Need a transmission: Used,rebuilt, brand new?

[cobrAA]

I need quick advice because I need to make a move before next week.

Problem: My 2nd was grinding but after 5-10 minutes of driving( once my oil temp on my gauge was showing 140f) i had no problem with my 2nd gear. But I went to the drag( did 5 run) and next morning i took the car and I can't get into reverse but all my other gears are OK. So, I guess I need a new tranny right?

My option?
Used: Almost impossible to tell if the tranny is good or not. I have over 10 offer on used tranny but who know want it will break again hen?

Rebuild or brand new: I heard they go for pretty much the same price anyways. around 2500-3000 + installation right?

I called a jdm shop around my area and he told me he would swap my tranny for an used one for 1000$ and I pay him after testing the new used tranny + i get a 30 days guarentee. Does it seem legit/right? Also, he could install me a new clutch for labor-free..

In the future: I was planning to get my turbo upgrade( -5 or -7) + the usual little mods to get to 450hpish. Should I use an used OEM tranny or get something stronger?

Please help me because I'm pretty confuse now..

[mcfly]

I would keep buying used transmissions. A rebuild as you noted already is going to be at least 3000 once you get all the parts. Keep in mind you have to use all r33 parts.

1000 seems pretty steep, that's more like an installed price.

[NismoS-tune]

I called a jdm shop around my area and he told me he would swap my tranny for an used one for 1000$ and I pay him after testing the new used tranny + i get a 30 days guarentee. Does it seem legit/right? Also, he could install me a new clutch for labor-free..

By the wording, it looks like it's including labour for install. Also since he offers free labour on the clutch install, that means he's making the money on the labour for the tranny swap. I'd say $1000 is good for the tranny he supplies and the price.

"he would swap my tranny for an (shoulda have been A not an) used one for 1000$ and I pay him after testing the new used tranny + i get a 30 days guarentee."

[cobrAA]

Thanks for the correction. I'm sure there's more error than just one.. I try to do my best.

Back on topic: It is impossible to rebuilt a R32? is it because the parts doesn't exist anymore?

And yes, JDMSKYLINE charge me 1000$ for labour + another tranny. And I will go try the car with him before paying. If it's not good, he will swap his second transmission for no extra charges.

I guess I can have 3 of these transmission swap before getting to my 3000$ rebuilt one. Also, is it guarentee that a rebuilt transmission will last longer than 3 or 4 used one?

[archaeic_bloke]

not at all man! usually renuilt transmissions are not as strong as a used one EVER!... no one builds em like the factory does...

except in the rcircumstance that you upgrade the parts with like an OS-Giken gear set or something like that.

go for the swap those JDM shops need your business as this RHD ban has made them suffer huge losses this year.

[cobrAA]

Also, he offer me to swap my clutch for a ACT Sage 2 for 650$. Does that seem legit? Is it a good clutch for street with some drag time/agressive driving?

[archaeic_bloke]

ACT and exedy are good, apparently the best clutch for GTR's is OS-Giken though... its on tyndagos notes for GTR... google it.

[Skym]

For upgraded gears in stock gearbox, PPG -

http://www.ppgearbox.com.au/

Rebuild of stock gearbox itself (not the transfer case) shouldn't cost more than $500 CAD (not including labor to remove gearbox). If need to change synchro's, then it cost's more. From what I understand it just involves pulling gearbox apart, changing seals, bearings, replacing synchro's (if you need to, but some might replace all of them), regrinding each tooth (profile) on gears.

[DarkCaporaL]

^ ^ The labor is what kills you with rebuilds. If you do it yourself, its prob a different story.

I usually look at the time it would take me to do the job, and then calculate how much money I could of made instead (because my time is also worth money!) vs how much money it will cost me and balance it out. I always ended up doing the job myself. lol

[christdeyoung]

For upgraded gears in stock gearbox, PPG -

http://www.ppgearbox.com.au/

Rebuild of stock gearbox itself (not the transfer case) shouldn't cost more than $500 CAD (not including labor to remove gearbox). If need to change synchro's, then it cost's more. From what I understand it just involves pulling gearbox apart, changing seals, bearings, replacing synchro's (if you need to, but some might replace all of them), regrinding each tooth (profile) on gears.

What does it cost to rebuild your used tranny with a PPG gearset? I can't find that anywhere.

[cobrAA]

^ ^ The labor is what kills you with rebuilds. If you do it yourself, its prob a different story.

I usually look at the time it would take me to do the job, and then calculate how much money I could of made instead (because my time is also worth money!) vs how much money it will cost me and balance it out. I always ended up doing the job myself. lol

Yeah But I don't have a garage and i'm ways too newbs to star playing in my tranny.

Anyways, I could get approx. 3 to 4 used tranny for the price a rebuilt. Let say used tranny last me at least one summer. I don't know if a rebuilt one could last 4 summer. So at the end, I think i'm better with a 2nd hand transmission and hope that it will hold longer than 1 summer.

[cobrAA]

**UPDATE**

I called a transmission garage and they ask me to bring the car for a free estimation and then I can do whatever rebuilt I want( just my 2nd and reverse or every gear). He also say that he can make me a CUSTOM CLUTCH so the spec I want( feel,torque,power etc.)

Do you think a custom clutch can be as good as a brand-named clutch?

[Skym]

Christdeyoung, search Mcfly's post's, as he posted pricing info on PPG, etc. From memory it's somewhere around 6-7K for the PPG internals.

CobraAA, if gearbox rebuild is done properly, shouldn't have any problems. The 3rd gear is the trouble gear in R32, R33 gearboxes. Most just shift softly into that gear (no flatshifting, etc).

Here's an example of PPG vs stock gears -

http://www.ppgearbox.com.au/files/imagelibrary/7_stock_vs_ppg.jpg

Can see the shreaded gear and how big the teeth are on PPG gears.

Best to stay with same brand for clutch cover, disc or discs, flywheel if possible, as they are designed to work together. But if you know what brands mix together, might be able to build custom clutch.

[cobrAA]

Christdeyoung, search Mcfly's post's, as he posted .



Best to stay with same brand for clutch cover, disc or discs, flywheel if possible, as they are designed to work together. But if you know what brands mix together, might be able to build custom clutch.

I'm not building it, the tranny shop is doing it. He will open the gearboxe and see what rebuilt it need. And I will ask me to reinforce or at least put a new synchro in my 3th.( might as weel do it on my 4th too)

[GTR-Dad]

Parts availability to fit your gearbox should be checked before having someone open it up. If you know the build date of your car you'll be able to tell whether it utilized early or late build gearbox. I'm going off memory here and stand to be corrected, but I think the later R32 builds used gearboxes that could be serviced with R33 gearbox parts. If you've got an old R32 box, you may be stuck with swapping it out for something else.

Although the shop should know this before they offer to service your transmission, your relationship with them will be better if these questions are answered before the car is in pieces.

GL,
Dan