Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 08:53:56 -0800
Reply-To: Florian Speier <groups.florian@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Florian Speier <groups.florian@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Should I replace my transmission?
In-Reply-To: <200911061646.nA6GkaG62882@sbw.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
mine has been whining like you describe ever since the rebuild...... that
was 30kmiles ago.
florian
On Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 8:46 AM, Steve Williams <sbw@sbw.org> wrote:
> 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!
>
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