thoughts on rebuilt tranny's....
 

my targa's tranny finally gave up yesterday. was popping out of first and was babying it so i could rebuild her come winter (since march)
now she's stuck in second, drives fine, no noise, just stuck in second. (i checked all the linkage....it's in the tranny)
i was considering rebuilding this myself (i want to pull it apart anyway) but have heard of quality rebuilt pieces for $1000-$1500 with my broken one as the core. didn't see much with mr. search button, so i turn to you :)

the next time my 911 comes out of the garage (spring) it will be a whole new animal :D

I would rebuild your own. The parts will cost you about the same if you are replacing everything, and you will know exactly what you are getting.

You will need the following special tools:

13mm socket and wrench
4mm punch
17mm wrench
27mm impact socket
32mm impact socket
impact wrench
access to a press - to install the new hubs to the gearsets
some method of removing the synchro hubs from the gearsets - I normally use a small dremel tool with a cut off wheel and grind away the hub until I can crack it with a hammer and chisel.

A few tips:

1. Don't loosen the shift forks - they were set at the factory and getting them to line up perfectly again is a PITA. You can remove the forsk and rods together

2. Give yourself a good clean working area. The transmission is fairly easy to rebuild, but it is a big help having everything organized as you take it all apart. As you are taking things off of the input and output shafts, it really helps to lay everything out exactly as it came off. - you will thank yourself later.

3. A small wood table with a hole drilled in the center to accomodate the input shaft makes a good workspace - it is much easier to rebuild a tranny this way than "by the book"

4. Flourosilicone (dow corning 730) applied in a thin film on each sealing surface with the paper gaskets in between pretty much ensures a leak free tranny. locknuts and crush washers (same as the ones that come in a valve cover gasket set) are excellent for the lower cover.

Once you get the tranny out, you can rebuild a tranny (new synchros, hubs, etc.) in about 15 - 20 hours.

AFJ

Rebuild it and document.

I'm gonna be in the same boat in another year or so. I would put the wevo gateshift kit in there at the same time as the rebuild.

Agreed with AFJ.

The rebuild is pretty straightforward with the right tools. Do another search with some different terms and you'll find plenty of DIY 915 rebuild info. There's one topic that John Walker, Grady Clay, and a host of others walked a guy (rcecale) thru from dropping the engine to the finish. It's pretty good.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/159059-cant-shift-into-first.html

I'm in the disassembly stages of my first 915 rebuild with a friend of mine. Doesn't look too daunting and we're a couple of knuckleheads. Most important thing is to have the tools. Mark's got synchro hub press tools, a press, a custom crows foot for one of the shaft nuts..........

You're right though. You can pick up a used one for the price of a rebuild. I saw one in the classifieds the other day for $1000. But you still end up with a used trans. in the end.

AFJ and KTL - That is great info, realy useful info there thanks! I wil be tearing into mine later this year when the engine is out. It shifts great but I would like to give it the once over as it has 225000 kms on it!

Any tips on doing the diff bearings? Can they be done in with the tranny in the car?

Cheers,