[Inkedupfatboy]

Well I bought the car cheap - Put 4K into getting it running. She roared back to life today only to get a call from my mechanic saying it needs a complete transaxle. The car had sat in the previous owners garage for the last five years. I guess I know why he parked it.



The thing totally screams the whole time you are driving it. You can hear it about a block away.



Sooooo...I have to unfun task of finding a low milage used transaxle to put into my car, then the possibility of finding someone who can rebuild my original one.



My mechanic says they have a lead on one, but the guys knows exactly what he has, so it may not be cheap. Perhpas between the 2-3K range.



I am not so much worried about the money as I am dissapointed about not getting the car this week. When I bought the car, I was thinking I might have to put as much as 10K into it. I guess my gut instincts were right.



On the plus side, the engine runs like a raped ape (can we still say that anymore? Probably not) She is quick! At least I got to drive her for a few minutes today.



Any input would be greatly appreciated - like what should I pay for one, got one or know where one is...



Thanks in advance -



A sad guy.



Ed

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[Chris Vais]

What is the sound coming from? Many of us have suffered pinion gear failures. Look in the forums and you'll find some recent discussion on this problem. When the pinion gear fails, it develops a whine that sounds like you have a J-79 jet engine in the rear seat. The replacement of the pinion gear should run around $1200.00, although many of us also replace worn synchros at the same time which will increase the cost somewhat. The cost is in the labor to break down the transaxle, the parts cost is trivial by comparison.



If you decide to install another transaxle, make sure you know with certainty that the pinion has not yet failed or that it has and has been replaced. If you acquire a low mileage transaxle that has the original pinion installed, you may end up dealing with howling transaxle in the future.

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[Inkedupfatboy]

It is so loud you can't hear anything else. My guy says the sound is constant throughout the transaxle - (he used a stethescope) - The sound whines up as you accelerate, and then stays constant until you get below a certain rpm. Just running the car back and forth in the parking lot you really don't hear it until you get down the road and wind it up.



I have taked to him about the pinion gear problem and he thinks it sat too long with no lube all the internals are pitted and worn -



Ed

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[flash]

it's actually the pinion gear bearing that is the failure point. of course, you may find other things in there buggered, depending on way too many factors to list. but, the repair is generally an 8 to 10 hour job, and parts are a couple hundred bucks, again, depending on what else is wrong.



i completely agree about checking out a replacement box prior to purchase. there is no guarantee the used box will be any better than yours.



p.s. - there is no correlation between mileage, age, or anything else. the pinion bearing can go at any time, or not at all. it was a mechanically installed item that suffers from tolerance accumulation which sets the preload too high.

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[Inkedupfatboy]

I just got off the phone with the local (actually an hour away) Porsche dealer and they won't speculate over the phone (of course), they want to hear the car. So, do I risk riving it or trailer it. I suppose trailering it is the smarter option if I want them to listen to the car. I got the impression they have never seen any 968's or a damn few of them to be sure.



My local guy (who has the car) says he does not usually rebuild them, as he is not set up with Porsche tranaxle tools. The Porsche dealer said they prefer to put in a rebuilt one instead of repair unless they replace everything. But- how available is a rebuilt one and does that screw up the numbers matching aspects of the car?

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[Chris Vais]

Flash is correct, I misspoke it is the pinion bearing not the gear itself. "Too long with no lube" was there no fluid in the transaxle when you bought the car? I'm not sure how the transaxle internals would have become pitted and worn it there is fluid in the transmission and the car is idle.



The symptoms you describe sound like a pinion bearing failure to me. I don't know that a an overhauled used transaxle from another car is going to be cheaper than overhauling what you already have.

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[flash]

i agree. pretty rare to see a dry one. i'd pull that puppy apart before i went out and bought what could easily be somebody else's headache

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[Inkedupfatboy]

I saw him drain the transaxle myself. I did not witness the refill, but I can't imagine that he would not have put fluid in it. On the rack next to mine was an old 911 so I know he can work on them. He has a good reputaton and if anything is too anal. He talked me into a Porsche battery saying the car was so clean it warranted it and was trying to talk me out of the order i placed with Flash for the suspension upgrades because of the originality of the car.



I know you guys are big on a <acronym title='pre purchase inspection'>PPI</acronym>, but no, I bought the car as I saw it in the garage. I did a bit of digging and saw what they were worth and figured if I could get it cheap enough I would be prepared to pay what was needed to get the car on the road. As I said, it is not so much the $$ as it is the time and frustration without the car. I just want it done right and as reasonably quick as I can.

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[flash]

the 911 box is nothing at all like the 968 box. maybe he's just scared of it.



the 968 box is pretty tough. i'm not saying it wasn't dry, but it's pretty rare without it being a big slimey mess outside.



regardless, i'd pull that box apart first and look at the gears. you could easily spend more time and money on another box than to fix yours, and not be off any better than you are now. a good running box is going to set you back $3k. more with LSD

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[Inkedupfatboy]

The car is bone dry underneath - I saw that myself, and saw the fluid pouring out in copious amounts during the change over, so I know it was in there.



I understand the 911 is totally different, I just meant that he has familiarity with P-cars and seems to know his stuff.



I think I will wait and see what he comes up with, then suggest that he consider looking at the pinion bearing and at least consider a rebuild. If he is unwilling or unable, I may trailer it to the Porsche dealer to see what they think, then re-evaluate my options. .



I also have a couple other people I can call. My uncle is making a call for me on the other coast of Florida as well.



Thanks

Ed



PS. the car is a non <acronym title='Limited Slip Differential'>LSD</acronym> car.

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[DaveN]

In reality it doesn't take a lot of time to pull the transaxle (2 hours tops with a lift) and crack open the case, check the bearing and look for metal /damage. Make up you mind to run away or fix it while you in there. I'm thinking it's only 3-400 dollars to get a definitive answer. The mechanic has to spend the time to pull the old one anyway so you have only lost 150.00 on the exploratory part.

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[tamathumper]

... and unfortunately, you cannot make the assumption your mechanic knows *anything* about 968's simply because he's familiar with 911's... they're like apples and, um, ducks.

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[Inkedupfatboy]

Does anyone have an exploded parts diagram of the transaxle? Is there one in the Bently Manual? - I would really like to see just where this thing is so I can make a better decision and talk to my mechanic about it.





Is there anyone in my area of Florida who may have experince with this to help me diagnose it?





Thanks

Ed

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[Inkedupfatboy]

Okay, I found a diagram online - can you relpace the pinion bearing and seal from the back end?

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[flash]

if only

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[Inkedupfatboy]

I take that as a no. The diagram is misleading then. Thanks.

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[Qfrank]

I know several people here on the Tampa side that could look at it for you, and I can check into Melbourne as well for you. I know some PCA memebrs down there.



Check Craigslist in Orlando. There is a 92' for $2500, wrecked in the front, but not horrible. Could make a great pats car for you.

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[Inkedupfatboy]

Thanks Qfrank, I may end op coming over there - my uncle has some contacts on that side as he lives in Seminole. I talked to the Melbourne dealership and they want to hear it. So, It may end up on the flatbed trailer and talk a trip somewhere.



On the orlando one, he must have raised the price to 2700. Not sure I want to go there yet, but it might be an option....



Thanks!!!

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[Inkedupfatboy]

My uncle in the Tampa area said both the people he talked to suggested just replacing the unit. I am thinking of doing this, then doing a complete rebuild on my original and then putting it back in at some point.



At least it is a plan for now, then I can always update it.

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[986boxster1998]

I’ve seen a few 968s with 5 speed gear boxes from the 944 installed so that may be a donor source; not sure on the logistics the install. When I parted out a 951 six months ago I ended up selling the <acronym title='Limited Slip Differential'>LSD</acronym> Transaxle w/ 110,000 miles on it for $750 plus $150 shipping as an idea on pricing. Best of luck which ever direction you end up taking.

-Dan

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