88 323 GTX Tranny? URGENT
January-21st-2003, 06:21 PM
#1
SHIFT_mystick
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Lincoln, Ne
Posts: 1,228
88 323 GTX Tranny? URGENT
A friend of mine is looking at buying a 323 GTX.... car is practically perfect, minus the tranny is gone. How much for a new/used tranny? how hard would it be to put in? or what would labor be?
stupid questions maybe... oh well this will decide the buy... we have 3 days
stupid questions maybe... oh well this will decide the buy... we have 3 days
January-21st-2003, 07:35 PM
#2
Protege Enthusiast
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Boston
Posts: 292
I have had a few friends that had GTX's Street and Rally versions, and they were always complaining that the trannys were **** and broke all the time. The problem is they are hard to find and are very expensive.
From everything I have heard I would stay away from GTX's, too bad since thay are fun cars
From everything I have heard I would stay away from GTX's, too bad since thay are fun cars
January-21st-2003, 08:10 PM
#3
Salt addict
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Niagara Falls Ont.
Posts: 1,201
If he ends up buying it, tell him to make sure that the crank pulley isn't wobbling. If it is then DON'T buy it. If it isn't then loctite the bolt anyways. The crank pulley being loose will kill the keyway on the crankshaft and throw the cam timing way off, thus causing lots of problems. My brother went through 3 engines in the past year because of this. I've heard this is a common problem on the GTX especially.
January-21st-2003, 10:04 PM
#4
SHIFT_mystick
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Lincoln, Ne
Posts: 1,228
here is the reply from the owner, he was really quick and seems knowledgable too. what do you guys say now?
hi there -
The crank pulley is not loose or wobbling, and as far
as the tranny goes it is not completely fried and you
could technically drive it somewhere, but all the
fluid has leaked out and the driver side axle keeps
slipping. what happened is about 2 months ago, I
noticed that it was leaking so we put it up in the air
and saw the axle slipping out and thought it was due
to a shot axle seal, and when we pulled the axle seal
we noticed the bearing was stuck in the tranny casing
and had lost some ball bearings out of it. with the
bearing stuck in there, it really chewed up the
casing, so either a rebuild on the tranny, or a new
one would be ideal. a j-spec tranny would be the way
to go, and it would be cheaper in the end anyway. i
have a bunch of numbers for the tranny's and if you
have any more questions let me know.
-matt
The crank pulley is not loose or wobbling, and as far
as the tranny goes it is not completely fried and you
could technically drive it somewhere, but all the
fluid has leaked out and the driver side axle keeps
slipping. what happened is about 2 months ago, I
noticed that it was leaking so we put it up in the air
and saw the axle slipping out and thought it was due
to a shot axle seal, and when we pulled the axle seal
we noticed the bearing was stuck in the tranny casing
and had lost some ball bearings out of it. with the
bearing stuck in there, it really chewed up the
casing, so either a rebuild on the tranny, or a new
one would be ideal. a j-spec tranny would be the way
to go, and it would be cheaper in the end anyway. i
have a bunch of numbers for the tranny's and if you
have any more questions let me know.
-matt
January-22nd-2003, 12:44 PM
#5
The Horns of Jericho
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Southern Californ-I-A (909)
Posts: 320
I'd say buy it. Finding a GTX in the states is rare. They're fun cars to be made into projects or not. You can always find a gearbox for it. You don't have to stay away from GTX gearboxes. However, if you do want a stronger gearbox, try to find a gearbox from a GTR (prolly hard to do).
****, you can stick a regular FWD gearbox in it until you find a GTR/GTX box.
I think there was someone on this board that bought a GTR engine that still had the 4WD gearbox on it, but he had no use for it. Might do a search and see if he still has it and buy it from him. You can make do with that until you find a GTR gearbox.
Though, if you do put in a GTX gearbox, just maintain it, don't abuse it, and it'll last with no problems.
People that put in 3-4 puck clutch plates (or any springless plates for that matter) and launch them at every street light shouldn't expect their gearboxes to last very long and will go through them like hotcakes.
GTX gearboxes are not made for dragging, and the springs in stock clutch plates are there for a reason.
****, you can stick a regular FWD gearbox in it until you find a GTR/GTX box.
I think there was someone on this board that bought a GTR engine that still had the 4WD gearbox on it, but he had no use for it. Might do a search and see if he still has it and buy it from him. You can make do with that until you find a GTR gearbox.
Though, if you do put in a GTX gearbox, just maintain it, don't abuse it, and it'll last with no problems.
People that put in 3-4 puck clutch plates (or any springless plates for that matter) and launch them at every street light shouldn't expect their gearboxes to last very long and will go through them like hotcakes.
GTX gearboxes are not made for dragging, and the springs in stock clutch plates are there for a reason.
January-23rd-2003, 11:38 PM
#7
Protege Enthusiast
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Bellingham, WA
Posts: 139
A good place to look for cars/parts for the GTX is Ben Bradley's rally website. There are usually a few for sale at any given time, and occasionally all the trick tranny parts.
I too have several friends with GTXs, and have navigated a few rallies in them, if it's in good shape BUY IT! They are a blast!!
tom
I too have several friends with GTXs, and have navigated a few rallies in them, if it's in good shape BUY IT! They are a blast!!
tom
February-10th-2003, 03:31 PM
#9
Protege Newbie
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Posts: 21
FWIW, the tranny is the weak point on the car. Stock trannies/transfer cases are good for about 200hp, then they have to be "built" up (costing anywhere from $2k - $6K).
There are "parts" cars available state-side, you just have to know where to look. There is a 323 GTX user group on yahoo:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/323gtx/messages
And it's the place for tech questions or WTB.
There are "parts" cars available state-side, you just have to know where to look. There is a 323 GTX user group on yahoo:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/323gtx/messages
And it's the place for tech questions or WTB.
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