m thinking that $3,800 is a good price if they do everything others do during their rebuilding. Your cost will definitely increase if there are unserviceable things in your core. let’s say the Ring and Pinion are bad in your core transmission. They would deduct the cost from your core deposit.

When I recently had my transmission, I had intended to perform a rebuild myself. My trans trans “Poop di’ Diaper” as they say in Italy. I’m joking, i made that up… My rebuild took another path. My new Porsche Ring and Pinion was $4,000. My new main shaft was $2,400. I purchased these because I wanted a rebuild to last my remaining years on the planet.

I posted my path here:

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/1141224-915-transmission-rebuild-1983-911sc.html

I you purchased this from vertex, your core would probably be rebuilt with a good used Ring and Pinion and sold to the next guy (with a core return), and on and on. Effectively you would pay for that good used Ring and Pinion.

Ring and Pinion gear sets are not the usual thing bad during a rebuild. I am giving you a example of what my transmission could cost. Mine was pretty bad when I bought my car several years ago. That’s what happens when previous owner drove the car while low on gear oil. It should have 3 liters (3 quarts). When I drained the transmission after purchase, I collected 8 oz.

My list of parts was extensive and expensive. Because the tool needed to setup the Ring and Pinion is 2k, snd I couldn’t find one to borrow, my path led me a more exposed cost. At any given time I could call it quits.

I sent everything I had, cheap bearings, non-Porsche Synchro Rings, etc. to my rebuilder. He will not use bearings from a Chinese source. He uses exclusively porsche parts, and a few parts he does offer an upgrade. His cost to assemble was $1,500. But that is à la cart. If anything is bad, it would add on to the price. He does used source gear sets from tomparts. He is on ebay, a reputable guy by the way, and sells to my rebuilder.

My transmission needed about “everything “, minus the case. Well not quite that bad… Another thing that my rebuilder and other rebuilders find, is the center bearing support issue. The bearing race the center support beats the aluminum and increases the hole where the race is pressed in. It is supposed to be an interference fit. My bearing races spun in their bores. That added $450 to the bill. They bore and sleeved both bearing support holes. Way better than lok-tight or knurling.

After receiving and inspecting my tub of parts, actually the biggest camping cooler they make, he called and we went over all the options.

I chose the Platinum route, not his words. After they rebuilt my original transmission, they ran it on a test stand for quite along time.

Back to the “Tub”, I paid for freight both ways. I bet your $3,800 does not include freight both ways. Remember further distance, more cost. Vertex is in Miami, a fair ways from Mississippi. My distance was 400 miles. I picked up at the freight dock, different than the regular FedX terminal. I used my truck; you need to consider higher freight pickup and drop off.

All in all, consider and understand the paths. Your mileage may differ.

[MBAtarga]

Tom, Matt is a big contributor to Pelican and he knows his transmission components. Trust him and take his advice.

Parts cost of a true "rebuild" could easily run $4k themselves.

[Rodsrsr]

Looks like they're doing complete engine rebuilds now.

[boyt911sc]

Contact Mark Epstein for your transmission rebuild. He is reliable and trustworthy.

Tony

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by Rodsrsr

Looks like they're doing complete engine rebuilds now.

Is that where Motor Miester ended up?

[dwa917]

just chipping in...

Recently paid - in the last 2 years... in the EU...

1974 Carrera 2.7 MFI gearbox rebuild... No major damage, unknown gearbox and was rebuilding engine on purchase, so while I was in there... added a ZF LSD - cost 6k Euros

77 Mag 915/61 to be built for Blue 2.8 RSR type build - lots of machining to case including:
Final Drive Bearing Bridal Modification
Differential Carrier Bearing Modification
Main Case bearing bridal insert
Final Drive shift bush Modification
Reinforced side cover (including machining to match differential housing
and everything inside replaced - including new gear sets, LSD, R&P, shafts, etc...
cost - 20k euros...

none of that included shipping...

just depends what you want to do...

to echo others... Matt knows what he's talking about...

[Rodsrsr]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

Is that where Motor Miester ended up?

lol, that thought crossed my mind.

[mepstein]

Originally Posted by boyt911sc

Contact Mark Epstein for your transmission rebuild. He is reliable and trustworthy.

Tony

Thanks Tony. We charge $1450 + parts. It’s impossible to know what parts you need until you open the trans. We charge right around what pelican charges for parts- or less.

[A930Rocket]

Interesting topic. I rebuilt my 81 911SC 915 transmission and my 87 930 transmission twice. In all cases, I did not get down to the ring and pinion, only the gears, dog teeth, synchronizers, etc.

The first and second gears on my 86 911 are difficult to get into. I’ve tried different scenarios of pressing the clutch, pressure on the gearshift knob, stopped/slowly moving, etc..

At some point, I’ll probably pull the engine and transmission. Rebuild the transmission and freshen up the engine aesthetics.

[Porchdog]

Mark Epstein has my transmission right now. His reputation in SE PA is stellar.

I'm a pretty dedicated DIY'er. For $1450 + parts, I couldn't see trying to do this myself.

I've had my car for 30 years. I'm hoping this lasts as long as I'm still driving it.

[shoooo32]

I'm building another 915 for a friend right now. Bearings alone are $1250 (my cost for OEM FAG/SKF/Schaeffler). All in total it was about $2700 in parts, so probably $3500 purchased from Pelican? This gearbox already had machine work and a one piece bearing retainer done by Wevo in 2005, so that saved about $1k. The Wevo bearing insert held up great (and I know this car was exercised properly

[mepstein]

Shipping, to us or your favorite rebuilder, is easy. Drain the trans. 120qt igloo cooler from Amazon. Cut a piece of plywood the same size as the bottom of the cooler. Ratchet strap the trans to the plywood and drop it in the cooler. Plywood keeps the trans from moving and poking the shift shaft through the end of the cooler. Some foam or cardboard to take up space in the cooler and then duct tape it shut. Since it’s well less than 150 lbs, FedEx and ups will accept it as a normal package. Easy to put in a car or have picked up at your door.
I do this about once every week or two and often send the cooler, duct tape and FedEx label to the customer and have FedEx pickup at the doorstep. I’ve shipped to Australia, UK, Japan, Canada, and all over the US. Seems to work well.