Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (November 2009, week 1)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Fri, 6 Nov 2009 08:46:33 -0800
Reply-To:     Steve Williams <sbw@SBW.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Williams <sbw@SBW.ORG>
Subject:      Should I replace my transmission?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

A few hundred miles after GoWesty installed the 2.3L engine in my '84 Westy, its standard transmission started whining. There was no apparent cause. It just started one day and hasn't gotten better or worse. That was in June. I've driven about 13,000 miles since. The van has 127K miles total.

Now I'm struggling with the question of whether to install a rebuilt transmission. I'd appreciate your thoughts.

I'm told the whining transmission might last another zillion miles. But I worry about it constantly! It really kills my buzz whenever I'm driving, and that's a big deal for me right now.

I can handle the cost, but of course the cost worries me. I think it's a good investment, given how much I rely on my Westy. But should I economize, and just live with the whine? Other options?

Here are the details:

The whine goes up in pitch with wheel speed, whatever gear I'm in. It's louder than the engine, so sometimes I forget I'm in third gear! The whine is audible only when the engine is driving the wheels. Coasting or going downhill, there's no whine at all, even when the wheels are driving the engine.

When it started, I had the transmission oil checked: It was full, and there was no obvious metal floating around.

A GoWesty drove it a few weeks ago and was confident the whine was coming from the "main bearing" (my words).

The quote from GoWesty:

Overhauled transmission: $1,400 Gear Oil: $42 Labor R&R: $380 Tax: $119

Total: $1,941

http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=4283

There's also a $750 core charge.

http://www.gowesty.com/view_page.php?name=Tranny_Core_Sheet

That seems pretty reasonable, and GoWesty has done a good job for me up to this point, even if they're not the least expensive. Right now, I'm in the S.F. Bay Area, but I enjoy the drive down to Los Osos.

They say they can do the swap in one day. I've got an appointment for November 16.

I don't expect other costs to crop up. My clutch feels fine. GoWesty inspected the clutch at the engine swap and reported it was fine. (Their clutch kit is $180.) They also replaced a bunch of shifter bits when the engine was done.

Thanks for your advice!


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.