Murcielago Trans Has Less Teeth Than a Hockey Player
A Murcielago transmission is only expected to last 20k miles, and each replacement trans will cost you $8k.
Hoovie’s Garage host Tyler Hoover comes to us with another update on his budget Lambo. This time around, the Murcielago trans gets replaced.
Hoover has become somewhat of an expert on finding the cheapest versions of high-end sports cars and restoring them to glory. But, this particular Lamborghini was giving Hoover fits in first gear. After a bit of time in the shop, it’s ready to have the engine dropped back in.
First off, Hoover gives us a quick update on his other projects. The $6k Porsche 911 got new 997 wheels. The ’91 Bently Turbo R still has misfiring issues, but they’ve been narrowed down to the distributor. And the supercharged Mustang custom diff is being all kinds of noisey, so that has to be fixed.
Murcielago Trans Woes
The Lambo was a steal no matter the issues that came along with it. A sub $100k Murcielago Roadster is quite the deal, but that transmission noise had to go.
After pulling the engine and trans, Hoover’s mechanic uncovers the obvious; This Lambo’s 1st gear was essentially non-existent. Metal shavings can be seen everywhere, and this Murcielago trans has more missing teeth than a Gretzky teammate.
“That is pretty much worn smooth there,” explains Hoover “The teeth are gone.”
But as for the good news, the Lambo already has its new-ish transmission installed; A used E-gear trans that Hoover picked up for $8k. It also has a few upgrades courtesy of Hi Tech Exotic who generously supplied a new, improved E-gear pump and a lightweight Kevlar clutch.
Engine Mating
Before re-installing the engine, Hoover points out some of the peculiarities of the Murcielago‘s V12 engine.
“The craziest part has to be this transaxle differential setup because it’s so different from the Gallardo,” says Hoover “This is the rear differential, (gesturing from one side of the engine to the other) but the transmission is way in front of it.”
Hoover also had some jokes about the ease of mating A Lambo engine to its transmission.
“Apparently getting a Lamborghini engine to mate to a transmission is kinda like getting a couple of Koalas to mate or something, or rhinoceroses you know…” says Hoover “Endangered species that don’t like to mate.”
After a lot of finagling, the pair attempt a new strategy. Hoover’s mechanic lifts the roadster and opts to use a transmission jack to ease the process. Following some sensual slow jazz and Lambo engine-trans mating action… success. The pair are finally together.
“That was a lot more entertaining and satisfying than I thought it would be,” says Hoover “I was expecting a massive fight, but once you devised that underneath method…”
Supercar Budget Buy Success
Replacing a Murcielago trans might not be the easiest way to procure a functional Lamborghini, but it certainly is the more entertaining option.