manual transmissions generally dont need "rebuilds" like an automatic does. but, there are a few bearings & a few seals to replace. www.drivetrain.com for bearing/seal kits.
you can tear it apart and replace the bearings and gaskets yourself if that is all that you need, otherwise if you need new syncro blocks and brass rings you will be paying $500+ just for parts and you are better off just buying a used one with less miles.
www.rodneydickman.com has a good step-by-step guide to help average home mechanics split a getrag case on the bottom of his 'transaxle' page.
if you decide to buy a differant one because the syncros are too bad PM me, I would be interested in buying your old one from you to modify for drag racing.
------------------ 1987 Pontiac Fiero GT 418ci 'Mini-Rat' motor dual stage nitrous injected built 5-speed getrag
IP: Logged
12:06 PM
dsnover Member
Posts: 1668 From: Cherryville, PA USA Registered: Apr 2006
^ thats real cheap for a rebuild kit with syncros and brass rings, I have never heard of the companies on the boxes personally though, you might want to look into them further for quality control if you decide to buy from them. most of the time with ebay stuff you get what you pay for. then again I have always been the kind to do it right the first time and not take too many risks when it comes to building a car. you will probably be fine with that kit for a little while but how long will it last before they wear out also?
------------------ 1987 Pontiac Fiero GT 418ci 'Mini-Rat' motor dual stage nitrous injected built 5-speed getrag
IP: Logged
04:39 PM
falcon_ca Member
Posts: 1295 From: Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada Registered: Dec 2007
Does anyone have a reference in the midwest for an experienced rebuilder for my 88 5 spd. getrag transmission?
Thanks, Doug
What's the exact problem with the trans? Are you just looking for a teardown and refresh of the bearings and seals? Or do you have a shifting issue? -Jason
Otherwise, forum member calikid (california kid?) on the forum knew of a Michigan rebuilder I believe. i think it was a performance shop
I used a place in Michigan called Waynes Transmission (in Waterford) to repair mine. It was not a full rebuild, just an inspection and a few bushings. They knew the Fiero well. I don't know how well a full rebuild would do, but they did seem pretty honest, and the pricing was very fair.
Smartaxle I love your photo!! As smartaxle said!! they are in arizona call 1 887 626 8226 ask for darrel.. they probably have rebuilt units on the shelf ready to ship..There is also a place in tallahassee or gainesville florida with rebuilt units ready to go..Google it. www.drivetrain.com.muncie282fwd.html has parts my information is not exactly correct but should put you on the trail like a drunken bloodhound! Professional rebuilt units go for $900.oo to $1200.oo makes a used unit look good With a used unit shift thru all the gears there should be no unusual noise,the gears should lock up firm..A limp feeling gear engagement ??,no firm engagement?? is not good.. The 4 speed is a pain to check the reverse 1st and second..you have to eyeball the shafts turn speed!!! check the difference between the front and output?what does reverse do?? is 1st and 2nd firmly engaged and does the shaft turn ,,the 5 speeds are easier to check .. hold the output shaft while you turn the front shaft on all ..
[This message has been edited by uhlanstan (edited 01-31-2008).]
In a city the size of Columbus there is probably a shop that still does manual trannies(No!! the transmisions)Ask at your favorite Garage, the guys at the oldest parts store.. there are still old farts like me out there who learned on the job years ago when you had to be able to repair Engine, transmision.,pumpkin and the window cranks..I use an old style garage (not clean or neat) but when I mention rebuild a fiero transmision, he gave me a price with out thinking,he,d actually rebuilt one and there should be such a place close to you.. A properly rebuilt unit may run you more than a rebuilt off the self unit.But the rebuilder is right there.. the syncros and gears are expensive .. the transmissions are not easy to rebuild you should be an experienced motor head before you attemp this ,, they are more frustrating than complicated..The chilton manual is the easiest manual to obtain that has 4 and 5 speed rebuild info..
IP: Logged
02:04 AM
garage monster Member
Posts: 350 From: Rogue Valley, Oregon Registered: Nov 2007
I just finished rebuilding my 5 speed last night. I used the kit from ebay and it was very complete. Somehwere in the archives I found a post with a site to download the Muncie tranny manual which was much more accurate and thorough than my Chilton car manual. I replaced seals, synchros and most bearings. I left a few alone as the Muncie manual says not to remove any that look good and have no roughness or slop. It was a rather complicated task. The manual shows many special tools. I had none and used my homebuilt 20 ton press and an $18.88 toaster oven from Walmart to heat parts before pressing back on. Manual told what parts to heat, at what temp and for how long. In addition to the rebuild kit I bought one blocker ring assembly from Driveline Parts which ws mentioned earlier in this thread.
The only special tool needed was a tool that clamps around a bearing to allow it to be pressed off the output shaft. A press and a pile of sockets, etc. would not work as the gears on each end of the shaft are larger than what needs to be pressed off so I had no way to support it. I took it to my local mechanic friend and he had the tool and had the gear off in 5 minutes at no charge.
That all said. If I had the money I would have paid to have it all done. Better yet I read a post last night that explained how to buy a later tranny such as this http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymot...em=360013864096&rd=1 on ebay. According to the poster you swap the clutch half of the case from your old tranny to the new tranny and you have a new tranny for $350 plus the shipping. He also offered to explain how to set the shim for the differential without a factory tool and that is all he said has to be done.
Lots of choices.
IP: Logged
03:46 AM
PFF
System Bot
Will Member
Posts: 14275 From: Where you least expect me Registered: Jun 2000
SORRY,, I was in a hurry also I apology to smartaxle for not posting proper info!!! the proper web site is www.manual-transmission.com they have rebuilt units in Tallahassee florida.. Also www.drivetrain.com/muncie282fwd,html has parts & blow up of transmission they are in las vegas,,This is a difficult task to perform correctly.Unless you are certain of your skill have a professional or some one like Will do this, you can google auto manual transmission rebuild or manual transmission rebuild /// auto in front works best a quality rebuild kit cost over $500.oo with the syncronizers..Rebuilding some transmissions is more complex than an engine rebuild.. also you can cool parts in the freezer for an easier install into a heated part.. I use to heat motorcycle engines in the sun before I pressed a bearing or part in to the case..never force a transmission case together
[This message has been edited by uhlanstan (edited 02-01-2008).]
IP: Logged
01:15 AM
Steven Snyder Member
Posts: 3326 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Mar 2004
I used one of the inexpensive ebay rebuild kits. It came with all the blocker rings (!!!), a new detent housing cover, diff bearings, new rear case bearings, input shaft bearing, output shaft bearing, axle seals, shift shaft seal, and... I think thats it. It's pretty much everything you'll need to rebuild the Getrag 282 besides maybe some shims if you need to shim the differential a different amount than it was before. The blocker rings in the kit (and I think all aftermarket ones) are solid brass. The GM ones are steel with a brass friction surface. The cuts (for holding oil?) on the friction surfaces are also a different design than the GM ones. I'm not sure what the deal is. Anyway, the kit is a ridiculously good deal!
IP: Logged
02:32 AM
Will Member
Posts: 14275 From: Where you least expect me Registered: Jun 2000
So you have brass blocker rings with a machined friction surface? The GM rings use sintered brass or bronze. How was your shift quality affected?
Yes. I'm pretty sure they're brass. I suppose they could be bronze, but the coloring looked more like brass. I only got to drive it for a few miles so far. I'll be driving it around a lot this weekend and will let you know how it is.
-Steven
IP: Logged
01:49 PM
Feb 20th, 2008
Steven Snyder Member
Posts: 3326 From: Los Angeles, CA Registered: Mar 2004
So you have brass blocker rings with a machined friction surface? The GM rings use sintered brass or bronze. How was your shift quality affected?
I got to put about a thousand miles on it in the last month. It shifts really really nice now. It feels a lot like the Isuzu. The shifts feel very smooth. They're not as chunky as they used to be (but I did have some worn out rings). I have to take it apart to replace the input shaft or input shaft bearing though.. it's making quite a racket.
I noticed yesterday while cleaning up my garage that my old Isuzu blocker rings were machined the same way (and made out of the same material as) the new Getrag rings. This isn't a Getrag ring, but this is what the friction surface and material looks like: This is a Mitsubishi Evo blocker ring.
IP: Logged
10:12 PM
May 17th, 2009
tednelson83 Member
Posts: 1993 From: Santa Clarita, California, USA Registered: Jul 2002
so what is the prosess for rebuilding one of these? i may need to do this soon due to seeing gold(brass?) flakes in the old fluid. i have rebuilt several 4T60-E trannys, and they are easy, but i suspect the 282 would be a little different than that.
------------------ Wyotech Sacramento Alumni. ASE A6, A8, L1 and Certified. CA SMOG License. 1987 Pontiac Fiero GT 5-speed, 102k -Amber- been sitting for 10 years, the resurection has begun! 1987 Pontiac Fiero GT, 151,000 miles!decklid window, More pics of my 87 GT can be found here <-SOLD 1985 Pontiac Fiero 2m4 auto, 222K miles and counting <-recently lost to arson (6yo bro playing with fire) RIP! 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.7L 4x4, 78K <-Daily driver A 4 year olds knowledge of science: No matter how much jello you put into a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
