Price/reliability of a built transmission

[eennte]

I lost 3rd and OD the other day. Fluid smells burnt with fine metal dust in dipstick. She's toast. I am upset I can't drive her, but I like to look at things like this as opportunity to make her strong for the long run.

Money is tight of course!

I have intake, tune, and 4.10's sitting at 96,000 miles and don't plan on adding any power. I still want to step on the gas and not have that *****y nervous feeling. I still want to stomp it everyday.

What is the best price/durability that I can get with a built transmission? Both well-known and up and comers...

Thanks for your help!

[Ozark Marauder]

Bumped this....I know nothing about transmissions. I think he's just looking for a ball park price of a total tranny rebuild...I know that Comin' in Hot gave him a shop to go to near his house. I think he's probably just looking for some alternatives.

He just bought his car last August, and developed the tranny problem in October. I know I'd be bummed if this happened to me.

Like I said I know nothing about transmission, but I'm sure there are some quality wrenchers among us that can give some advice and a estimate of cost.

OZ

[RacerX]

Naturally aspirated, about $500 to $700 to do a stock rebuild. That's more than good to get you another 100k out of it. Even longer if you do even a light J-mod to the valve body. That price is if you bring the trans to someone. If they pull and install it, it'll be whatever their hourly is on top.

[Comin' in Hot]

I went through the same thing, I bought my first one with around 98k on it and by 110k I was putting a transmission in it. IIRC it cost me around $1600 to drop the car off and let them deal with it.

The biggest things to remember with these transmissions are: 1. if you are going to hammer it, is to shut off the overdrive 2.change your fuild regularly. if you do they are bullet proof.

[Comin' in Hot]

I should also add that removing the cross member SUUUUCCCCKKKKKKKKSSSSSSS!!!!!

I could not emphasize this enough, so if you think you are going to drop it out yourself using jack stands, don't do it.... You've been warned!!!!

[tbone]

$2700 for everything and then some. See sig for details. I didn't lift a finger other than getting the parts online and handing over the cash to the trans shop.

[Curless]

At my shop we charge $70 an hour for domestic labor. Book time calls for 6 hours to Remove and replace...$420, actual builds are going to vary depending upon what all is wrong with the trans. General overhaul is somewhere around $1350.00 depending upon what extras you want... So for us to do it, standard overhaul complete, with fluid ($76.00), your looking at $1846 roughly...

[Marauderjack]

At my shop we charge $70 an hour for domestic labor. Book time calls for 6 hours to Remove and replace...$420, actual builds are going to vary depending upon what all is wrong with the trans. General overhaul is somewhere around $1350.00 depending upon what extras you want... So for us to do it, standard overhaul complete, with fluid ($76.00), your looking at $1846 roughly...

First correct answer......spot on Chris!!:beer:

Mine was about $1700 a couple years ago and they almost charged extra to remove the cross member.....said it was HORRIBLE!!:argue:

[Spectragod]

3k with a Circle D triple disc convertor and new trans cooler.Darrin @ BC did mine, I am an extremely satisfied customer.

[Bradley G]

I paid 1600 and supplied most of the parts .
I did a tailshaft lube mod , Transcooler,convertor^similar ^to Spectragods except custom BOC 3800 stall,

[MrBluGruv]

Cost me right at $2200 to get mine done. More than it should've been, but not outside the realm of possibility.

I kinda think in some cases if the stock tranny goes, you owe it to yourself to spend a relatively small amount extra to get a proper trans.

[Spectragod]

I paid 1600 and supplied most of the parts .
I did a tailshaft lube mod , Transcooler,convertor^similar ^to Spectragods except custom BOC 3800 stall,

I forgot, Darrin did the tailshaft lube mod to mine as well, so many mods........ so little brain space left to remember all of them.:rolleyes:

[dohc324ci]

I paid $2800 for my built Trans w/XHD converter, valve body, new tail shaft and R&R (supports 600rwhp).

[whitey]

Paid $1400 to rebuild and have the jmod done, my buddy/mechanic said he gave me a deal.

[babbage]

I should also add that removing the cross member SUUUUCCCCKKKKKKKKSSSSSSS!!!!!

I could not emphasize this enough, so if you think you are going to drop it out yourself using jack stands, don't do it.... You've been warned!!!!

It wasn't that bad, I R&R'ed by myself. I did have trouble getting the TC bolts out of the flexplate. You should get a tranmission jack for sure..

I would recommend a TRANMISSION COOLER. 4.10's make the trans fluid hotter, especially on highway. Get one made by Long as those are very good at removing heat. Heat kills transmissions.

[burt ragio]

What are some of the parts that would be involved in a normal rebuild ?
What are the recomended up graded parts ?

[Curless]

Normal rebuild would be what we call a "kit" or paper, rubber, clutches and steels. All seals, all gaskets, clutch plates and steels. With electronic trannys like ours, at our shop we automatically replace all solenoids and electronic sensors.

[eennte]

I just paid 2100 for a basic rebuild. Seems really high to me. They replaced the torque converter for whatever reason.

[Comin' in Hot]

I just paid 2100 for a basic rebuild. Seems really high to me. They replaced the torque converter for whatever reason.

They replaced the torque converter because it had debris in it, and there is no way to get it out.

[MENINBLK]

They replaced the torque converter because it had debris in it, and there is no way to get it out.

This is bull.
A transmission shop will NEVER tell you this.
It is EASIER for them to swap it out,
than to crack open yours, clean it, rebuilt it,
put it back together and rebalance it.

I had my transmission done at Fred Brown's Performance Transmissions
in Bay Shore, NY.
http://www.fbperformance.com/

This is the job I had done...
http://www.fbperformance.com/ViewTransmission/?TransmissionID=37

I added a hardened input and output shaft.
Fred replaced the Sun Gear Case gear and rebuilt my torque converter
with new bearings and clutches.

I also bought the COBRA diff from Tousen Ford with 31 spline axles
and the FRPP installation kit.
Fred did the differential and axle swap for me.

I've put about 4,000 miles on it and I couldn't be happier !!!

[Comin' in Hot]

This is bull.
A transmission shop will NEVER tell you this.
It is EASIER for them to swap it out,
than to crack open yours, clean it, rebuilt it,
put it back together and rebalance it.


How is my answer bull? You said it yourself. It's not possible to get any debris out of the torque converter without opening it up. It's exactly why it was replaced.

[tbone]

How is my answer bull? You said it yourself. It's not possible to get any debris out of the torque converter without opening it up. It's exactly why it was replaced.

Agreed.
If I was rebuilding a trans after 1000's of miles, I would replace it no matter what. And I did, with a beefy MOFO! :banana2:
One of the best mods I have ever done!

[burt ragio]

Other than a standard rebuild kit what are the other parts most commonly upgraded other than hardened input & output shaft 7some ring ?

[bugsyc]

How much would it cost to buy a rebuilt tranny????Labor to install???Are new trannys like ours still available? if they are,what do they cost??

[bugsyc]

Hehttp://www.ebay.com/itm/TCI-Automatic-Transmission-Ford-Mustang-4R70W-Super-Streetfighter-98-04-1000hp-/110973513422?pt=Motors_Car_Tru ck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item19d6896ecere is a new and "improved tranny...$2600...

[bugsyc]

Rebuilt tranny....http://www.transdepot.net/product.asp?itemid=222&gclid=CN3R-KjWxLMCFQUFnQodK04AHQ....$1000

[Ozark Marauder]

if your needing a trans, New OEM, why? I would go for something like this, as MENINBLK has in his car

http://www.fbperformance.com/ViewTransmission/?TransmissionID=37


I would guess rebuilt between 1200 and 1500 for the trans.

I remember reading this post a while back. Just thoughts on our transmissions. was a good read:

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=7491

OZ

[blackhueys]

Darrin did mine as well also with the tailmod and new converter. I did do it on the floor but never will again lol (damn crossmember!!) I had him mail it to me before I went to stap a few years ago then since I had some time and my old trans was going back to him I figured I would swing by his shop to see what went wrong with my old trans very nice guy can be a bit tricky to get ahold of (had some medical issues for awhile). But heck he let me work on my car and even use his lift so I could double check my work. Most shops get mad if you even try to watch your car getting worked on from the overhead doors and standing outside or in my case where I live there are no real trustworthy repair shops anymore.

[LANDY]

No trans jack over here but it sure helps. I would spray down the crossmember bolts with PB blaster or Buster. Use a short mini 3/8" rachet and a 3"extension for the tc bolts and spray them too if necessary.

[Curless]

This is bull.
A transmission shop will NEVER tell you this.
It is EASIER for them to swap it out,
than to crack open yours, clean it, rebuilt it,
put it back together and rebalance it.

I had my transmission done at Fred Brown's Performance Transmissions
in Bay Shore, NY.
http://www.fbperformance.com/

This is the job I had done...
http://www.fbperformance.com/ViewTransmission/?TransmissionID=37

I added a hardened input and output shaft.
Fred replaced the Sun Gear Case gear and rebuilt my torque converter
with new bearings and clutches.

I also bought the COBRA diff from Tousen Ford with 31 spline axles
and the FRPP installation kit.
Fred did the differential and axle swap for me.

I've put about 4,000 miles on it and I couldn't be happier !!!


Most trans shops do not have a lathe(to cut the converter open) and an automatic torque converter welder to put them back together...then once they have it apart you have to know what your doing inside as well. Like I said most shops do not have this ability...I have never been in a "transmission" shop that had this capability...so you have to replace them in order to assure yourself that there is no debris.

I have been to http://www.coanracing.com/ and watched them rebuild my TCI converter...I can honestly say I would not want just any guy working on my converter. No Offense to the shop that did yours intended.

[MENINBLK]

No offense taken.
You read my response correctly.
A very well educated and talented shop should be able to rebuild
what you got entirely and only replace what is needed.

Fred Brown came VERY HEAVILY REFERRED by some of the best members
right here at MM.net. He was so well recommended that I was told,
"Don't go anywhere else. Fred Brown is worth the extra ride."

Fred has been rebuilding all kinds of transmissions for high performance applications.
He started his career as a Torque Converter rebuilder.
He now replaces the new Mustang transmissions with the 4R70W
because the tranny Ford uses can't hold up to the punishment.
Fred can build a virtually bullet proof 4R70/75W.

My transmission rebuild cost me about the same as replacing it at the dealer
with an OEM REMAN, but with Fred, I got it built the way I wanted it
and I am confident that the job was done right.

[Curless]

Awesome, wish I was closer so I could tour his shop!

[Bradley G]

off to see what funds will be needed for "LIL SIS" 's Tranny