TheSamba.com :: View topic - Transmission builder in Phoenix, AZ area?

Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:06 am

Is there a decent transmission builder in the Phoenix, AZ area?

Thanks.

Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:27 am

There are a couple.
AZ trans Axle
http://aztransaxle.com/
Also VW performance http://www.v-w-performance.com/

Mon Sep 17, 2012 11:38 am

I work with Rich Roberts very often for parts and info. He builds trans and repairs too. Hes a sure bet.

Action Auto Racing
(602) 708-1998
18012 N 14th St, Phoenix, AZ

Mon Sep 17, 2012 1:24 pm

Bill at Az Transaxel Exchange is the guy to call. He's very honest and the work is top notch.

Mon Sep 17, 2012 7:59 pm

Why limit yourself to Phoenix? I just mail-ordered mine from Rancho Transmissions.

Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:51 pm

medeno wrote: Why limit yourself to Phoenix? I just mail-ordered mine from Rancho Transmissions.
If you didn't notice, Phoenix is local to the OP. It makes every sense in the world. How much was your frieght to Peru BTW?

Mon Sep 17, 2012 10:48 pm

gt1953 wrote: AZ Ttrans Axle
http://aztransaxle.com/
He did the one in my Double Cab and I would recommend him.

He also did my '54 split-case transmission and it looked awesome but I never used it, sold with the vehicle.

I know various other people in AZ that have had them do transmissions and I have never heard any complaints ever.

Tue Sep 18, 2012 4:26 am

jfats808 wrote: medeno wrote: Why limit yourself to Phoenix? I just mail-ordered mine from Rancho Transmissions.
If you didn't notice, Phoenix is local to the OP. It makes every sense in the world. How much was your frieght to Peru BTW?

My job pays the international portion and duty free, I pay the same as anyone in the US for shipping. If you live in an area with good builders, then it makes since to use them to avoid extra shipping charges. Rancho does have decent prices and good feedback from the Samba. No sales tax (offset shipping) but it takes them about 3 weeks for a build.

Tue Sep 18, 2012 8:24 am

Thanks so much for the info guys!

I contacted Bill at AZ Trans Exchange and he is helping me out.

Here is the situation...I live in St Louis, MO but am moving to the Phoenix area in about a month. My wife and daughter moved there about a month ago and I shipped all my belongings & garage/VW stuff with the movers to our new place in Mesa, AZ. I am staying in St Louis until the house is sold (closing date this Friday) so If all goes well I will give 2-wk notice at work and head west 1-wk after my last day of work.

I just got my 65 deluxe bus on the road with recently rebuilt stock trans with RGB's and I installed a 2110cc dual 44 engine with 205R14C larger than stock tires...48 awesome miles on my deluxe so far after a six year resto then I took some friends for a joyride the other night and tried a burnout...well the bus jumped strait up and popped out of gear when we landed...it works fine but now I have a horribly loud wine noise when decellerating or coasting in neutral...gussing I thrashed my brand new pinion bearing :cry: Not wanting to risk failure in the 1500 mile journy to AZ I need to have my "AT" dual side cover tranny with 3.88 R&P (which is in my new garage in Mesa) rebuilt and shipped to me asap. The 3.88 gearing will be more desireable with my engine, RGB & tire combo anyway and I'll refrain from any burnouts in the future :?

So...last night my lovely wife and daughter loacted the tranny in my mountain of crap piled in the new garage and are delivering it to Bill today. Hopefully shipping it to me in a week or two just in time for a break in road trip.

Again...Thank you guys...the Samba Rocks!

Tue Sep 18, 2012 11:23 am

medeno wrote: Why limit yourself to Phoenix? I just mail-ordered mine from Rancho Transmissions.
I have one tranny from Rancho and two from Steve Hollingsworth.

Both Hollingsworth trannies are outstanding. I took delivery of both personally. If there had been any sort of problem, he would have fixed it, with no need to ship stuff around the country.

The Rancho box I bough through the local ACVW shop. It's a sloppy POS. The hockey-stick was worn beyond fixing. We couldn't believe they used it. I replaced the entire nosecone at my own expense. And shifting is still a slow, deliberate process in that car.

Could I have shipped it back to Rancho? Sure. At my considerable expense.

My advice? Shop locally when you can.

Max

Tue Sep 18, 2012 7:59 pm

Hopefully I will have better luck with Rancho...They have a warranty, but shipping charges can make the warranty useless. Time will tell. hehe, I can get a rebuilt tranny here in Peru for about $200, but I rather pay more for one from the USA. Local is not always better, trust me.

Tue Sep 18, 2012 10:45 pm

Does Steve build his own transmissions,or does he take them next door to AZ Transaxle?

Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:31 am

Steve builds his own.

Steve specializes in engines and tries not intrude into Bills customer base. But when called upon he will do a transmission. Like the engines, each one is done for a specific customer and with the application in mind. He is an old-school craftsman.

When I needed a tranny for my 63, Steve built it up and I drove down and we swapped it in over a Saturday morning so I could drive back the next day. But when I needed one for my type-3 I just got in a hurry and didn't really have time to drive to PH. Oh well.

Max

Wed Sep 19, 2012 11:42 am

Very true an old school craftsman. Just got some single port rebuilt heads from Steve. Don't need the heads now but prices are not getting cheaper.