So... I want to drink...
Dropped off the NSG370 at Tip Top on Monday. Went in to look and talk again today. Joey and Ross are great to talk to and work with. Two thumbs up for Tip Top. Love the way they approached everything and laid it all out. No bull crap, no trying to sell me anything, just honest assessment and experienced advice.
The NSG370? Two thumbs down.
They can't see anything in it that would really explain the noise I was hearing. Bearings are fine. But, the transmission is totally shot, anyway. Cracked case. Wich I had not noticed, but it's a long crack in the front case half. Synchros on their last legs. Significant wear on the lower gears. It needs a full rebuild. And a front case half. But it still might not be the source of my noise. I took my old TO and pilot bearings with me, they agreed with me that they are not the source of the noise. Still "could be" the transmission, but they are afraid it might not be. Which, would leave, my new Atlas.
But, one thing at a time. And right now, the thing is the transmission.
We bench raced everything from a NV4500 swap, to a brandy new Tremec 4050, to rebuilding or replacing the shitty NSG370. I really do appreciate how good those guys are to work with, I wish every shop could be like Tip Top. Finally agreed the cheapest and easiest, but not cheap, at all, is to get a good NSG370 back in my LJ. I wish I could afford to convert to a NV4500, let alone the Tremec, but there's just no way I can swing that.
So, they are on a search for parts for my old one, or a good low mile used one (and some parts for it, too). They'll get it penciled out and see what I want to do from there. Not going to be a fast process though. The LJ is going to be down for at least a few more weeks.
- DAA