Just thought that I would post a few money shots of the tranny that I rebuilt for a customer. All new everything that needed it and some that didn't plus an aluminum intermediate plate. This thing is pretty enough to have as art in the home! I did not clean the case, it came to me that way (as I perfer) and really sets the tone. Also, now standard on all of my full rebuilds are new SS nuts and washers.......I love this tranny. I may not let it go

how did you get the unibomber shack from SD to PA?

nice!

HA! I upgraded to an actual garage built by professionals

ROFL - i liked the padlock on your shack.

coming back to SoCal anytime soon? we miss ya mang.

AA

Too poor and too busy with the whole shool thing. It kills me to see all of the posts form out there with you guys having fun, in the winter, in shorts

I am trying to build a 914 army out here, but everyone lives so damn far away and their cars keep breaking....I mean like more than usual.

I am hoping to be out in San Jose for my wedding in Oct of 07, but I still have a lot more trannies to rebuild and bolts to sell before I can feel confident about that. We shall see.........Dead man walking

Very nice Mike. Is it easy to ship a tranny? I don't need a rebuild yet but I have never shipped anything large .......anywhere.

Someday maybe I can bring my tranny down there and you can have your way with it.


That one looks like the shift mechanizm is like mine.

Good question, Tim. Since I started doing the "you send me the gear stack and I will rebuild it" thing it has gotten much easier. The stack alon weighs 36lbs and via FedEx cost next to nothing to ship. From here to Atlanta was $16 about. You can send the case too for about the same amount. The big weight in the case besides the stack is the dang diff. I mean look at it, its solid metal! Just sending me the stack for a rebuild opens up a rebuild to more people, lowers the cost of labor and shipping, and becomes more of a value to the community.

I am gonna be putting an ad up in the resources after my test on the 19th that will have fully illustrated instructions on how to remove and install the gear stack so you can send it to me (or work on it yourself). It will be a great resource all around. I already have some killer pics for the how to. I cant wait.

I have been fielding a lot of PMs and phone calls lately from DIYers and I want folks to know that that I am glad to help them out. So far all of them have resolved well and people are happy and less apprehensive about their trannies.

Even if you wanted to send me just the stack for an evaluation that would be cool (and free!). I'll look at anyones internals, anytime, anywhere I can for no charge. I just realy like working on these things and heloing out the community all while keeping some groceries inthe fridge

Just your garden variety side shifter

I'll be up in your neck of the woods before school starts Aug 14. Gotta see my homey Leo, and the rest of ya muggs.

OH OK

I guess I am kinda used to seeing pictures of tail shifters and wevo converted side shifters.

If I didnt know better I wouldnt think it was an average side shift. I have never seen one so clean The aluminum intermediate plate kind of throws off the look as well.

Where's the wig?

? Wig?

AAAhh? Don't you have some studying to do? What about us old guys who may have to rely on your medical expertise someday? My tranny is fine but my right knee hurts like a beeotch. Come home soon. We all miss you.

Elliot

I miss you too Ellyut

.....and I am studying

That's nice!
It will be a perfect complement to the SDS injected RAT 2270 being installed in the creamsicle LE.
Thanks Mike!

Hey Doc,

Can you give us a general idea what the "average" (whatever that is!) rebuild is running on one of these for parts? Or mabybe some kind of minimum and maximum range?

That would give us non-edumacated types some idea of what to budget for. I believe I've heard you say first alone runs about $500 for parts - so that's the first line item. Plus synchro bands, sliders, etc you "typically" replace - give us some ball park numbers to work into the tranny budget.

Oh, and BTW...

Jeff

No

NO!!!!


You can go back to the left!!!

Anyway, do I get to see pics of mine? :-P

All depends on how worn your parts are. I had 2 trans that both had acceptable 1st gears. Actually I think the one I'm getting back only needed a bearing. The rest was ok, Right Evil??

I gave him the second for parts.

I dont remember at the present time. It'll be next week before I can dive into that turd ya gave me It was dirty, thats about all I can remmeber. All of your internals were coated in a nice mud like substance.

Jeff, I will be adding that info when I post my add, but for a general idea here are some current prices that I am seeing (ballpark):
-1st slider = $450
-1st synchro teeth = $130
-2nd - 5th synchro teeth = $130
-Seal kit = $40
-Drive shaft intermediate berring = $150
-Synchro bands = $60

And I have some realy great used stuff that would of course save someone money and would be perfectly serviceable. Just an option for the fiscally challenged.

What I am seeing as far as a general trannt rebuild is:
-1st gear parts
-second gear sunchro teeth
-maybe 2nd gear slider (cant remember price as they just went up from my vendor. I have some great used ones anyway)
-2 or 3 synchro bands
-Intermediate plate bearing.

I am always looking for good used first gear parts to help offset the cost. I also have a great digi cam to take pics and email them for review of parts so the customer can have an informed decision on what can go into their box.

Thats a BRIEF overview of a typical to slightly worse thatn typical tranny rebuild as of late. It all depends on the box you start out with.

Thanks, Chris. I am glad you like it. What you said is a real complement

HEY!!

i thought you said mine was the best trany.... i feel so used.


that is a nice piece of work i must admit...

Yours WAS the best tranny, until this one came along all DRAINED and CLEANED and with an aluminum intermediate plate to put in it.

I still love your tranny......I just love this one a little more. Its not you, its me

LOL

And mine is just dirty.

I didn't even know you would be taking it.



But still you get a



and




For our help and all the work you do.

Dirty, and has painful memories attached to it....or have you forgotten dropping it on my foot already

Yeah you'll forget all about them when you get your hands on my magnesium tranny with external oil cooler

Seriously me thinks I probably need synchros at some point. And the way I keep knicking gears I may need those too.

Nope, you should defiently not need gears. If you look in trhe first few pics you will see that the gears are always intermeshed unless something catasrtophic happens. The grinding you are hearing is you selector sleeve and your synchro teeth not playing nice because your synchro bands are probably shot. Once they start to grind, and you are sure it is not the various bushings or adjustments causing it, it is wiser to take the tranny apart at that time. The longer you wait the more expensive the parts are gonna be to replace.

Mike, you are a real asset to the 914 community and your innovative 'send me just the gear stack so I can save us both hassle' is awesome. Your enthusiasm about trannys is admirable...keep up the energy. Once you start working on people for a living, will this fine service disappear? I hope not, you have a tranny reputation that is golden...When I need tranny service you have my bizness...

Your comments about cleanliness are right on too, I see the same thing with my harness work. People send me dirty cores all the time and thats ok, becasue I just cut them up anyway. But when someone wants a repair, it makes our job so much easier if the 'patient' is clean to begin with and we appreciate it when the customer goes to the trouble to clean it up. We dont have to charge them just for cleaning...and I tell my customers that before they ship their harnesses to me.

Jeff, the feeling is totally mutual I have always admired your work and the value it is to our community. Seems like we could both use a prep nurse I am going to do this service until I can not do it any more. Same with the CV bolts. School and such will cause volume to decrease, but I do not intend to stop.

Thanks again for the kind words, ya made my day

What do you use to get the filler and drain plugs/bolts free?

IanStott
Moncton
Canada

A big-ass Allen wrench.
17mm I think.

I've been squirting mine with penetrating fluid for the last 5 days and they won't budge. I am hesitant to put heat to it, any suggestions?

Ian Stott
Moncton
Canada

PS. Who is a good source for the exhaust stud bolts? Are some better than others?

get a cool 17mm hex ket socket.

1/2 drive.

then, replace with NEW 911 style ones which are a 19mm bolt head....

I actually used an Allen socket thing. 3/8 drive. Couldn't find an Allen wrench that big.

I have had to use a long pipe on my allen wrench a few times before.
Avoid using heat on a magnesium gearcase.
The thread is tapered so it will get easier quickly, once you break it free.
I think a lot of people over-tighten these plugs.

How does one get the magnesium case looking so good (without painting)?

I have not had great results with Fantasik, engine degreaser, carb cleaner, or brake cleaner.

Media blasting

I have a question:

Why do we need billet intermediate plates?

I have never seen one fail?

The bearings are held in with a plate?

I have used them and installed 20-30, but never really saw a need for it??

Do we use them because *somebody* told us too?

I have had issues with the shift rods hanging up in the billet when the tranny is hot.


Just curious.



B

Clarkcou, you can heat the tranny with a torch. Do not get it red hot obviously, but I have yet to set one on fire.....soon I am gonna do a myth busters ont he flamability of the alloy. After my test Wed...

B,
I actually agree that I do not see the reason for the aluminum plate other than it looks really cool. Not $500 cool, but cool.
I have yet to see a tranny have an issue like described in the sales brocures. I have seen trannies with the teeth completely gone from 4 of the gears and the intermediate plate was still intact. I would be very interested in hearing about anyone with failures such as noted in the sales hype for these just to beter inform anyone who would ask me.
But, if someone wants one I will install it.

Back to studying.....

We need them when the bearing races spin freely in the original intermediate plate and or the holes become egg shaped.

The steel (or cast) retainer does keep the races from falling out of the intermediate plate when the bearing bores are too large, but it does not prevent the races from spinning.

I have also seen 901/914 gearboxes with pinion shaft races loose in the case.

These are old trannies and some have been abused on the track with larger (2.7 +) 911 engines for years before failure. Once they start failing, they are junkyard material.

In other words, we need the aluminum intermediate plates when the orig intermediate plate will no longer retain the bearing race, while at the same time, the remaining trans case will retain the pinion and main shaft races. Otherwise, we need to source a different trans case to start with.


just my 0.02 from rebuilding more than my share of gearboxes.

I think my tranny rebuild article is still up and running, which describes how to yank the gear stack while the tranny is still in the car.

What are people using to clean up their tansmissions?

ian Stott
Moncton
Canada