I've also had one or two problems with Rimmer Bros - the cyclinder head
I bought from them had some chunks missing from it, but they changed
that no questions asked when I pointed it out to them, and the thread
came off the cylinder head studs I bought from them when I'd
half-tightened the nuts, although I'm still only 85% sure that this was
a problem with the studs, and not with me! Having said that, other
parts I've got from them have always been perfect, the guys on the phone
are extremely knowledgeable, and the service is excellent.
However, John Kipping is selling reconditioned gearboxes for £150
(approx $240) - that's £60 cheaper than Rimmer Bros. Although the
service isn't usually so good, and the people on the end of the phone
can answer simple questions but usually have to go and ask John himself
about anything more complicated than "how much will that be?", I have
never yet had any problem with any parts I've got from there - combine
that with the extra financial saving, and that's where I'll be getting
my gearbox from. I'll keep the list updated (It'll take me less than 5
years to do 4-5k miles!)
As for the choice about changing the gearbox myself or getting someone
else to do it, thanks to everyone for all the advice. The general
consensus is that it's not too difficult, but it's sometimes difficult
to get the new gearbox to align with the clutch. A couple of other
things also influenced me - one of the major ones being that the guy I
borrow a lot of tools from is working on his car this weekend, and so
won't be able to lend me tools or advice!
But in the end it was the weather forecast that influenced me - bright
sunshine, with Sunday probably being the hottest day of the year yet. I
was thinking about driving down to the Penshurst Place Classic Car Show
either Sunday or Monday (I may see some of you there - is anyone else
going?) and when I heard the weather forecast, I decided not to take the
chance of screwing it up and not having a car this weekend, so it's
going into the garage instead. (Experience tells me that the first time
you do something, it always takes 2-3 times as long as it should.)
>----------
>From: cecil wise[SMTP:cwise@southwind.net]
>Sent: 28 May 1999 00:08
>To: spitfires@autox.team.net
>Subject: Re: Rimmer Bros
>
>
>Don't normally contribute much, but felt compelled to respond to this one. I
>bought a Rimmers transmission for my '80 spitfire about 5 years and 4-5k
>miles
>ago (restored the car in the meantime). Most of these miles were highway
>miles, with a trip to Pennsylvania and a trip to Dallas Texas (I live in
>Kansas), plus 2 autocrosses and a couple of funkanas, so it hasn't seen a
>whole
>lot of abuse. Two weeks ago, it came apart. Haven't pulled it out yet to
>see
>exactly what failed, but it makes horrible noises and wont go in all gears
>except 4th.
>
>This brings up the question: Why are the rebuilt units from Rimmers so
>cheap?
>Are they cutting corners, or do they just have good, fast people rebuilding
>these things? With my experience from 2 weeks ago, I'm leaning toward the
>cutting corners theory.
>
>Cecil
>'65, '80 Spitfires
>'62 Vitesse
>
>Ken C wrote:
>
>> Which brings up a question from a newbie... The prices from Rimmers (after
>> coversion) seem to be somewhat cheaper than found at places in the US.
>> However, if you add the shipping, let's say to someplace like California,
>> are the prices still cheaper ?? I need to get a complete interior for my
>> newly pruchased '72 Spitfire just for starters !!
>>
>> TIA, Ken C
>>
>> > With the price "Rimmer Bros." has on rebuilt trannys no shop in the
>> country can
>> > rebuild one for you, I bet a shops labor bill is more than a trans. from
>> Rimmer
>> > alone, buy a new rebuilt from then have some club members give a hand, if
>> you do not
>> > belong to a T/R club then this is another example of why should, they are
>> friendly
>> > and very helpfull, labour rate is usually a case of cool refreshments. A
>> big part of
>> > owning one of these cars is the grease under the nails.
>> > > At 06:48 AM 5/27/99 -0600, you wrote:
>
>
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