Used Transmission...OK to buy?

[DaveDSM]

here's my dilemma. the Talon has a bad 2nd gear synchro. Thing is SHOT I have to double clutch the upshift, or revmatch to get teh car into the gear. Now I've looked around and contacted a trans specialist for the awd's. Place is asking $890 for a full rebuild of the transmission, including putting in a dual synchro 2nd gear(stocker is single), plus $50 for seals, etc. This includes removal and reinstallation. Since my car is a 1990, however, the input shaft may need to be upgraded to 91 spec if the tranny was made in early 1990. That means I have to pay another $200 to have that done. So total now jumps to almost 1200 for tranny work on this car. Here's the other possibility..

Found a 90 awd tranny in jersey for $380. Guy admantly claims no grinds, leaks, or noises from it. I wouldn't have to pay shipping to get this tranny either, since I cna just make the drive to tom's river from my house in PA. Since I hate working on my car, I found a guy willing to do the swap for $100 (he rebuilds rx7 tranny's and does swaps a lot). So for $480 I could have a working 2nd gear. I can also resell teh bad tranny for $200 on DSM parts trader. So in theory, I would only be paying $280 out of my pocket for a working 2nd gear.

This would leave me with a lot fo money left over for other mods, like a big brake kit, which is very needed on a 3100lbs car without my skinny ass in it.

Would you go with the used tranny?

 

[2G_TURBO]

So for $480 I could have a working 2nd gear. I can also resell teh bad tranny for $200 on DSM parts trader. So in theory, I would only be paying $280 out of my pocket for a working 2nd gear.

but the question is... For how LONG will you have a working second gear? you may just be prolonging the inevitable by buying a used stock transmission. just something to consider