Aircooled VW South Africa

Hi all.
Today i need your help.Where can i have a 5 fin 2lt gearbox repaired or recon.Anywhere in PTA or JHB or EASTRAND will be welcome.
Please help
Thanks
Vincent
Just not Bugger transmissions they are over the top expensive.

Hi Vincent

Your post here shows the lack of reputable VW transmission guys around.

Bugger transmissions is reputable, and they know what they are doing. I suggest you call around to every gearbox place in JHB and ask them if they will work on your VW 'box, and what kind of Guarantee and back up support they will offer you. Then compare their prices to Bugger's and weigh up your options.

Also, expensive is relative to the owner and what the repair or recon job entails.

With Bugger, you know its going to be done right the first time round. No mess no fuss.

My 5c... use it or not.

Muderick

Dude, I don't know what you call expensive but try and source parts for a bay or Syncro box and see what they cost if you can find them. If you don't want to take it to Bugger then Erlemans in Jhb is your only other stop if you want a box with a proper guarantee and a first class job. I only get my syncro boxes from them and have not had any regrets except the price but it is cheap compared to breaking down in a place you don't want to be.

There are too many people around that will take your money and screw you over a barrel without vaseline and they won't even feel bad about it. In the end it's your choice, but cheap isn't always the best option. Believe me that I am talking from very expensive experience.

Yes, when it comes to gearbox overhauls, don't waste your time with workshops not familiar with a VW box...You'll end up spending twice as much when they mess up your box or you break down in the middle of nowhere and have to spend thousands on a tow...

Morning guys.
You have mentioned a lot points i have not considered. Shows you that by asking you get positive answers.
I thank you for the input

You can also try Brian Bird, 083 734 0080

Try Spencer at Spencers diff and gearbox in Alberton,he has been around a long time and goes out of his wat to help you.I dont have his number on me.
Tell him Terry from Truckcare Sevices put you on to him.
Found it 0119077266, only thing is as its a family busines you will have to get through his wife first. good luck, very nice people.

Thanks guys will follow up on all these leads.

The best guys for old vw boxes is Erlemann. They are VW approved. 011 4938628.

gusbus wrote:The best guys for old vw boxes is Erlemann. They are VW approved. 011 4938628.

I dont mean to sound nasty, but that doesnt sound right - VW no longer supports or recognizes the old aircooled vehicles. So it seems hard to understand how VW will approve someone to work on a vehicle which VW no longer recognizes as a VW. And then the VW approved dealer will have to use VW parts, which VW no longer stocks - so by not using the VW parts (which they cant get), VW will not approve the repair.

Maybe they are VW approved for watercooled vehicles?

Just food for thought, as I said, I am not trying to be nasty

I'm not sure that Erlemann works on air-cooled gearboxes any more. They were quite reluctant to take on the last box I gave them for rebuild and they had to do it twice. They complained that they could no longer get parts and that their stash of used boxes was used up and that their "knowledgeable old guy" was no longer around. That was many years ago ...

They used to be the best in the days when I used them (before Bugger). But I don't recall them being any cheaper than Bugger.

HI Guys

vincent
By Expensive what do you recon is Expensive
On a 5 Rib 2L bay Box I give a Rough Estimate of R5-12K and only when the Box is opened then I can give a
Much Better Estimate
Due to the Fact that there were 100`s of Ford V6 Conversions running these Boxes that mostly 4th gear are Kapoet
Then due to no one ever Change/Service Gearboxes the Pinion Bearing Wears and if that Wear it will eat up the Ring and Pinion
Now a Pinion Bearing alone is R1500 and Ring and Pinion is R3-6500 now we are already on average R7000 on 2 Parts only
Not even Labor,Syncro Rings damage 4th gear which is 90% buggerd R2500 if I can find

This is the Reason why I try and Buy any Kombi Boxes for Stock and Parts as TonyZ said no Parts available and from the States a 4th gear will cost you R5000 alone

Myself out of 4 3Rib 1600 boxes I stripped I could only Repaired 1 and another one Semi Half as they are Trashed inside
The 3Rib boxes are a bit cheaper to Repair but in the last Month I have seen doing this Run Of 12 Bay window Busses we are Fitting the Golf conversions in that the Prices of 3 and 5 Rib Boxes are still going to increase due to the Scarcity of Parts and abuse these Boxes have been put through

I apologise if my Prices are High on a these Boxes But I am not the Reason for no Parts Availability Blame VW for no Support


I am an enthusiast same as you all But I still Got a Business to Run and Put Food on the Table as Labour don't Come Cheap any more anywhere

You welcome to bring the Box and let us have a look but Call everyone suggested and go from there

Sorry Post Above was me did not see I was not logged in

Pierre Bugger

Morning Pierre
Thank you for putting it all on the table.
Now i understand why the cost will be so high.
With all the info that i have so far received on this site and the calls i made to some of the other mentioned gearbox repair specialists centers i will be in contact with you soon as my budget don't allow it now.
What i understand from the previous owner of the box it was used in a high roof ice cream kombi on a 2lt air cooled motor.And the reason for selling it was the motor seized and it is too expensive for him(pensioner)to repair.
His sons removed the motor and gearbox to start the repair and that is as far as they got.
See you soon
Thanks
Vincent

Vincent, how do you know there's a problem with the gearbox? These kombi boxes are quite strong and in my limited experience are not prone to failure for no reason. If the motor seized it was probably because it was not well-maintained, leaked oil and then overheated and seized. The gearbox may be fine - unless the seller told you otherwise...