915 Transmission Rebuild or Replace?
 

I have a 915 transmission that is going to be coming out for a rebuild. Thanks to the help of Wayne (Oh Ha Ha) and Mike Pillay. So I have some options and just curious what you guys have to say about it. First off the tranny has about 210k miles on it with only clutch replacements. The reason for the rebuild is because there was a loud BANG when it popped out of first gear. After that it wouldn't stay in first gear unless you forcefully hold it in and it feels horrible. Lots of teeth came out with the last fluid change. The other reason is due to the mileage. So it brings me to my options.

Rebuild it myself? NEVER done that before or even seen one apart. Plus I'd need all the special tools.

Pay to have it rebuilt? At Motor Meister :rolleyes: J/K!! Anyways it would be easy enough, just drop it off.

Buy a transmission rebuilt from somewhere like Carquip (are they good?) and sell/turn in mine as a core?

Buy a low mileage transmission from somewhere like LA Dismantlers, Parts Heaven, etc. and hope it lasts?

EDIT: For spelling.....

Get a quote from Henry at Supertec and you might be blown away by how reasonable it actually is to rebuild. Even with the freight from MI to CA.

Bill,
I just had an engine shipped from Phoenix, AZ to Detroit, MI and it was $320 via Yellow Freight. I imagine that a tranny, strapped to a pallet would be cheaper (lighter) than the engine on a pallet. I would send it to Henry at Supertec in Fallbrook, CA (I used to live in Fallbrook, but didn't do business with Henry as I didn't have a Porsche yet). Or send it to John Walker in Seattle. You could rebuild it yourself if you have the time/tools and inclination, not to mention patience. Here are a few links to fellow Pelicans who rebuit their own trannys and did a great job.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/268312-my-transmission-rebuild.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=159059&highlight=transm ission+rebuild+915

I vote for sending it out to be rebuilt.
With that said, I was looking forward to watching/helping you do the job yourself to learn. On the other hand, you DO want to drive it again someday.;) If we were closer we could set up the rebuild shop in my garage but with you 80 miles away it might difficult to schedule the time.

Mike will probably need a rebuild in the future. We could do his as a learning experience.

The parts are already expensive enough, so you are probably looking at putting out serious coin for that. I'd pay to have it done. JW does it for $500 in labor + parts. I don't think that's too much to get the job done right. My second choice would be to buy a good used one - if you can be assured it is good.

Bill- If you are mechanically inclined at all, and you must be or you wouldn't have asked the question, you should do it yourself. I just did it, it took three weeks, no special tools, except big a socket and crowsfoot. Murray's and Autozone will lend you the torque wrenches (deposit). It is most fun knowing what is going on when you move the shifter!! Read the posts about rebuilding and see if it sounds like something you would want to do. Cheers, Mike.:cool:

I would package it up and send it to John Walker's workshop........then you don't have to worry about it.

NF

If you have the time, tools and the patience to deal with your learning curve, doing it yourself may be interesting. But, then again, John Walker has does two 915 rebuilds for me and I would not hesitate to send one across country to him.

Send it out...and you won't have to worry. A local race shop did mine...they prep cars for the Rolex series etc...it was done in a week. There's plenty of other items for you tinker with in the car...might as well sleep well regarding the transaxle. However I do have desire to tear one down someday...after seeing mine apart at the shop...I'm curious :)

I did one full rebuild once with the help of a fellow who rebuilt several 915s through the years of his Porsche ownership. My '72 first generation 915 was royal pain to get the rear main seal right. Twice I had to pull it out of the car to reseal it. My second 915 rebuild, on our Carrera, I paid to have it done by a local shop who do 915s regularly. You do need some special tools and a good size hydraulic press. That said, it was not that hard of a DIY, but it helps to have a someone with you who has done it before. The parts are have recently gone up in price too (and will continue to do so most likely). Do not go cheap, replace everything that is a wear item. The thing that would worry me if I sent my tranny off, would be if I got the same one back or a comparable one. Certainly John Walker and the other reputable shops this issue would not be a problem. However I would be still marking my tranny case components, just the same.

Have it rebuilt. You know what you are getting.

Just had mine done, 14.3 labor hours (included R&I motor). another local shop quoted me 20 hours.

Replaced all the synchros, 1st, 2nd, 3rd gears...

If you core exchange your transmission, you do not know what you are getting. If a qualified local shop does the repairs and you have issues, you have someone to return it to and make it right.

I have never done a tranny, I understand how it works, but by the time I purchased the tools, books, and my personal time the savings to me wasn't worth the down time.

There is an excellent thread re this job if you DIY. This board will walk you through it if you run into problems.

Try here -
Gary Fairbanks Co
48 Fort Point St
NORWALK, CT 06855
203-866-2466