Auto Trans rebuilding.

Jrgunn5150 · Jan 4, 2008

So I've been rebuilding Chevy transmissions for awhile now, I don't advertise or anything like that. Just take word of mouth work, I do about 1 a month, mostly 4x4's. Now I am doing an AODE for my brother though, so it got me thinking, I can do a good performance rebuild on these thing's for 1k plus shipping, any market there?

Before I do anything, I'm gonna get his back and wait about three months to let him be a guinea pig, lol. But I don't see any reason why you guy's are paying so much for them, I get the part's at cost, give me a good core, and 1k is all it would take.

So anyway, let me know what you guy's think. Admin and MOD's, I am not offering anything for sale at this point, and I will do the right thing if I do, thanks guy's. :santa_afro:

jfor441 · Jan 4, 2008

I would rather support a forum member/advertiser if they can deliver the transmission that can hold to track use for that price. I want to go from a 5 speed to a 4R70W. Only thing keeping me from it right now IS the cost of a built transmission.

Jrgunn5150 · Jan 4, 2008

My borthers is in a 93 Bronco that has a 10.5 351 with a trickflow top end and custom comp cam, it's turning 37" Goodyear MTR's, he's also runninf a spooled 8.8 rear, and solid Dana 44 front, and like's to do burnout's and what not like a fool, so if he doesn't break it within a month, I'd be more than happy to stand behind a duplicate up to 500 rwhop in a car, lol.

jfor441 · Jan 4, 2008

Will most definitely keep you in mind when the time comes for when I am ready.

Mr. OAM · Jan 7, 2008

My, transmissions must have got so high tech. I miss the days when a rebuild kit for a Chrysler 727 Torque Flite cost $125 wholesale. I'll stick to my old cars.

Steve

Jrgunn5150 · Jan 7, 2008

Lol, the grand total on part's for my brother's, including a new converter, is 1245.00. That doesn't count any labor on my part or the blood I gave up to the snap ring god's. However, He needed all new hard part's, pump, reverse input drum, input shaft, extra clutches, etc. Basically he got a total overkill trans, I would be confident of this thing behind a 700rwhp drag car.

A basic rebuild can be had off Ebay for 600, not sure on the quality. I'm confident I could build a 500 rwhp trans, minus converter for 1k pretty easily. His part's total ran up higher because he started with a crappier core, none of the internal part's were worth keeping. Most the SN car's will be able to use their trans as core and need minimal internal hard part's upgrades. New Edge car's will need no updated Ford part's.

He is an idiot however, we'll see how it does with him power braking 37's and bouncing off the rev limiter. That's my test before I give one away to someone for track testing.

Mr. OAM · Jan 8, 2008

I see the snap ring gods are still merciless. I thought I had an E-clip in place to hold a servo. It must not have been fully seated. When it let go the servo retaining cover shot through my hair at the front of my head. Someone even picked the E-clip out of my hair. I was that close to losing an eye. I don't think the safety glasses would have saved me, the cover hit the shop ceiling (about 20 feet up) ricochet'd off the wall and went aonother 50 feet from where I was working. We never found the spring. Luckily it didn't need to be pulled out of my head.

Your friend probably should have gone to the boneyard and bought another core to save on hard parts. Last time I did this it was $300. Would it be more now?

Steve

Jrgunn5150 · Jan 8, 2008

A boneyard core should still be around 300 buck's, maybe even less. He had a poor unit to begin with and because of the way he uses it needed an update to all the newest factory part's. UNfortunately for him he has a Windsor and the best factory part's come in the 5.4 case, which has a different bellhousing pattern. We could have gutted it though, but this is the first one I've messed with, so I didn't know until I got into the service manual.

But it's for my little brother, and he's getting free labor, so he's willing to be a guinea pig.

Yeah, snap ring's and E-clips are brutal little bugger's, but aren't your safety glasses polycarbonate? Mine are from my machin shop day's, maybe overkill, but it makes me fuzzier inside to know they are bulletproof, lol.

Jrgunn5150 · Jan 16, 2008

Well, update, David has his trans and has it installed. He says it's a little firm at part throttle for winter, other than that he's happy so far, but he's only had it in for three day's. I'll come back and update later with his full impressions.

Mr. OAM · Jan 16, 2008

Cool. :santa_afro:

Ok, put on your polycarbonate glasses........now I'm going to swing this ballpeen hammer at your eye......

Steve

95-stang · Jan 16, 2008

My new box and converter arrived from Performance Transmissions today, just need a lift now to get it back up there, i'm sure it weighs more than me.

Jrgunn5150 · Jan 16, 2008

you wound up getting a new one huh? Preventative? Good luck, they aren't that heavy though. I actually went to Harbor Freight and bought my press, then put it together in my basement thinking "I can work down here in the heat" then I realized I would have to lug transmissions up and down the stairs, and i couldn't carry the press up either, lol. So I have to tote them up and down the steps.

Over here though, you can get a trans jack for around 150 dollar's. Kinda unfortunate that most people will use it like three times in their entire life, lol

95-stang · Jan 16, 2008

Yep, had to buy one i think the other one was going nowhere fast [literally], there goes my Vortech money, but thats no use if your parked on the drive is it.

After trying various things, i came to the conclusion it was on its way out, and the firm i bought it from did'nt need the old unit back, so when i get a minute i have my own working [sort of] unit to pull apart and see if i can find what went tits up.
The car has never really been an off the line rocket ship ever since i've had it, i went for a standard box and converter, i really need to see how it should drive before much else is done.

I have a few trolley [floor] jacks, so its a case of cut some plywood to go under the pan, then get 2 heavy duty friends to get underneath and apply some lifting.

Jrgunn5150 · Jan 16, 2008

It's not too bad of a job, especially on a 5.0. What stall speed did you go with?

David has a 3k unit on his truck.

95-stang · Jan 17, 2008

I went with stock, could'nt decide even with all the info from here and elsewhere wether it was worth changing, if its running ok when its done, a change might be in order.

jfor441 · Jan 31, 2008

JR... your bro hasn't broke his transmission yet has he?

Jrgunn5150 · Jan 31, 2008

jfor441 said:
JR... your bro hasn't broke his transmission yet has he?

Nope, he did get on it down a dirt road covered in packed snow, busted the tires loose and spun into the ditch though :hammer: I had him tune the accumlators a bit to help with that, lol.

jfor441 · Jan 31, 2008

J.R. said:
jfor441 said:

JR... your bro hasn't broke his transmission yet has he?

Click to expand...

Nope, he did get on it down a dirt road covered in packed snow, busted the tires loose and spun into the ditch though :hammer: I had him tune the accumlators a bit to help with that, lol.

Hahaha! Soon as my tax return money gets here, get my motor finished and installed, I think you might get some bidness from me.