Are there any quick, REALLY reputable 915 rebuilders out there?
 

I've been around sports cars long enough to know that the countryside is just teeming with scoundrels, incompetents, liars, scam artists, just plain losers that advertise or claim to be THE guys to work on your MG, Porsche, or whatever.
I'm also aware that COMPLETELY legitmate businesses employing the highest degrees of personal integrity and impeccably diligent business practices are frequently victims of slander on boards like this around the web by clients who are disappointed by legitimate sheer expense and protracted time frames of competent, workmanlike repairs on our expensive vehicles, and a sage old businessman told me once that if a business doesn't have anything in their Better Buisness Bureau file, it's probably because they don't do much business and probably won't be around long.
The closest example which I can give from my own experience is FAT Performance, with some 914 2.0L heads some years ago. I sent them, they did them. They said that they had the cure for dropped valve seats by a special staking process, and they delivered. I'd use them again. BUT...FAT does not do 915 gearboxes. So I bit the bullet, and paid "book" hourly at 95 an hour to have the local air-cooled Porsche shop do it. They charged me 14 hours labor WITH the trans out of the car, and that and a new clutch billed out at a whopping 4619.00 including taxes, etc. and got my car back in a few days with a warranty. When I tell people this, they often say "aren't their rebuilts out there?" or isn't there a place that you can send it that specializes in these where you can just send it out and they do an exchange or turn it around real quick?" (since I spent around 2K getting mine fixed 4 of 5 synchros, sliders, dogteeth). Any thoughts. experiences, or, most importantly reports of consistently POSITIVE experiences with rebuilders?

John Walkers Workshop
http://www.johnwalkersworkshop.com/
206.789.6800
7613 Greenwood Ave. N.
Seattle, WA

Do a search for Gary Fairbanks in CT. John Walker may also receive and rebuild trannies.

Yes, JW does receive and rebuild trannies. He's the guy I trust. He rebuilt mine.

Joe,
I believe WEVO is now offering these services, too. Tyson Schmidt, ace Porsche wrench, innovator and race driver, joined Hayden to offer some services, in addition to R&D work. I'm not sure that they do pure rebuilds (not including some upgrade), but I know WEVO's reputation is outstanding.
In a discussion of some weeks ago, Hayden (the owner) had said they will be doing transmission services in house.

Doug

Fairbanks was a cranky ol B when I called on 2 sep occasions -
JW is not

Does John do mail order rebuilds? Didn't know that. He's been nice enough to respond thoughtfully to an email of mine and a couple of posts and seems like a nice, reputable guy who knows his buisness. I'm in MN, but if I lived in or anywhere near his area, I'd have brought my car to him for sure.

Doug, you trying to sweet talk some nice WEVO stuff outta Tyson? haha.

John Walker saves baby seals and is renewing the ozone layer, now wouldnt you wanna support that?

Why not shoot him a PM, and find out directly from the man himself?
Seems easy enough.

i do accept mail-in rebuilds. 5 hours labor plus parts needed, which varies, of course. all i ask is that you build a sturdy 2x4 and plywood crate, no larger than necessary, that i can use to return it, and drain the oil. UPS takes up to 150#

I sent two transmissions to John. One to be rebuilt (had a bad R&P in it) & the other to scavange parts (R&P) from. The plywood box I built was about 32 in. X 20 in. X 24 in. (in that range of measurements), weighed in at a little over 140 lbs. & cost about $100 to UPS from So. Cal. to Seattle. Check with John about the way you can support the tranny inside the box so it doesn't come loose & bang around. My first one came loose, although no damage was done. You might also want to check the cost to send it via Greyhound standby. It may be a lot cheaper, although John might have to pick it up at the terminal, so if you do that clear it with him before hand. I haven't gotten to put it in my car yet, but he was straight forward & I felt trustworthy and priced very fairly. I wanted somebody to do mine I felt I could trust.

Henry at Supertec is great too. he takes "mailed in" work too.

Fairbanks evidently knows his stuff, but dealing with him doesn't give you the warm and fuzzies, thats for sure. For that much money, I prefer somebody who actually gives a crap. he doesn't seem to.