I have decided to get a new transmission for my EL ghia. The current one has been a menace ever since i bought the car a year ago, and has been getting worse and worse. It no longer resembles a gearbox once warm now, it just kinda chucks a gear in a, and with any luck it will take... It wont go back into gear coming to a stop, clunks horrendously in and out of second going up and down (to the point it locks the wheels in the wet), slips going into third and doesnt change when more power is needed.

I have been toying with the idea of getting a second hand low kms box installed which would be under $1000, but have been turned off the idea with the though of getting another box that hasnt been maintained.

I made a few calls around the brisbane area today and was also told this by transmission mechanics. I got quotes from up to $2300 for a recon trans which seemed very steep, and the lowest was $1350 for a recon unit. These prices included recon torque converter, fluid, labor and some kind of warranty.

One place said they could fit a trans they had pulled down, cleaned and put back together for $1100. Sounds like an odd idea to me.. i guess it would be clean inside.

Do these prices sound on the money for the job? after hearing $2300, $1350 sounds like a pretty good deal to me...

just get a second handie and chuk it in urself.
better yet bring a sencond handie around my place and ill chuk it in for $200 and a carton of beer

as much as i would like to, i dont have anywhere near the expertise or tools to do the job my self. As much as i would like to give you beer, you are also in WA.

its preety ezy when you get into it.
just need a set o ramps, trolley jack and a half inch socket set.

drive up on ramps.
jack up back end.
tailshaft off.
undo bolts around bell housing and bracket holding box.
take dust cover off bottom of bell housing.
undo torque convertor bolts.
place jack under box then jack up and wriggle it back.
lower jack with box on it.
roll box off and slide out from under car.
do reverse with new box.

obviously takes a bit of time and thers a bit more to undo like clips and starter and crap but thems the basics.

once done you will be confident enough to do it over and over.