Another Direction

[WarpSpeed]

Ok so I didn't have a good day to get any answers from any dealers, prices all over the place, we have the parts, we don't have the parts, we need a month to get the parts from Germany, the red shirts are protesting outside our doors so we are hiding under the covers, ok they didn't exactly say that but after lunch the only person remaining at the dealership was the security guard everyone else had evacuated. I've never heard of so many reasons not to do business!!

So, I am seriously exploring the option of sourcing a reman tranny in the States or the UK and an upgrade to have shipped over how many hoops do you think it will take to get it and besides the cost of the tranny how much do you anticipate the additional costs will be? VW Vento et al manual transmission, If anyone has any idea of shipping costs for something this big and heavy too it would be nice to know. I know I'll get much better quality out of country I can count on, I have some very reliable sources back home and while it would cost next to nothing to have it removed and reinstalled I prefer doing it myself to avoid any possible missteps, damage etc.. Thoughts and advice please, this may also be a test step for some future parts shipping for other purposes as well.

[WarpSpeed]

No one has any ideas or thoughts? never done anything like this before?

[stingray]

No one has any ideas or thoughts? never done anything like this before?

Yes u can import that trany, import duty is 60% of bill, but i don't think it's necessary to import a tranny for a VW Vento. Go to Bang Na (There are no red shirts) and get a used one (for about 20'k). Every workshop can change it. If not, pm me i can give yo the details and adress of the VW Audi specialist in Sri Nakarin Bangkok, the same i use. Forget about official dealerships, as they always have all University Degrees and try to make things as complicate as possible.

[WarpSpeed]

Ok Stinger thanks, It's 60% duty then? I thought used parts were taxed at 15% or is that it would be considered new-ish once re-maned.. Honestly even at 60% it would be worth it given the piece of mind and quality difference for future reference might be my option..

The dealers are out of their minds and no experience from what I've been told by them directly, auto ok not manual.. A VW specialist is what I need but budget is an issue, I want an entire rebuild once out but that may not be possible budget wise, do you have any idea how much for re-man? Good to hear about the lack of red shirts I couldn't even get a taxi to go anywhere near downtown yesterday, I really want to keep this transmission though if possible to have it rebuilt with performance mods over time and eventually reinstall it.

I'm not worried about the change out and actually prefer to do it myself so no short cuts are taken any idea what sort of warranty a new T/A would come with? 30 days at least?

PM on the way..

[monty]

Had the auto tranny of a VW Caravelle re-manned here in Pattaya, paid 30,000 for it. Not bad considering working on anything in a Caravelle is a PIA... Even gotta get the radiator out just to get the spark plugs changed

Seems to be an OK job, now 30,000 km down the line and no probs at all, so will likely do another 150K km...

[WarpSpeed]

Thanks, sounds like the old V8 Chevy Monza back in the day that you used to have disconnect the engine and lift it to change the spark plugs, that model didn't last too long and was mostly for enthusiasts and track purposes primarily. Mine is manual and I think they're a little out of my way, but for future reference as one never knows, do they rebuild manuals do you know?

[WarpSpeed]

Well, sourced a used tranny for 8000b yesterday and now after cleaning it thoroughly and taking out the old one I will open it myself as I think it just severed a rivet on the final drive gear, a known issue with older VW diffs. I'll replace it with a Quaiffe diff or another I'm considering and then have it rebuilt to performance spec for possible future track days and maybe eventually even more, if not in this car, in another one. Good to have a spare at any rate..

[powderpuff]

Ok was gonna offer to take you to Chieng Khong - Bangna - Trad Kilo 12. Glad you found one.

[WarpSpeed]

Is that a strip joint?? This tranny is rough outwardly which is not a good indication of it's inner self so if you have a source for a quality and reasonable rebuild, fess up man, one can never have enough sources...The location you've mentioned in part sounds similar to one that was PM'd to me and I have not yet had the time or immediate need to call, so I wonder if it's the same? Exclusively VW Audi specialist?

[EvilDrSomkid]

No one has any ideas or thoughts? never done anything like this before?

Yes u can import that trany, import duty is 60% of bill

Say, I read here previously that import duty on used parts is 30%. And when you say 60% of bill, you mean what? The sales invoice? Bill of Loading?

What if you bought a tranny from a private person, say from Ebay?

[powderpuff]

WS. I am referring to a massive salvage yard area.

If you would like me to take you there please contact by PM.

[WarpSpeed]

No one has any ideas or thoughts? never done anything like this before?

Yes u can import that trany, import duty is 60% of bill

Say, I read here previously that import duty on used parts is 30%. And when you say 60% of bill, you mean what? The sales invoice? Bill of Loading?

What if you bought a tranny from a private person, say from Ebay?

I'd like to know this as well, I thought it was much less then that and yes what is that charge based on? If it is 30% for some parts that would be well worth it as there is nothing here to match either the availability nor the quality.. Ebay is a source I am considering form some equipment..

For example here many times they break up a kit and sell each piece individually instead of in kit form which is far less complicated and easier to acquire instead of listing each individual little piece required such as in a spring kit for rear shoes, I just did this on my car and usually I don't even think about replacing them on a car of this age it's automatic as brakes are just too important to risk a failure. But here I was informed through a couple of sources that each spring has to be requested and located individually and half the time they don't even know what parts of these sorts need to be ordered there are no part numbers being sold in kit form..

Good thing I did my rear brakes though as the adjustment tension spring on one side was off and scraping inside the drum and the other side the lower retention spring was not installed properly and was loose not holding any tension now the brakes work like.................Well......................Like they were designed.... I never liked even mechanics stateside working on my car and they were heads above what is common here so no way I'm doing it here unless absolutely necessary.

The junk yard I sourced the used tranny from threw in some of the old parts from the tranny. Clutch (Why? I guess he thinks I might use it like many here would?) But it is badly burnt as is the fly wheel and pressure plate anyway it's good to have for illustration purposes.. The previous owner repaired a broken spring on the clutch plate in spite of it being basically worn out anyway, can't figure it the work involved in removing the tranny to get at the clutch to weld a worn out clutch disk that couldn't cost much more then 2000b new is beyond me..

When they reinstalled it they didn't torque the flywheel bolts correctly and ruined some it appears as they are 12 point not regular sockets so unlikely they had the proper tools and some weren't even installed nor did they have a centering tool so the fly wheel floated and was obviously wobbling and wore into the flywheel bolts and because it was off center the starter motor also chewed the teeth off of one side of it, it is obvious to an experienced eye that the teeth were not fully engaging on that side.. Besides this the linkage to the tranny has 2 snap on ends and one was broken so they wrapped it numerous times with tie wire and a tie wrap!! Gents!! These cars are on the road next to you!! Or worse, behind you as you pull up to a stop light with your family! or doing work on your car! So beware..

[stingray]

No one has any ideas or thoughts? never done anything like this before?

Yes u can import that trany, import duty is 60% of bill

Say, I read here previously that import duty on used parts is 30%. And when you say 60% of bill, you mean what? The sales invoice? Bill of Loading?

What if you bought a tranny from a private person, say from Ebay?

It is sixty procent for new parts. I use to imort from time to tome parts for my US cars (wheelsm rubber seakings window cues, frames, engine and body parts), mosthly from "yearone". There are new parts. If you want import used parts, they have to look really used, not like new, otherwise they don't beleve. Normally they estimate what the parts is worth and they look at your bill (sales invoice). There is no way that they would accept a 5 dollar part from ebay, or some fake lowered bill. The custom wants their monney and the bill have to be resonable. At the begin i imported everything by my self, as my seceretary has a import licese, but it's a waste of time. I better pay a little more and some company, like Fedex, deliver to my doorstep.

[WarpSpeed]

Thanks Stinger, so if a nicely rebuilt tranny with internal performance upgrades it's still considered new? That's crap... But at least I could get it without the upgrades listed keeping the cost and taxes down..

[powderpuff]

99% sure we can get any tranny we want here in BKK.

[EvilDrSomkid]

99% sure we can get any tranny we want here in BKK.

Oh yeah, how about an Audi 01E 6-speed?