Safety Jim Update

Never heard of Benco.

Where are they?

I have had great luck with Rancho.

@David Stroud IM Roadster D had his tranny done somewhere in the northern states maybe he can chime in here Jim.   Week 5 of any diet is murder  

My beefed up 3.44 tranny was done by Geno Boyd in Elizabethtown, Pa just at the South end of Pittsburg. My transmission came out pretty good, on time at a fair price. Others show mixed reviews on Geno's work and I don't know the state of his health which was failing a couple of years ago. 

I think Ed Ericson knows of a rebuilder either in NY or Pa state. Jimmy Sartwell, maybe?

Benco is in California too.  do in The Samba. Great review there too.

Advertises in The Samba... 

Acme VW in New Cumberland does rebuild trans and has them in stock

http://acmecarco.com/

Thanks again Alan!  You have been my inspiration in getting this old CMC up to snuff! 

@drclock: Interesting phone call.  Core charge is half Ranch and Benco, tranny with 3.88 R&P is about half of Rancho....  I am waiting for the shipping quote.... and will likely move forward with Acme.... I hope the quality is better than the Acme items that Wiley Coyote uses!  

Glad they can be of help to you, BTW they have been a vendor at Carlisle for years 

Safety Jim posted:

@drclock: Interesting phone call.  Core charge is half Ranch and Benco, tranny with 3.88 R&P is about half of Rancho....  I am waiting for the shipping quote.... and will likely move forward with Acme.... I hope the quality is better than the Acme items that Wiley Coyote uses!  

I looked up the website and couldn't find transmissions...only parts. Maybe a phone call is needed to get tranny info. Jim,  could you please enlighten us about the price       ( core and actual transmission ) received from Acme and exactly what type of tranny that includes ? IRS...?  thanks.

Sure:  It is a rebuilt, IRS, 3.88 Ring and Pinion. Cost of the Trans is $750.00 and core charge is an additional $150.00.  I am awaiting a shipping quote for about a 90lb pallet to from the Harrisburg PA area to Buffalo NY.  (Should be about $80-$100 bucks.) 

Rancho quoted $1500 for the above tranny with a $350.00 core charge and about $80 to ship cross country. 

Benco is closed Monday so, I have to wait until about noon today to contact them. 

Sure:  It is a rebuilt, IRS, 3.88 Ring and Pinion. Cost of the Trans is $750.00 and core charge is an additional $150.00.  I am awaiting a shipping quote for about a 90lb pallet to from the Harrisburg PA area to Buffalo NY.  (Should be about $80-$100 bucks.) 

Rancho quoted $1500 for the above tranny with a $350.00 core charge and about $80 to ship cross country. 

Benco is closed Monday so, I have to wait until about noon today to contact them. 

Safety Jim posted:

Sure:  It is a rebuilt, IRS, 3.88 Ring and Pinion. Cost of the Trans is $750.00 and core charge is an additional $150.00.  I am awaiting a shipping quote for about a 90lb pallet to from the Harrisburg PA area to Buffalo NY.  (Should be about $80-$100 bucks.) 

Rancho quoted $1500 for the above tranny with a $350.00 core charge and about $80 to ship cross country. 

Is that a stock rebuild or what's called the 'Pro Street" strengthening upgrades- hardened keys, welded 3rd, 4th gears and superdiff?

Hmmm, great questions for me to ask!  Benco in California just got back with a quote:

$1099 for the tranny, $350 core.  Free shipping anywhere in the Continental US. 

Return freight on the core runs $120.  

   I'll check on Acme's definition of "rebuilt."  

Thanks Mr. Alb! 

Cost comparison:  rebuilt IRS w/ 3.88 R & P 

                         Rancho                        Benco                            Acme

Tranny           $1500                           $1099                           $750 

Core                $350                              $350                            $150

Shipping         $80+or-                       Free                               $80+or-  

Core shipping    $80 +or-                   $80+or-                         I could drop it off. 

Wonder if you could return the core at Carlisle , if you could find a space to stuff it in the speedster... they area Vendor there

Jim you  could put it on your back and carry it all the way to Carlisle on your motor cycle  

Ray,  Sure, I have done weirder things on my bikes!! ;-0    

 Al,   I could return the core during one of my trips south and save the freight for sure.   That would be the best plan.  

caveat emptor

Just a thought re: core return shipping.  Business's get a large discount to ship unless you have available business to return ship for you, as a " home address"  it can be costly.

Barncobob:  I am always aware when it comes to 5 figure investments!  Thanks for the warning.  I may keep my existing tranny and sacrifice the core charge as this old tranny works fine.  Just some oozing leaks that I am pretty sure I can take care of.  I only worry that it is a 48 year old part that has never had anything done to it besides fluid changes every 10 years or so....whether it needed it or not! lol ;-)  

Alan:  I am shipping it into my Rochester NY work location which has a warehouse with fork lifts, docks etc.... That will save some big money and I can ship out of there too if I decide to return the core.   Thanks for the heads up. 

ALB posted:

Safety Jim posted:

Sure:  It is a rebuilt, IRS, 3.88 Ring and Pinion. Cost of the Trans is $750.00 and core charge is an additional $150.00.  I am awaiting a shipping quote for about a 90lb pallet to from the Harrisburg PA area to Buffalo NY.  (Should be about $80-$100 bucks.) 

Rancho quoted $1500 for the above tranny with a $350.00 core charge and about $80 to ship cross country. 

Is that a stock rebuild or what's called the 'Pro Street" strengthening upgrades- hardened keys, welded 3rd, 4th gears and superdiff?

Further to Al's good question, apparently, " Big John " is the go to guy to get a quote on a tranny at Acme. I was told to call him tomorrow for details and pricing. If I did the unthinkable  (     ) to the Roadster, I'd likely go with the parts like Al asked about and again go down to the 3.44. I miss it. 

David Stroud posted:

ALB posted:

Safety Jim posted:

Sure:  It is a rebuilt, IRS, 3.88 Ring and Pinion. Cost of the Trans is $750.00 and core charge is an additional $150.00.  I am awaiting a shipping quote for about a 90lb pallet to from the Harrisburg PA area to Buffalo NY.  (Should be about $80-$100 bucks.) 

Rancho quoted $1500 for the above tranny with a $350.00 core charge and about $80 to ship cross country. 

Is that a stock rebuild or what's called the 'Pro Street" strengthening upgrades- hardened keys, welded 3rd, 4th gears and superdiff?

Further to Al's good question, apparently, " Big John " is the go to guy to get a quote on a tranny at Acme. I was told to call him tomorrow for details and pricing. If I did the unthinkable  (     ) to the Roadster, I'd likely go with the parts like Al asked about and again go down to the 3.44. I miss it. 

How is the 3:44 different to your existing tranny on your newer IM?  @David Stroud IM Roadster D

IaM-Ray posted:

David Stroud posted:

Further to Al's good question, apparently, " Big John " is the go to guy to get a quote on a tranny at Acme. I was told to call him tomorrow for details and pricing. If I did the unthinkable  (     ) to the Roadster, I'd likely go with the parts like Al asked about and again go down to the 3.44. I miss it. 

How is the 3:44 different to your existing tranny on your newer IM?  @David Stroud IM Roadster D

My Roadster has a 3.88 r & p so the 3.44 would lower rpm by 11 % .  I found that my earlier Soob engine performed the way I like with that 3.44 ratio. 

So you find the cruising experience better and the noise level lower I would guess and for an ocean to ocean trip that makes a lot of decibel sense. 

Alb asked,"Is that a stock rebuild or what's called the 'Pro Street" strengthening upgrades- hardened keys, welded 3rd, 4th gears and superdiff?"

I spoke with "Big John" at Acme.  I placed the order for the tranny and he assured me that he is shipping me a tranny he built for himself to put in a turbo'd car and he has been sitting on it waiting to get to the project. It was his only 3.88 in stock and he said it will ship tomorrow. (Friday)   It has the "Pro Street"  attributes you mentioned above, but he said he does not like those labels or "freeway flyer" either because they are not defined.  He assured me of complete durability, and a smooth operating tranny that will last for many miles.  He sounds very reasonable and said I lucked into a great deal as he put plenty of time and money into this transmission....  

Again thanks for the advice.  I really do appreciate the input of all you guys on this site.  I have been tinkering with VWs since 1970 or so.... and, I ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS WELL SEALED WITH TIN, CAULK, ROOFING COMPOUND, SPRAY FOAM, USED UNDERWEAR, OLD SOCKS AND BUBBLE GUM.   ;-)    LOL  

Safety..........Jim!

Excellent, Jim!  Sounds like the gods were smiling on you with that find.

I just culled a bunch of old socks for the rag-bag. Don't hesitate to ask if you need some extras for engine compartment sealing 

Safety Jim posted:

Alb asked,"Is that a stock rebuild or what's called the 'Pro Street" strengthening upgrades- hardened keys, welded 3rd, 4th gears and superdiff?"

I spoke with "Big John" at Acme.  I placed the order for the tranny and he assured me that he is shipping me a tranny he built for himself to put in a turbo'd car and he has been sitting on it waiting to get to the project. It was his only 3.88 in stock and he said it will ship tomorrow. (Friday)   It has the "Pro Street"  attributes you mentioned above, but he said he does not like those labels or "freeway flyer" either because they are not defined.  He assured me of complete durability, and a smooth operating tranny that will last for many miles.  He sounds very reasonable and said I lucked into a great deal as he put plenty of time and money into this transmission....  

Again thanks for the advice.  I really do appreciate the input of all you guys on this site.  I have been tinkering with VWs since 1970 or so.... and, I ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS WELL SEALED WITH TIN, CAULK, ROOFING COMPOUND, SPRAY FOAM, USED UNDERWEAR, OLD SOCKS AND BUBBLE GUM.   ;-)    LOL  

    

If it's been gone through properly and got all of the usual strengthening tricks it is indeed a good deal, Jim! And old (the word was used- has a whole different connotation!) underwear and old socks- gonna have to try that one! 

Just be sure they don't get sucked into the intake side of the cooling fan.  I personally don't worry about that because I remove that ugly fan belt to save some weight. ;-)  It is also a well known safety hazard and we all know, that is my profession!  ;-0   

I'd leave the fan belt, just punch some holes in it to save the weight.

Panhandle Bob posted:

I'd leave the fan belt, just punch some holes in it to save the weight.

Hmmm... never thought of it- gonna have to look at that...

.... and, I ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS WELL SEALED WITH TIN, CAULK, ROOFING COMPOUND, SPRAY FOAM, USED UNDERWEAR, OLD SOCKS AND BUBBLE GUM. ;-) LOL

Bwaaaaaa Haaaaaaa!! Good one, Jim!  @Safety Jim Buffalo NY.

Does any manufacturer of Speedster replicas leave their engine bay unsealed when a Type 1 engine is chosen?

I just looked at the old CMC build manual from 1984 and they also provide for the engine bay to be sealed as part of the process. 

Weren't all original 356's built with the engine bays sealed?

Why?

I have old socks and some spray on insulation (half a can) to donate to anyone who needs to seal their bay! 

Your making smile thinking about where you live on that warm part of the bay... Panhandle  I could use a little break from the cold...

Yes indeed.... Warmth!  I will be in North Redington Beach near Clearwater FL a week from Saturday.  My wife and I will enjoy a week on the beach, Gulf water swims, moonlight walks in the sand, and in my spare time, I'll be checking every air cooled bug in the area for complete engine tin installation!  hahahahaha

Safety Jim posted:

Yes indeed.... Warmth!  I will be in North Redington Beach near Clearwater FL a week from Saturday.  My wife and I will enjoy a week on the beach, Gulf water swims, moonlight walks in the sand, and in my spare time, I'll be checking every air cooled bug in the area for complete engine tin installation!  hahahahaha

Have a great time down there, Jim. We have many good memories of the area, Pass a grille, Sea Hags, John's Pass, many beach bar/restaurants and also we stayed three nights with our trailer ( and BSA Thunderbolt ) at the famous Fort de Soto Park. Nicely enough about 10 campsites away was a huge red Motorhome with some odd looking red veggies on a string decorating the front of the campsite. It was the Red Hot Chilli Peppers on vacation. Cool . 

Way cool!  Red Hot Chili Peppers! 

We head down that way every year for a week's break from our Buffalo winter.... This year I scored a great deal at the Doubletree Beach Resort.... We have a bunch of friends, (snowbirds) that we party with too.  And, that is my time to start ingesting alcohol again!  I almost broke down to have shot of bourbon after reading the latest tin thread! hahahaha.