Transaxle repair recommendation
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- 356 Fan
- Posts: 724
- Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2016 10:40 pm
- Location: Texas
Transaxle repair recommendation
Can you recommend me a transaxle repair shop ?
I have heard about Ranchotransaxles in CA and Californiamotorsports in AZ.
Would you recommend any of the two ?
I have heard about Ranchotransaxles in CA and Californiamotorsports in AZ.
Would you recommend any of the two ?
- Jacques Lefriant
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 4668
- Joined: Mon Dec 06, 2010 1:50 pm
- Location: Washoe county NV
Re: Transaxle repair recommendation
both can do a better job than most but for the same cost or much less and a more nuanced job send it to a 356 transmission specialist that specializes in these. Rancho does VW and off-road and CMS does later Porsche transmissions. they don't have parts and a lot of experience in 356 transmissions.
j
j
- Jim Clement
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 1476
- Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2010 10:46 am
- Tag: 1957 356 A Coupe
- Location: Calgary Alberta
Re: Transaxle repair recommendation
I will add my two cents.. and a ton of grief.
You should search up Rancho Transmissions on this site..
My experience was they do not know how and cannot do a 356 transmission, they do not know how to set the backlash ..
They did mine twice, it was not correct either time, I then took it to Jack Morris in Spokane, we took it out of the car together, then he started to take it apart, it was very evident that they disassembled, and reassembled it many times, trying to get it correct, using an air impact gun. None of the expensive internal bearings were replaced, and the outer bearings were "offshore" brand. It did not hold oil.
The first time they did it, it was assembled with a bent axel, the second time, it leaked like a sieve, no third times a charm. I sent it elsewhere.
They did refund my money in full after I sent them the pictures..
There is much more to the story.. This is the short version.
You should search up Rancho Transmissions on this site..
My experience was they do not know how and cannot do a 356 transmission, they do not know how to set the backlash ..
They did mine twice, it was not correct either time, I then took it to Jack Morris in Spokane, we took it out of the car together, then he started to take it apart, it was very evident that they disassembled, and reassembled it many times, trying to get it correct, using an air impact gun. None of the expensive internal bearings were replaced, and the outer bearings were "offshore" brand. It did not hold oil.
The first time they did it, it was assembled with a bent axel, the second time, it leaked like a sieve, no third times a charm. I sent it elsewhere.
They did refund my money in full after I sent them the pictures..
There is much more to the story.. This is the short version.
- Jim Clement
- 356 Fan
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- Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2010 10:46 am
- Tag: 1957 356 A Coupe
- Location: Calgary Alberta
- John Clarke
- 356 Fan
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- Location: East Sussex, England
- Contact:
Re: Transaxle repair recommendation
Hi Hugo. Pack it off to Vic Skirmants. He must be busy?
Regards Jay
Regards Jay
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- 356 Fan
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- Location: Texas
Re: Transaxle repair recommendation
Thanks to all,for the answers and emails. I will contact the recommended experts in 356 transaxle repair and stay away from Rancho and CMS.
- Martin Benade
- 356 Fan
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- Joined: Wed Nov 23, 2011 10:52 am
- Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Re: Transaxle repair recommendation
From what I’ve heard I’d stay away from Rancho, but surprisingly, CJ has used them apparently without trouble.
Cleveland Ohio
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
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- 356 Fan
- Posts: 225
- Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 10:51 am
- Location: Eagle Idaho/Dillingham Alaska
Re: Transaxle repair recommendation
Jim is more then right ,seen his transmission at Jack,s And the impact damage. Send once to the right people and only pay once. As always the good ones are busy, good luck
1954 coup
1959 Cab
1959 super coup
1970 240z first year
1971 240z
1959 Cab
1959 super coup
1970 240z first year
1971 240z
- Ron LaDow
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 8100
- Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:45 am
- Location: San Francisco
Re: Transaxle repair recommendation
Eric knows his way around transaxles (and engines):
https://www.willswerks.com/
https://www.willswerks.com/
Ron LaDow
www.precisionmatters.biz
www.precisionmatters.biz
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- 356 Fan
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Re: Transaxle repair recommendation
+1 on Willswerks
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- 356 Fan
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- Joined: Fri Oct 30, 2020 8:03 pm
- Location: PA
Re: Transaxle repair recommendation
We send all of our transaxles to Eric @ Willswerks
- Ron LaDow
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 8100
- Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:45 am
- Location: San Francisco
Re: Transaxle repair recommendation
I'm reminded of the Bay Area denizen (who shall go un-named - he got me with a set of "good used P-Cs", but only once).
Maybe his past caught up with him, since we no longer get whines on the list about how the whiner had gone to "X" ('cause he was cheaper than The Stable!') and now wanted sympathy and assistance when the whiner got exactly what they paid for. Or perhaps not even that.
Gonna bet Vic, Jacques nor Eric is gonna give you a quote over the phone; they all know what they're doing, and every one of them will give you a properly reboped gearbox. There are others (where's Bill Perrone's F-1 wrench go?)
I know a guy down he street... (whom your really don't wanna know)... he can fix you right up!
(added by edit)
Mentioned above: Jack Morris. Pre Mat customer but no reason to assume he's less knowledgeable regarding transaxles than engines than Vic, Eric or Jacques
Maybe his past caught up with him, since we no longer get whines on the list about how the whiner had gone to "X" ('cause he was cheaper than The Stable!') and now wanted sympathy and assistance when the whiner got exactly what they paid for. Or perhaps not even that.
Gonna bet Vic, Jacques nor Eric is gonna give you a quote over the phone; they all know what they're doing, and every one of them will give you a properly reboped gearbox. There are others (where's Bill Perrone's F-1 wrench go?)
I know a guy down he street... (whom your really don't wanna know)... he can fix you right up!
(added by edit)
Mentioned above: Jack Morris. Pre Mat customer but no reason to assume he's less knowledgeable regarding transaxles than engines than Vic, Eric or Jacques
Ron LaDow
www.precisionmatters.biz
www.precisionmatters.biz
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- 356 Fan
- Posts: 1805
- Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:06 pm
- Location: Vista, CA
Re: Transaxle repair recommendation
Ron, for the most part he's now happily retired and only taking on a few special projects.
Jon Bunin
- Ron LaDow
- 356 Fan
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- Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 11:45 am
- Location: San Francisco
Re: Transaxle repair recommendation
Jon,
Happy to hear from you and read that; you deserve nothing other! Good times at the races. (added by edit) You know how to contact me; Pre Mat is doing fine.
Ron LaDow
www.precisionmatters.biz
www.precisionmatters.biz
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- 356 Fan
- Posts: 1805
- Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:06 pm
- Location: Vista, CA
Re: Transaxle repair recommendation
Thanks Ron.
Yes, we had some good times with those things. It's hard to believe that was all 25 to 35 years ago.
I'm glad to hear you're doing well.
Yes, we had some good times with those things. It's hard to believe that was all 25 to 35 years ago.
I'm glad to hear you're doing well.
Jon Bunin