914 tranny rebuild in Sacramento/SF Bay Area?, Need a referral to a quality shop Options

[6fahrer]

Hi Gentlemen,
I have a 1970 914-6 that still has its original tail-shift transmission on it (it seems to be in good condition, for a tail shifter). I recently acquired a 914-4 side-shifter trans that I would like to have someone rebuild, with an eye to installing it in my 6. I live in the Sacramento Area (California). Does anyone have a good shop to refer me to in either Sacramento or San Francisco Bay Area for this purpose? The side-shifter trans is in good condition already, but I'd like a top-rate, professional rebuild done on it before having it installed in my 6. Any suggestions or possible referrals would be most appreciated.

[Brad Roberts]

Try Ron Kain at IPB AutoSport in Sac. Ron races 914's with us in the PRC group.

If Ron wont do it... our 901 "builds" start at 4000$

I dont use worn out tranny cases when somebody asks for a "pro" job. We buy new tranny cases and install all new bearings/intermediate plate/new sliders/new synchro's/new dog teeth...

I'm finding that every 901 we pull apart has a loose pinion bearing race... and we have no fix for it.


B

[lapuwali]

How loose is loose? Are there no oversized bearings available from anyone? The case being Mg, welding and remachining probably aren't an option, but perhaps remachining to a larger diameter and fitting a custom-made insert might solve the problem. Al has about the same coefficient of expansion as Mg, so an Al insert would do the trick.

Unless new cases are still being cast, I'd imagine at some point something like this will have to be worked out.

Just thinking out loud...

[Joe Bob]

Bradholio....stay waiting on a guestimate for a sporto R/P 901 for Wyld Thang.....

[Brad Roberts]

WEVO and I have spent some time looking at a solution for the 901. By the time the machine work is done and the bearings sourced... you can buy a new case for 100$ more.

Mike,

I flat out forgot. I'll try to have something for you this week. Rich is gone until Wed. and we are busy.


B

[Joe Bob]

Yep....everybody is busy....wish I had five hands to keep all the balls in the air.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mueba.gif)

[Red-Beard]

You are better off converting the tail 6 to sideshift. The intermediate plate on the 6 has the accel linkage in it and the depth is already set. During the rebuild, substitute the internal shift forks and rods, the side shift - shift console and the side shift tail cover.

For the shift rod, clamp a side shift rod to a long 2x4 and then cut out the bent region and subsitute straight rod.

Finally, you also need to aquire a side shift gear selector, since the tail shift and side shift units are different. Oh Yeah and you need the conversion bushing in the fire wall.

Do use the new bushings and check the wear on the shift rod. If there is a lot of slop in the bushing to shift rod spacing, weld, braze or solder additional metal onto the rod and smooth out for an even better shifting unit.

If you don't use a Rennshift, do not forget the springs and bushings in the gear selector. If you do all of this, you will have a much much better shifting car. If have done all of this on my 6.

James (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool_shades.gif)

[theol00]

Brad - are the materials in your $4000 transmission made out of platinum?

[sgomes]

If Ron wont do it... our 901 "builds" start at 4000$

Um, Brad... Can you email me offline? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

[Brad Roberts]

Relax Shannon. It is almost impossible to quote a gearbox without having it apart to see what is good and what isnt. Your box had some new parts in it. It is MUCH easier to quote high and come in lower than to try and "get" more money out of someone after the quote.

theol,

add it up.

Some of the bearings are over 300$. The new case is something like 625$. First gear slider is in the 400$ range. I can see 4k pretty quick.


B