It is easy to reject the idea of spending $500 on a 56a 4 speed, but the reality is that no gearbox can be rebuilt properly cheap. No matter how big or small a gearbox is they all have similar parts. They all require a minimum effort to do and it is not a 5 minute job. A couple of jobs I have done recently have borderline of cost me money. Sure I may have made $200 in labour but it would have cost me several hours in cleaning and preparation, going and getting the bearings and on occasion going to dealerships to get OE.

A basic set of quality bearings for a gearbox will cost between $120 and $200, not including the rollers for under the gears, Add $180 minimum for those. Then at least 5 hours labour to strip, clean and reassemble providing there are absolutely no problems in the box. If you want crack testing or hardness testing done, add another 3 hours. For a company to make a profit paying a worker $20 per hour with overheads you can expect to pay a minimum of $70 per hour. And then he has to warranty his work.

That's why I don't understand why a 56a 4 speed is only worth $50. In the 1990's I had to pay $150 for a dodgy one as I was breaking them on a semi regular basis and had no choice.

$500 was a cheap quote. And would probably not have included layshaft bearings or cage rollers for the gears.

definatly cheaper to get another gearbox, i was quoted $500+ to rebuild my 56a 4 speed, and the guy wasn't sure if he could all the parts for it, i told him where to stick that quote!!!!!! I picked up a 60 series out of the local trading post for $50 with clutch and speedo cable, couldn't get a better deal than that.

It should be easy enough to find good used 4-spd for $50?

56A 4spd. Only snagging on down shift 4 to 3. No whine. So should I be able to get all the bits I may need or is it easier just to aquire another box. I am out of the 5spd market until funds improve but it is slated for next year with the GX spec rebuild. I am working on a bolt on shifter to convert 5spd colum to floor. Twin shift levers, one main with safety reverse. Long way to go on that though.

First of all, What sort of gearbox are we talking about? 56a, 60, 4 or 5 speed, 63 series??? Mainly for parts availability purposes.

The other thing is, does it happen from 2nd to 3rd also, or just from 4th to 3rd.

The snagging is most likely a selector ring and dog ring problem. As for the whine, in 3rd only, If it is a standard H pattern in may have busted the splines on the front of the mainshaft that retain the 3/4 selector hub. If it is a dogleg it may have gone through the case hardening on either the dog gear or the counter gear. Without splitting the box apart you can only guess. But if it is a 60 series 5 speed and needs a new gear you can get new gear pairs cut for it by Albins. Expensive but necessary if you want to keep the box.

At first I thought it was the clutch(ceramic) so I ajusted that. OK that didn't fix it. It doesn't mater what speed I am traveling at, when I down shift from top to 3rd the gear catches a bit and it is starting to give me the tommy tits. Am I looking at a syncro job or is it easier to get an other box? If I had to do a syncro job, do you think the rings would be still available aswell as a bearing overhaul kit. It isn't worth doing one without the other. All advise appreciated!