Re: Gear Lightening

[Ray Cordova <cordovar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Clay,
I'll second (third?) the opinions shared by Brian & Mark.  Gear lightening is 
something you definately want to do if you're 'getting into the box'.  Your 
question and the resultant responses were regarding spiders and I've got a 
transaxle car but the reason for doing it and the results are the same.  I had 
messed around with different lubricants but there was no comparison to 
improvement that resulted from the reduction in rotating mass.  There are a 
number of internet sites that provide more information on the job, so I won't 
repeat that information here.  All I'll say is, that it's true.  I had all the 
gears in my box done by Merrit Carden (I hope he doesn't mind the advertisement) 
and I will say that 1) the difference in 'shiftability' was dramatic, and 2) the 
quality of workmanship was *very* impressive.  Finally, I'd say that the guy 
down the street *might* be able to do the job, but I'll bet that it wouldn't be 
that much cheaper than having someone like Merrit do the job - and he knows what 
he's doing.  Figure, would you go to some guy to get a tooth cavity filled 
because he said he could do it and had collection of dental implements or go to 
a known and recommended dentist?

-Ray
'84 GTV 6
San Diego.
--------
> Is this a good thing to do, or would I just end spending the same money on an 
> all new (rebuilt) tranny?
>
> Or should I hang on to my money and just go for slippier gear oil?
> 
> Are there any modern trannies that would fit in my 84 Spider?
> 
> - -Any advice gladly appreciated.
> 
> - -Clay Leopold
> '84 Spider (orig. owner --~65,000 miles).
> Princeton, NJ
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