Rebuild or find one done already?
 

Getting close to that time where were going to have either rebuild or replace my tranny. I've got synchro's wearing out in first and second. Not grinding all the time, sometimes never at all but I fear the next autocross I run.

I figure if I am in there doing the synchros... might as well do everything else. Unfortunately I do not have the patience or time for that matter to do it myself. So to do it right with a good trusted mechanic is running at most... 3500 bucks. (replacing gears, full overhaul, r&r, etc) I can save a bit of money collecting the parts myself. Probably go close ratio while I was at it.

Wouldn't it be more reasonable to find a rebuilt tranny since the 901 tranny is more "plentiful" than other parts of the car?

Yes.

It sounds like you have the will to do your own, so my advice is get Red-Beard to do the normal freshening thing he does ($750, started with a good gear set) to a core, and build yours as a spare.

You can never have enough.


M

I second Miles, but if you want to throw money at it and to get some new parts, he can do that as well. He could save you a good chunk of change over a shops rates. You are probably looking at $4k from a shop.
HTH

Thank for the Kudo's.

When I "refresh" a tranny, I use used parts from other trannies to make one that will work. $750. I can do the same with new parts, but it is much more expensive. I'll do the work, you pay me for the work, you buy the parts.

Now, if you are talking a "Close ratio tranny", what do you want to do with the unit? If you're on the street, the tranny is fine as it is. If you're a serious auto-crosser or racer, then you may want to go the gear changing route. And you are talking about getting into the $5000 region to start, since you will not want used parts and you will probably want to get a limited slip differential, etc. Again, same deal, you get the parts, I'll do the work.

A used tranny is a crap shoot. Unless you drive the car the tranny came out of, you will not know the condition.

James

BTW $3500 sounds right for a full rebuild between parts and labor. You buying the parts will not save anything.

James, you could also flip gears.. with a few dead boxes laying around, you have some choices!


M

The stock gears don't lend themselves to flipping and producing any advantage. The normal "flip" is "H" going into 5th for the V8's.

Only gears on the Pinion can be substituted into the input shaft when flipped.

Take a look at this:

901/915 Gear Ratios

As you know, on the 5 speed trannies, 2nd gear is not changable. However, on 4 speed units, the 1st gear (Same spot as 2nd on a 5 speed) is changable. So the best thing to do is find an old 4 spd to use it's pinion shaft, which will then let you create a highly modifiable transmission.

You could gnaw 2nd off the mainshaft.... lessee... one gear changed for about $3k..

I have an H 2nd, not an F!


M

http://dellepro.dellhost.com/gta/products.htm
You can order one from here. I have had 2 from these guys and they do good work. You can have it shipped and have a good installer put it in.

that rebuilder sounds fine, even though they offer a two year warrantee however... sounds a bit scary.

Gonna have to think about Red Beard's route since I am in the same state.

Up in Tahoe this week... the car is a blast around Emerald Bay on those 10 mph corners!

What a drag, all the streets here are 10mph, but straight.


M

For autocrossing flipping the 5th gear into 3rd is a nice way to go. Find another 5th gear with its matching drive gear to do it. That is the only change I would do besides all new synchos, dogteeth, and a new slider for 2 to 3rd.
Geoff

Tell Jeff I sent you.
http://www.transaxleengr.com/
Steve