recondition or replace

[nmemr2]

hey. i am starting to have issues with my gearbox. crunching into and out of gears and grinding even when clutch is hard to the floor,
i have heard that its massive money if i can find a new one so really my options are to either recondition to a high standard or replace with one from another "organ donor" car

im wanting to know who else has had this problem, more specifically with sw20's and what was done to rectify the problem and how effestive it was compared with the cost

[AJz]

best long term and cheaper option is to replace the box completely. Recondition is very pricey especially if all gears as you say are quite rooted.

pick up a second hand box from a wreckers, tardme. (helps if car is still drivable, lol. But yea, if its not, just try and make sure u dont get ripped off.

Then if your confident, do the work yourself, if not, get a couple of quotes for gearbox swap, or if you have mates who know how to, alot of beer would be needed.

[Ae92typeX]

In most cases i'd say just drop another one in also. Problem with this is you dont really know how long it will last...but its still a hell of a lot cheaper then reco'n a box even if you go through a coupple (depending how you drive predomantly)
In saying that, if you are sure you are going to keep the car for a long time and can do the majority of the reco yourself then it could be an option...

[fangsport]

In most cases i'd say just drop another one in also. Problem with this is you dont really know how long it will last...but its still a hell of a lot cheaper then reco'n a box even if you go through a coupple (depending how you drive predomantly)
In saying that, if you are sure you are going to keep the car for a long time and can do the majority of the reco yourself then it could be an option...

chances are, if you are breaking a few, you're pushing half rooted second hand boxes to their death. ultimately get a couple of cheap second hand ones, bolt on in, and make one goodin, out the 2 others.

i'd far rather know what i'm using is in reasonable condition than a lucky dip, same with engines.

[nmemr2]

yea i am going to be keeping the car for a couple years at least, i like the thought of saving money with a used one from a donor but hate the idea of a pot luck item. will have to get a couple quotes and go from there

[fuel]

Are you sure it's the gearbox? It sounds like a hydraulic clutch problem to me...

[RomanV]

Gearboxes arent that expensive!
Especially for an NA. Couple hundred bucks at most.
Its the labour thats going to kill you though, if you cant do it yourself.

[nmemr2]

yes i am sure its the gearbox. i had the clutch replaced a while ago and i took my car to the mechanic today and he confirmed it was the gearbox, mainly the front gearbox bearing is munted causing the other damage.
i have someone who can help me change the gearbox for a case of beer but want to know if its worth it to replace with a cheapie

[fangsport]

if the bearings have let go, chances are that metal could have gone thought the gears and stripped the hardening off them. quite common in the mid-80's FWD nissans.

[peas]

Are you sure it's the gearbox? It sounds like a hydraulic clutch problem to me...

That's what I initially thought reading the post... Hope your mechanics right... I had a problem similar to this in my GT4 and all that it needed was the clutch pedal bracket to be welded up as it was flexing. My Levin had similar worries until I replaced the slave cylinder.

But if your sure its the box... I would get it rebuilt but thats just me... I like to know that stuff has been done properly while I'm driving. Just a peace of mind thing.

[nmemr2]

my mechanic is a really good bloke, if he tells me its one thing and i get him to fix. if it doesnt solve the problem he will re-diagnose the problem and fix it at no cost to me.
and so far he hasnt been wrong about my car. and he was the mechanic that did all the work on the clutch about 6 months ago and have had no problems with that