Should I pay VW £1072 for a new Gearbox

[Pickles]

My 4 speed box has done 170,000 (140,000 by me) it has been getting a little noiser and harder to shift some crunching in third.
Last night on my way home from Work it packed up. It is jammed,
it appears it is in gear but no drive I can,t move the gear lever much or find any gears. If i put force on the gearlever with engine running and clutch down there is some crunching.
I think it is time for a rebuilt gearbox.
Do I pay VW £1072 + VAT if they can get one
or is there some one else who I can trust
Someone mention Shiplake Motors

[zinfandel]

If you want to keep the van for sometime. Yes
If you'r going to change with in the next cupple of years. No
Find a fare recon

[Pickles]

I have had the van for 12 years and don't intend to sell it. I want the new box to also do 170,000 mile

[Pickles]

Just spoke to Shiplake Motors He wants £375 + £50 fittings seems a knowledgable guy. He replaces 3rd + 4th gear hub, syncro rings, bearings seals.
Any one any experiences

[plurker]

.

[Diamond Hell]

If you want a gearbox that will last another 170,000 miles buy a brand new gearbox. Althought the seals etc will be replaced during an over-haul you've still got a lot of components that have been subjected to years of stress and the chance of other component failure will naturally be higher.[/code]

[vwsween]

I test drove a 5 speed that Shiplake rebuilt about a year earlier - the bill was nearly £700 but very nice to drive.
Brian

[stuckin88]

Got my 4sp Shiplakes recon--in on Monday-----all good--nice & smooth--off to Cornwall tomorrow---

[Tex Ritter]

I think NOOMO had a recon box from them, have a word with him.

TR

[Russel]

If u want ure 17000miles u need to go new.
the price u have been qouted for a new box is good.
As tom says there is more than just the above mentioned to be replaced for a long life result.
And remember replacing gear oil at decent intervals will prolong its life.

[cumbriankeith]

My 4 spd jammed in third a few weeks ago and I've had the 3rd/4th hub replaced for just the cost of the part, which is £188!! They are a common and well-known weakness in these boxes apparently. Hence Shiplake Motors also routinely replacing them in rebuilds, I assume.
So mine now slips in and out of 3rd and 4th nice and smoothly - trouble is 2nd is totally jammed so my gearbox specialist seems to have put something back a bit wrongly and I'm going to have to take it out again for him to fix it - I've been swearing a fair bit today!! Anyone know how just 2nd could be completely jammed? It won't go into gear - it just crunches. If I put it in 2nd at standstill and let the clutch out the engine stalls. My guy is going to sort it - but I'm just curious to know what might have been done wrongly.

[Aidan]

synchro in back to front or otherwise mixed up I think - they are handed as well as matched I believe.

[sixsprings]

I have had the van for 12 years and don't intend to sell it. I want the new box to also do 170,000 mile

then you really only have one option

i have an experience with a buggy engine, i bought 7 for it in all, a few recons, a few s/hand. none lasted more than a 100 miles.
in the end, after a lot of wasted time and money, an expensive one was fitted, and has been fine since.
you could be lucky with finding a top quality reconditioner, but it is down to luck IMHO. if you buy new, then it will hopefully perform faultlessly for many years, what gaurantee do you get for your £1000? and what gaurantee do you get with a £500 recon?

[Aidan]

vw = 2 years unlimited milage warranty, don't think anyone else will offer that, most seem to offer 6 months on a recon

["WEAZLECHIN"]

assume your camper is 20 years old, its taken it 20 years to screw the box. if you want to keep the van for 20 more years and you have too much money go for the £1200 inc vat box, i do doubt your engine will last another 20 years though. its your money at the end of the day.