Porsche Classics division
01-24-2019, 04:57 PM
#16
Rennlist
Basic Site Sponsor
Basic Site Sponsor
The automatics are especially problematic. Simply knowing what pieces got superceeded, when they got superceeded, and what other pieces need to be changed to go along with the supercession is an entire education, in itself. Heck, there are pieces in a GTS automatic that PET (or the Workshop Manual) doesn't even acknowledge.
And then there's the "Rebuild" dilemma....what constitutes a rebuild? Huge difference between what one person considers to be rebuilt, compared to the next person. I build things to last another 100,000+ miles, with no issues. I "update" everything that got changed for the better. Big difference between using $3000 worth of Mercedes/Porsche parts and a "Master Rebuild Kit" with "offshore" pieces that costs $495 (which includes no brake bands, which is the highest wearing parts in the transmission.)
Can I do $2500 automatic transmission "rebuilds? Yup, all day long. Will they last 100,000 miles or even 50,000 miles? Not likely. Making one last for 12,000 miles or 20,000 miles....that's a cinch. There's dozens of places, across country, that can do this.
Quite simply, that's not what I want to be known for....cheap, poor quality, down and dirty rebuilding is NOT what I'm about! I want people to know, without any doubt, if they read "Greg Brown rebuilt" it...they are never going to have to worry about it!
I'm "composing" a thread, right now, about this very question....What constitutes a "rebuild"....on any "rebuilt part". (I just finished 4 weeks of "chasing" a "transmission/final drive" noise in one 928.....yes....All I did, for 4 weeks!)
01-24-2019, 05:00 PM
#17
Drifting
Thread Starter
Thanks Greg, I appreciate your insights. I'll look forward to reading that thread. 
01-24-2019, 05:03 PM
#18
Administrator - "Tyson"
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
01-24-2019, 05:12 PM
#19
Drifting
Thread Starter
Yup. But I kinda geek out over mechanical problems and their solutions. Particularly when they come from resident experts. I always enjoy the posts from the likes of Jake Raby, Jim, Stan, Roger, Greg, etc. because I know the info is solid and not filled with speculation.
01-24-2019, 09:25 PM
#21
Rennlist Member
Manual transmissions are "See Spot Run" compared to automatics....and I "redo" a huge percentage of "rebuilt" manual transmissions with very low mileage on them, since they were "rebuilt".
The automatics are especially problematic. Simply knowing what pieces got superceeded, when they got superceeded, and what other pieces need to be changed to go along with the supercession is an entire education, in itself. Heck, there are pieces in a GTS automatic that PET (or the Workshop Manual) doesn't even acknowledge.
And then there's the "Rebuild" dilemma....what constitutes a rebuild? Huge difference between what one person considers to be rebuilt, compared to the next person. I build things to last another 100,000+ miles, with no issues. I "update" everything that got changed for the better. Big difference between using $3000 worth of Mercedes/Porsche parts and a "Master Rebuild Kit" with "offshore" pieces that costs $495 (which includes no brake bands, which is the highest wearing parts in the transmission.)
Can I do $2500 automatic transmission "rebuilds? Yup, all day long. Will they last 100,000 miles or even 50,000 miles? Not likely. Making one last for 12,000 miles or 20,000 miles....that's a cinch. There's dozens of places, across country, that can do this.
Quite simply, that's not what I want to be known for....cheap, poor quality, down and dirty rebuilding is NOT what I'm about! I want people to know, without any doubt, if they read "Greg Brown rebuilt" it...they are never going to have to worry about it!
I'm "composing" a thread, right now, about this very question....What constitutes a "rebuild"....on any "rebuilt part". (I just finished 4 weeks of "chasing" a "transmission/final drive" noise in one 928.....yes....All I did, for 4 weeks!)
The automatics are especially problematic. Simply knowing what pieces got superceeded, when they got superceeded, and what other pieces need to be changed to go along with the supercession is an entire education, in itself. Heck, there are pieces in a GTS automatic that PET (or the Workshop Manual) doesn't even acknowledge.
And then there's the "Rebuild" dilemma....what constitutes a rebuild? Huge difference between what one person considers to be rebuilt, compared to the next person. I build things to last another 100,000+ miles, with no issues. I "update" everything that got changed for the better. Big difference between using $3000 worth of Mercedes/Porsche parts and a "Master Rebuild Kit" with "offshore" pieces that costs $495 (which includes no brake bands, which is the highest wearing parts in the transmission.)
Can I do $2500 automatic transmission "rebuilds? Yup, all day long. Will they last 100,000 miles or even 50,000 miles? Not likely. Making one last for 12,000 miles or 20,000 miles....that's a cinch. There's dozens of places, across country, that can do this.
Quite simply, that's not what I want to be known for....cheap, poor quality, down and dirty rebuilding is NOT what I'm about! I want people to know, without any doubt, if they read "Greg Brown rebuilt" it...they are never going to have to worry about it!
I'm "composing" a thread, right now, about this very question....What constitutes a "rebuild"....on any "rebuilt part". (I just finished 4 weeks of "chasing" a "transmission/final drive" noise in one 928.....yes....All I did, for 4 weeks!)
I cant wait to read it Greg...does it have anything to do with the "grrrr" that our cars tend to ligtly do these days?
90% of mine was one weak plug wire..and that too is what ate my cats..much better now.
01-24-2019, 09:38 PM
#22
Vegas, Baby!
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
I've already spoken to them and they'll take it. They said they'd even be ok with me pulling the transmission myself and handing it to them for the rebuild. For me it's a bit of a matter of convenience: shipping the trans all the way to Greg in CA or just driving up the road and letting Porsche NA take care of it. They claim to be versed in the 928 and that they do work on them, though obviously not as much as 911's. Supposedly they've got some "old timers" in house who worked on the 928 when it was still in production..... 
If you want piece of mind, and it done right the first time, send it to Doc Brown. Probably cost the same ether way.
01-24-2019, 11:02 PM
#23
Rennlist
Basic Site Sponsor
Basic Site Sponsor
I've read (have) all the training information that Porsche provides their "Classic Technicians" when the go to school for each individual model training. It's pretty good, for a general overview.
Can you put 40 years of experience in a 1/4" thick paperback manual?
Not quite....
Which might be why the local "Classic Technicians" call me, when they get in a 928 with problems.
Can you put 40 years of experience in a 1/4" thick paperback manual?
Not quite....
Which might be why the local "Classic Technicians" call me, when they get in a 928 with problems.
01-25-2019, 09:45 AM
#24
Nordschleife Master
I've read (have) all the training information that Porsche provides their "Classic Technicians" when the go to school for each individual model training. It's pretty good, for a general overview.
Can you put 40 years of experience in a 1/4" thick paperback manual?
Not quite....
Which might be why the local "Classic Technicians" call me, when they get in a 928 with problems.
Can you put 40 years of experience in a 1/4" thick paperback manual?
Not quite....
Which might be why the local "Classic Technicians" call me, when they get in a 928 with problems.
1 - When to call for help.
2 - WHO to call for help.