Author Topic: 352 transaxle rebuild or replace  (Read 1530 times)

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Offline dstewart@peak.org

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352 transaxle rebuild or replace
« on: Sunday,July 13, 2014, 01:51:40 PM »
Pulled my 352 transaxle due to a noise and there is significant wear on the mainshaft and a couple gears (in additional to ALL bearings and seals.) Trying to locate parts but does anyone know of a rebuilder I can purchase a new 352 or 365 transaxle from? Would even consider going NG3. I have inquiries in to everything I could find via Google search but no affirmative answers yet.

Offline cal44

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Re: 352 transaxle rebuild or replace
« Reply #1 on: Sunday,July 13, 2014, 02:49:31 PM »
I think I read somewhere here that there are one or two guys in NorCal do transmissions.
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Offline BDA

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Re: 352 transaxle rebuild or replace
« Reply #2 on: Sunday,July 13, 2014, 03:17:46 PM »
There is a shop in Canada that works on Renaults and their gearboxes (http://www.alpine-america.qc.ca/). I have heard that parts are not readily available for the Renault gearboxes used in Europas but that may have changed and he may be able to help you. If he can, be aware that you will have to arrange shipping including customs both ways. I contemplated this for my tranny and gave it up. Shipping by truck from NC was over $400 and getting the customs taken care of was at least $100 each way (it may have been $200 each way). It was also a lot of trouble so I'd be surprised if there were not an easier way to do this but I don't know it.

As Cal says, there maybe some shops that work on these trannies. If someone doesn't post a good shop, a call to Dave Bean or Ray at r.d. enterprises may help. There are occasionally people willing to sell their trannies so posting the the lotuseuropa yahoo group may help. This would be the best route.

Failing all that, the NG3 is probably the way to go. Richard at Banks Service Station (http://www.banks-europa.co.uk/index.php) sells a kit but it may require a new rear cross tube. Again, the yahoo group has several people who have done NG3 installations and somebody there may be able to help with design and parts that you would need. NG3s are pretty easy to find at http://car-part.com/. Steve Veris (steve.veris@sbcglobal.net) has them from time to time. People have also worked up cable shifters for NG3s, too. I think if you have to go the NG3 route, it will require a fair amount of modifications no matter how it's done.

Good luck!
« Last Edit: Sunday,July 13, 2014, 08:42:32 PM by BDA »

Offline Grumblebuns

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Re: 352 transaxle rebuild or replace
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday,July 15, 2014, 08:58:28 AM »
There is a 352 for sale at LEC since 5/14. Don't know if it's still available.

http://lotus-europa.com/forsale.html