Best gearbox builder

[n/a]

Can anyone tell me who I could trust and how much I could expect to pay to have new synchros put in the 4 speed standard in my 66 230 SL? Everything is adjusted correctly and it has new automatic fluid in it but still crunches when I try to downshift from 3rd to 2nd.

BTW-I drive this car nearly every day and I know the gears are fine.

Mikey

[Malc]

Mikey,
I guess you mean Best Gearbox builder!
To be honest you are the best one. I have rebuilt several 'boxes over the years and it's all pretty logical and if you take your time it's actually quite obvious and simple

To do a good job:
clean bench
clean tools
vernier calipers and depth gauge
manual
most important

time!

Sounds like you are beating the syncro which is probably worn. If you don't want to rebuild the box you can:

Slow the speed of your changes ie take your time moving from 3rd to 2nd
or
learn to double de-clutch!

In all seriousness if you do it yourself then you know it has been done right. If for any reason you don't want to do it yourself then ask at your local garage/local mechanic. Word of mouth is often the best recommendation.

Malc

[n/a]

I agree 100% with you on all counts, as a matter of fact I have several books that sort-of cover this job.  Do you have the name(s)of one or several manuals that are particularly comprehensive on this subject and where I might obtain copies?

quote:Originally posted by Mikey

Can anyone tell me who I could trust and how much I could expect to pay to have new synchros put in the 4 speed standard in my 66 230 SL? Everything is adjusted correctly and it has new automatic fluid in it but still crunches when I try to downshift from 3rd to 2nd.

BTW-I drive this car nearly every day and I know the gears are fine.

Mikey

Mikey

[Tom]

Malc,

If the tranny was an automatic, would you have a different view?

Best,

Tom


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1971 280sl Tunis Beige Metallic (restored & enhanced)
1971 280sl Tobacco Brown (low mileage stock)
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[Benz Dr.]

I've been doing them for a long time and there's a lot more tricks to getting them to work right than you might think. Anyone can follow a book and take it apart and then put it back together, and together and together. I know, because I've been there.
You need some special tools to install some of the seals and getting the end play right on the shafts is very time consuming and important. Get one piece in backwards ( very easy to do ) and it won't turn all sometimes. Not knowing how to remove the syncros will get you parts all over the place and most of them you'll never find.
Chances are most people will improve the box and shifting to some degree. It's not rocket science but it is tricky.

I plan to have rebuilt ones available on an exchange basis sometime next year as well as other things like distributors and IPs.

Daniel G Caron

[Malc]

quote:Originally posted by Tom

Malc,

If the tranny was an automatic, would you have a different view?

Best,

Tom


_____________________________________________

1971 280sl Tunis Beige Metallic (restored & enhanced)
1971 280sl Tobacco Brown (low mileage stock)
_____________________________________________

Probably, I have never taken an Auto box apart. I will probably get a scrap one and have a "play" at some point

In reply to Daniel I agree with what your saying, but a competent home mechanic can work on a box.. As I stated if you are logical and take your time you can get it right.
I recently overhauled the fourwheel drive box out of the Lancia Delta integrale:

I took lots of digital pictures as I took it apart
I wrote a "log" of what I did, lots of notes about what goes where, which way up etc
Followed the official workshop manual

Took me about 3 days I replaced bearings, had to re shim some things and renew syncro rings...new seals etc etc

With all stuff Italian the hardest bit was getting the parts!

Mikey, believe it or not Haynes manuals are pretty good in the gearbox department, especially the "older" manuals, for some strange reason the newer ones are not as good.
I am sure others can recommend other sources of info....

Malc