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View Full Version : Dying Auto gearbox - options advice requested



Himagain
28-09-2011, 05:23 PM
Hi guys,
It is a really old TR and the gearbox is dying. Except for the timing gear collapsing now, the engine is /was good (top overhaul about two years ago) . Doesn't burn oil, no leaks, doesn't even use water.
Always started well, stopped instantly. Reading here, I think a main annoyance for me for a long time is the idling controller (just read about in the sticky notes How -to) it always idled rough. Accelerator always was sticky. My only complaint about it.

I've just had a reasonable quote to replace the timing gear. BUT the g/box is sus.
Good money after bad???

I'm looking for a replacement oldie, but not having any luck as I live in CAloundra (Sunshine Coast Qld) and am tossing up whether to gamble that the g/box might last another year ( or till I find a good replacement!) OR face fixing the G/box too.

Obviously, a secondhand one is liable to be a problem - reconditioned VERY expensive, does anyone actually just repair them any more?
I've actually found very cheap drivable Magnas on the Net - while unregisterable any more - can be seen/felt running . Would it be a proposition to organise a swap?

(Yes, I am getting a bit desperate... :-) ):eek2:

Sparky
28-09-2011, 05:31 PM
Um what wrong with the gearbox?

magnaman89
28-09-2011, 05:36 PM
shame your in qld .have you thought off a manaul conversion. never have auto problems agian.how macanical are you . would you be able to take out a motor.

Himagain
28-09-2011, 07:31 PM
Um what wrong with the gearbox?

Hi Sparky,
It has started to flare a bit and when starting cold will often clunk ( a violent engagement). Actually only started to give much worry when the Timing gear began to pack it in - got noisier and noisier. The timer not the gearbox!

Himagain
28-09-2011, 07:37 PM
shame your in qld .have you thought off a manaul conversion. never have auto problems agian.how macanical are you . would you be able to take out a motor.

Ha! I have trouble taking out the garbage! :-) My mother and favourite uncle both suggested.. no - insisted that I should go on to Uni - and go as far as I could, after observing my mechanical skills trying to fix my pushbike. :-}

old magna
29-09-2011, 01:31 PM
if you find someone who is willing to put a manual box in it makes them a totally different car. much zippier and nicer to drive. smoother. better take off ect. just have to be prepared to drive a manual. i did it in my first gen and its been 100% reliable ever since. also it uses virtually no petrol compared to the old auto.

if you can gets the bits a conversion is a day job for anyone with decent skills. you will have more chance finding a back yarder prepared to do it. also it will be cheaper then a reconditioned auto as far as im concerned.

just depends if your prepared to drive a manual.

MadMax
29-09-2011, 01:44 PM
An old TR with a new gearbox is still an old TR. Time to cut your losses and upgrade to something fresher, I would think.

Himagain
29-09-2011, 02:32 PM
if you find someone who is willing to put a manual box in it makes them a totally different car. much zippier and nicer to drive. smoother. better take off ect. just have to be prepared to drive a manual. i did it in my first gen and its been 100% reliable ever since. also it uses virtually no petrol compared to the old auto.

if you can gets the bits a conversion is a day job for anyone with decent skills. you will have more chance finding a back yarder prepared to do it. also it will be cheaper then a reconditioned auto as far as im concerned.

just depends if your prepared to drive a manual.

Hi there,
It would beat going on the buses! :-) I do so little miles and never in heavy traffic (retired) -
If it isn't a big deal to change to a manual technically - I think I'll look into it forthwith!
Would I need to find a precise donor match? Like TR -2-TR ?
I'll go look into recycled costs/availability .....
THanks!

Himagain
29-09-2011, 02:37 PM
An old TR with a new gearbox is still an old TR. Time to cut your losses and upgrade to something fresher, I would think.

Yeah, I'd like to - but all I'm getting is grief trying to find something to buy where I live.
As soon as you look for younger than 10 years the prices are silly.
I also like OLdMagna's point -" uses virtually no petrol compared to the old auto".
But the only manuals I've seen are "X" Series at silly prices.

Himagain
29-09-2011, 02:55 PM
Um what wrong with the gearbox?

Hi Sparky,
Maybe not as much as I thought!
It's all over the place with changes and flares. BUT as I'm learning here on this Board - could be a result of the fact that the electics were disconnected for two weeks while I thought about options after the timing gear virtually went. I got it put back together (it was sorta drivable) to get home again and noticed the gearbox playing up severely.
NOW I know that it could be a resetting problem ..... just possibly.
It was strange that the g/box went off at the same time as the timing gear....
BUT it will cost me $800 just to find out...

Himagain
29-09-2011, 03:02 PM
[QUOTE=old magna;1436394
if you can gets the bits a conversion is a day job for anyone with decent skills. you will have more chance finding a back yarder prepared to do it. also it will be cheaper then a reconditioned auto as far as im concerned. .[/QUOTE]

JUst went looking into the idea and the Recycler guy said forget it - you need all sorts of skills and parts to do it - starting with fitting new pedals! Never thought of that. When I did, I don't know how you pulled it off! Took the mech at the recyclers ten minutes just to explain what is involved. AND of course, manuals are hard to come by, too.

magnaman89
29-09-2011, 03:26 PM
whats the auto doing now. might have a tcu problem .is your car a 4 0r 6 .

Elwyn
29-09-2011, 03:58 PM
Does the wrecker who is on EBay as "Lancercity" (name of Dave, and think he is also in Caloundra), go back as far as second-Gen Magnas ? Her has listed 3rd-Gen Magna stuff on EBay and prices seem decent.

bloodviper
01-10-2011, 09:59 PM
hey mate i just obtaind a magna with a spare auto but i a in nsw

LOUD1
01-10-2011, 10:30 PM
Start your car up to warm drive it around, stop it... Dump your auto oil and get all the old oil out, change filter if it has one, and then put fresh oil in.... Normally fixes it, " burn oil gets blocked"

old magna
03-10-2011, 11:30 PM
finding the bits is the hard part. mounting everything is a piece of piss. i used a hole saw to cut the firewall. took about 15 minutes to get the pedel box in. you just drill the holes in the fire wall then some in the scuttle. but you need to have something to lift the engine with. i have a sturdy shed with 6 inch c channel trusses so im lucky.

manuals are pretty easy to find in a second gen in vic. there is 2 or three in my local wreckers. but you need every bolt nut and washer to do it properly and if i did it again ide replace clutch, master and slave cylinder to be safe.

depends if your up to it? (hope that dosnt sound condescending, its not meant to lol)

regards jay