C-4 ZR1 any one fix their ZF tranny??

[John P.]

Has anyone ever rebuilt, torn apart or done anything with their tranny?
Im looking at a car that has bad syncros and everyone is talking like it is damn near impossible except of course the "pro" to fix it
I refuse to live in that context anything can be fixed and weather it needs special tools you can get by with some shade tree mechanicing!
Besides Being in the marines Im sure I could scrounge up some special bearing puller or something along those lines....

so is there anyone with any experience here???

[Duke W.]

Re: C-4 ZR1 any one fix their ZF tranny??

Transmission work is the one thing I don't care for and the T-10 in my SWC was the only component I farmed out for overhaul. If you have a shop manual with the overhaul procedure and can see a way to substitute any special tools that are called out and you are reasonably competent and attentive to detail and don't try to rush things, I'm sure you can do it.

It recently came to my attention that the B-W T-50 in my Cosworth Vega has a worn extension bushing which is causing the yoke to wobble around that has ruined two seals, so it's going to have to come out and disassembled.

The T-50 is universally hated by transmission guys because it is full of uncaged needle bearings, which fall out all over the place when it's disassembled and equally tough to get them all in place on assembly. The one mitigating factor is the the box itself is a snap to R&I compared to a Corvette.

It's nice at my age to discover new challenges, and why not one that is particularly tough.

Go for it!

Duke

[Patrick H.]

Re: C-4 ZR1 any one fix their ZF tranny??

Try:

ZF Industries Inc.
777 Hickory Hill Drive
60061 Vernon Hills - IL
USA
Tel.: +1 847 478-6868
Fax: +1 847 478-6789

I think only ZF fixes ZF 6 speed Corvette transmissions.

Patrick

[Ed Jennings]

Re: C-4 ZR1 any one fix their ZF tranny??

I owned a 94 a few years back that needed a transmission under warranty. GM insisted that the dealership install a transmission (new or rebuilt???) from ZF. The dealership was instructed that they were to handle all ZF trans problems in this fashion.

[John H.]

Re: C-4 ZR1 any one fix their ZF tranny??

Chevrolet never released any repair parts for the ZF 6-speed, as they didn't want them serviced at the dealer level; they were to be removed and replaced as a unit, with the old transmission returned to ZF as a rebuild core.

[Clem Z.]

Re: C-4 ZR1 any one fix their ZF tranny??

$2800 exchange,but ZF now will sell you the parts i have been told give them a call. i have never seen a overhaul manual for them anyplace so make sure you get one from ZF. good luck

[Ed Jennings]

Re: C-4 ZR1 any one fix their ZF tranny??

John, was this policy due to the difficulty of overhaul/special equipment, or simply a warranty issue with ZF?

[Klaus Friedrich]

Re: C-4 ZR1 any one fix their ZF tranny??

Hi Johnny,

I live in Germany only a few miles apart from ZF company in Friedrichshafen.

I'm in posession of an original maintenance book used by ZF engineers. There are some hand written notes in it. Terry Mc Manmon got a copy a few months ago.
If you need one ask him or let me know.

The transmissions were built in Kaiserslautern. There is an Corvette club formed by people from the American forces. Perhaps they can help you getting parts.

Hope it helps

Klaus Friedrich
Corvette Freunde Bodensee
Germany

[Joe L.]

Re: C-4 ZR1 any one fix their ZF tranny??

johnny-----

Although never available through GM, parts for ZF 6 speeds are now available through ZF in Vernon Hills, IL and, even, a few ZF parts distributors.

If I needed to repair my ZF 6 speed transmission, would I purchase the parts and repair it myself? Absolutely NOT. Although I have absolutely no qualms about working on a Muncie (I built a brand new Muncie M-22 from SERVICE parts) I wouldn't DREAM of getting into a ZF 6 speed. Not on your life. I'd send it to ZF in Vernon Hills, IL for any required repair. Expensive? You bet. That's just how some things are and this is one of those things.

[Rob Loszewski]

Re: C-4 ZR1 any one fix their ZF tranny??

Klaus,

Would it be possible to get a copy of this manual. Let me know.

-Rob Loszewski, Site Administrator
Corvette Action Center

http://corvetteactioncenter.com

[John H.]

Re: C-4 ZR1 any one fix their ZF tranny??

Ed -

I dunno - they just didn't want the dealers to mess with it; Chrysler has the same policy on Viper engines and the Viper Tremec 6-speed transmission - unit exchange only, no teardown authorized at the dealer level.

[Clem Z.]

Re: C-4 ZR1 any one fix their ZF tranny??

GM had the same policy on some engine failures,no teardown at the dealers because GM wanted to see what caused the failure. this is best done under controlled conditions so they must be shipped backed to GM.

[John P.]

Re: C-4 ZR1 any one fix their ZF tranny??

Hello guys,
sorry I have been gone the Navy turned of our Internet for the last couple of days

Anyway thanks for the replies,
I appreciate it Klaus I would love to get a copy of that from you I have a gent in my unit here that is from Germany and he can translate it for me!
so let me know what up with that!

Everyone else I have rebuild my 4+3 that was nothing it was pretty easy and with the little needle bearings just put some grease on there pack them into place an no sweat!

If the manufacture can design and build it someone is able to rebuild it.
I work on a 34 year old helicopter that has been in use in vietnam and everything since, I have the balls to fly on these things on a daily basis!
Just think of all the moving parts on this baby!
I can fix anything! =0)

Well I'll at least give it a case of beer and a hell of a shot!

thanks again
johnny

[Joe L.]

Re: C-4 ZR1 any one fix their ZF tranny??

johnny----

If you are talking about overhaul of the manual trans section of the DN 4+3, you can't compare that to getting into a ZF 6 speed. The manual trans section of the 4+3 is, basically, the same as a Borg-Warner T-10. It's really quite easy to disassemble, assemble, and overhaul. You will NOT find the ZF-6 speed to be similar in ANY way.

[Verle R.]

Re: C-4 ZR1 any one fix their ZF tranny??

Here are a couple of ZF rebuilders.

I don't know anything about them but they are active on the ZR1 net and do advertise.

http://www.ZFdoc.com

http://www.ZR1specialist.com

Verle