901 rebuild

tcramer · 01-11-2005, 08:24 AM

Hi guys,What does anyone think of a well-known tranny rebuilder who charges you 1500.00 for adding a 5th gear to a 4-speed,replacing a pinion gear and basically nothing else.When I asked him what parts(synchros,sliders etc.) he replaced he said that the parts are so expensive now that I wouldn't be able to afford them and that he has a way of turning parts around so they wear on the other side.I got ripped didn't I.Thanks,T.C.

john walker's workshop · 08:45 AM

this requires a different mainshaft/2nd gear set, as well as the 5th set and misc. other items. the pinion gear is always replaced along with it's matching number ring gear, not separately, so you must have gotten a used ring and pinion set. some guys flip the used syncros over instead of replacing them. a corner cutting move at best. shift sleeves are usually always worn out on 901s. flipping them does nothing. a disassembly to inspect the work would be the only way to rate the job, but it does seem a tad pricey, by a few hundred, for no new parts. post the bill.

tcramer · 01-11-2005, 08:45 AM

John,the tranny was originally a 5 speed so he didn't need a different mainshaft? and other parts?T.C.

Grady Clay · 01-11-2005, 08:47 AM

T.C.

Actually that sounds like a reasonable deal. Almost all the parts in a 4-speed are different from a 5-speed and you replaced the R&P also.

The shop didn’t just add a 5th gear, they replaced the input shaft which was 1st gear and is now a new 2nd. They added a new 1-R set and linkage. Changed the ratios for the 3rd and 4th gears. They possibly used your old 4th gear as 5th.

The only way this could be economically done is starting with your 4-speed and a good used 5-speed. Combining all the best parts, new syncros and sliding sleeves must not have been necessary.

Not only did this involve exchanging lots of parts, there was a lot of work in setting up the replacement ring and pinion preloads, position, and clearances.

Was this a flat fee or did you get an invoice for parts and labor? Did that include R&R and other? What warranty? How well does it work?

With a good builder, that is a very reasonable price just for the transmission.

Best,
Grady

john walker's workshop · 01-11-2005, 08:47 AM

you just said it was a 4 speed. 4 speed mainshafts are different that 5 speed mainshafts.

jluetjen · jluetjen's Garage

The thing is for $1500, you could find yourself an awfully nice 5-speed 901 and sell the gears from the 4-Speed for at least $300. If the guy had a 5-speed laying in the back of his shop he could have just swapped the parts into the 4-speed case or just swap the entire box.