Happy New Year and current values

Ok I am very new(dreaming for 25 years) to the mid engine transaxle world. I think I am leaning towards at ZF 5DS-25 transaxle. I am amazed that I haven't found factory service/rebuild manuals. Anyone have a link on manuals? Also what is the value of a used unrebuild and rebuild transaxle? I saw two on Bat (almost always high) for $5K a piece, some at $7K and eBay at crazy high prices. Anyone tracking these prices? I know some of these are older data points but I couldn't find that much info and I hadn't been watching them.
 
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Brian Kissel

Staff member
Admin
Lifetime Supporter
Transaxles are some of the biggest scams out.
Remember
“Good ones aren’t cheap, and cheap ones aren’t good “.
DO NOT let yourself be scammed. Spend your money on a “ known Good “ transaxle and build your car around it. It is the most important part of your build in my opinion.

Regards Brian
 
There is a totally rebuilt ZF for sale on the forum now. Totally redone. That should give you an idea of pricing. There is a ZF repair / rebuild manual out there (it's a very large PDF file).
 

Neil

Supporter
Transaxles are some of the biggest scams out.
Remember
“Good ones aren’t cheap, and cheap ones aren’t good “.
DO NOT let yourself be scammed. Spend your money on a “ known Good “ transaxle and build your car around it. It is the most important part of your build in my opinion.

Regards Brian
Agreed. A Porsche G50/01 is a good option. The one used in the 1988- 89 Carerra is best.
 
I hard for me to think about what the most important part of any car could be. Could it be the high revving engine, transmission, brakes, or yes tires!

Do you have a link to the repair manual? I duck duck go and didn't find it.
 

Brian Kissel

Staff member
Admin
Lifetime Supporter
Once again, select a transaxle and build your car around it. If you go with a 5,000.00 transaxle and a $10,000.00 high reving engine. It will more than likely be broken in a short period of time. Just my thoughts. But you decide.

Regards Brian
 
What is the failure point or mod of ZF's? Do cases fail, gear sets, or shafts. I have similar questions about RBT and Q, but I can ask them. Anyone stress reliving old cases? My assumption is case failures, then gears, then shafts. I would love to find two old ZF's.
 

Brian Kissel

Staff member
Admin
Lifetime Supporter
The search function is your friend. Lots of documentation on here. These people that work on these transaxles, it isn’t their first rodeo. Look up Howard Jones’s recent post. Reach out to our star transaxle specialist, Ron McCall.



Just search and there's tons of info out there put some work into it.

Regards Brian
 
I believe there is a manual on some lotus page, believe you will find it easy on google.
In my opinion; The cost of the zf boxes has skyrocketed. Unless you are aiming for a fia htp build or something
really period correct i would look at something else. Honestly, why break the bank on a period gearbox and the put it into a chassis that has little to nothing to do with the real deal other than the basic dimensions and layout?
 
I think if I were contemplating a new build, I’d give hard consideration to the Porsche G50/01 that Neil mentioned above!
 
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