Rebuilt trannies on the web

They sell a ton of them (along with another place in AZ that offers free shipping on the core) on ebay. Take a look at the feedback. They are probably rebuilt in Mexico or off-shore.

-jim

Chris H wrote:

You're better off with a good used one. We've had ZERO luck with aftermarket rebuilt ones. We no longer use anything but used or nissan factory remans at our shop.

Ebay feedback looked pretty good. Their website shows a shop in Phoenix that has a rebuild bench, stock of rebuilt and cores, and a 2 dyno testers. They claim to do it right there on site.

Chris

We're not talking about a racing unit, just a garden variety Maxima.

That's what I'm talking about to. We do mostly street car work and found that about 75% of the rebuilds we've installed from 3rd party sources (we tried about a dozen different places) didn't last even six months. Go ahead and try one and learn the hard way?

look around for a good used one, I see them on ebay once in a while.

I've been told that 4 speed autos are a complete bitch to rebuild, compared to the old 3 gear units. Too many things to go wrong in the process. A moment's inattention, and bingo, you lose. How top-shelf Mercedes or BMW owners will be getting their 6 or 7 speed autos fixed is beyond me.

I've had no luck with commercial rebuilds, although they were both domestic cars. One lasted a couple of days. (I nearly had to sue to get a refund, and the bastards claimed to have replaced the torque converter, which turned out to be a very big lie.) The other lasted only about 10,000 miles and fortunately it wasn't driven much, so lasted a few years.

I would go with a used one. At least, if the car it came out of wasn't crushed by an 18-wheeler.

JM

Because they use JUNK parts when they rebuild them. If they used the same quality parts that the OEM used when new, they'd be fine (like the nissan factory remans are). But these rebuilders don't and the sub-standard "wear parts" won't last more than 10-15K miles. Price factory clutches, soliniod packs and gaskets, then figure out how these guys can do these right for under a grand when good parts cost more than that without any labor.

Getting a salvage yard or used trannie for a 1990

Because after I've used 30+ "rebuilds" and had -everyone- break in less than a years time using almost a dozen different rebuilders told me these people cut too many corners and a used one is MUCH more likely to work right.

Go ahead and ignore the advice, sounds like you've already decided a rebuilt one from a cheap rebuilder is going to work like a new one.. Then you can tell other people in a year or less how a rebuilt one is a nightmare too!

I just don't see why you'd risk putting an old, possibly nearly worn out unit in a car when you can have a rebuilt unit that has had all wearing parts replaced. Getting a salvage yard or used trannie for a 1990 automobile and then busting your ass putting it in, only to wonder how long the thing's going to last just doesn't sound like a good business decision.

Help me understand this thinking. : |

Chris

Did I say I am ignoring your advice? Don't misinterpret my wanting a detailed answer being a statement that I'm ignoring your generalized view that all rebuilt trannies will fail before a used one will. I understand the point about cheap aftermarket parts as I was victim of a local franchise shop putting in bad synchros in my old Daytona trannie and then having to have it rebuilt by a reputable gearbox shop when it wouldn't shift properly. I'm sure you realize that a 1990 unit is gonna have around 100k miles so why should I risk putting that in my car?? And so, are you saying that having a good, local ATRA shop rebuild my existing trannie is also a bad decision? Also, I'm sure you realize this car is not being raced like the ones you're showing on your website.

I'm listening.

Chris

Yep. Are they using OEM nissan parts? If so they can't be doing it for under $1000 because of what good parts cost.

All 90 model cars aren't going to have 100K+ miles on them and many of the factory tranies last 200K+. I just telling you we've tried all sorts of rebuilders and gave up as we ending up eating them most of the time and doing them ourselves costs as much as a nissan reman if we use good parts so it's not worth it that way either.

Again 99% of our work is normal street cars..

Ok, point well taken. Right now I'm leaning toward having a local shop do the rebuild since he'll warranty it for a year and I can verify what kind of parts he's replacing with. He's said he has to get a new pump case if it's grooved too much. If not, they have them remachined so they maintain the tolerances. Plus, he uses Borg-Warner bands with linings he claims are as good as OEM. His rebuild price including R&R is around $1500. Going with a used salvage yard unit, I think, is too risky and I'd be down too long having to do it myself.

Chris

Obviously not! :-)

Utter BS but what do you expect him to say? You really think he's going to say "The OEM parts are much better but they are too expencive for us to make any money if we use them at this price point."? I bet he's using an aftermarket gasket seal kit and is going to only replace the bushings that are totaly shot etc..

It's like if you go to pepboys and ask them if their parts are as good as factory nissan and expect them to explain that "Dealer parts are higher quality while ours are cheap parts for people interested only in what the parts cost."

BTW is he going to replace the radiator or at least install an oil cooler to bypass the one that's in the radiator? The cooler is going to be ruined from the failed tranny and if you "flush" and try to reuse it, it will take out the new tranny in no time as the coolers used on later nissans plug up very easily.

Like I said, now you'll be able to explain to people what a nightmare a rebuild trany with garbage parts is like!:-)

$1500 would barely pay for the parts needed to rebuild the tranny right using factory parts so some corners are going to be cut to meet this price point which you say is including rebuild labor (aprox 12 hours once it's out of the car) and R&Ring it (another 5 hours) which at Atlanta GA prices would be $1250 before any parts are bought. Another question, do these people specialise in nissans or are they just a transmision rebuilder that works on Ford and GM's etc as well? Anyway I've already explained why you are making a mistake but you seem to believe this is the right approach. I'll be shocked if this rebuild works right for a year and might not ever work like you expect it to. Good luck.

Steve- I am curious to know why Atlanta Racing Enterprises warranties rebuilt transmissions for 12 months or 12,000 miles. I am assuming that you are affiliated with Atlanta Racing; my sincere apologies if I am in error.

More importantly, I would like to know what your suggestions on selecting a good transmission shop. For instance, is it reasonable to request OEM parts and corresponding documentation?

Personally, I locate repair shops by doing a search on the Better Business Bureau's website whenever I cannot get a friend's recommendation. I try to avoid taking my car to a dealer unless it is necessary or it has a Owner First Award of Excellence.

Ryan '93 Maxima GXE

How long would you expect? Is this too short a time? Only people like aamco do those "lifetime warranty" things and they always find a reason why the warranty isn't valid! Nissan remans are warrantied for a year and we built the manual trannies ourselves.

They'll never do it. The parts are too expensive compared to what they can buy them from "their source".