Sinking Creek 4WD Association

So as most of you know, Patches (2000 Dodge ram 1500 with 5.9mag) decided to blow up its transfer case going up a hill on 81 and decided to take my driveshaft with it along with my tranny's ability to shift without grinding and making scary noises. I've done a fair amount of research on transmissions (46RE) and after hours of reading through forums it has become apparent that Jasper, the manufacture of the stock tranny, does not make a very sound transmission for its basic rebuild and the performance ones are pricey for how unreliable those were too. At first i was not expecting to pay over 2 grand for a new trans but after all this I've realized that that is not really possible unless i get another stock one from a junk yard. But if im going to be dropping some dime anyways I would really like to get a more bulletproof trans that i can feel confident in knowing it will not completely shit its pants. Everyone online has said great things about PACT transmissions and I'm leaning to get one of them. I haven't done any exact pricing or anything but from what I've read they can be built form wild to mild. One person on the forum i read had a 360 stroked out to 408 that made 800+ RWHP that he had in a drag truck and he had one of these transmissions and hasn't had an issue. (He did pay close to 5 grand though and I know you can't believe everything you hear on the internet). Anyways, I would like to get all of y'all s input on this. I would like to keep my truck as long as possible so I'm not against spending a little extra for a part that will last.

Here is the forum i did most of my reading from:
http://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen-ram ... ion-3.html

It is easy and tempting to buy a brand new built transmission from a company like PACT, ATS, or B&M. However, you are young and have more time than money. You say you will keep your truck forever, but don't count on it as you get older and needs, taste, and knowledge change. I still have my first truck but it isn't exactly in the same state it was when I was 18. You will want the truck to be fixed now and the anxiety of having it out of commission will outweigh the opportunity cost of repaying your parents during the summertime. Will you be happy you bought the shiny new purple transmission when you are slowly chipping away at $2500 in debt at $10-$15 an hour?

With that being said, I would suggest rebuilding the transmission. I did it in about 10 nights worth of work (take out to put back in on my own without a lift or similar). I had never been inside an auto or manual and it was a tremendous learning experience. You can price out the components in those whizz-bang trannies typically for about half of what they cost. If all your internals like your shafts, sun shell, and planetaries are okay (grinding suggests otherwise but you can purchase only what you need) you will only need wear components like clutches, steels, and OD bands. I was able to build a 700R4 that costs ~$1300 for $500 in parts (better converter, redband clutch packs, valve body flow upgrades, etc).

Don't take the easy way out and rely on your parents wealth (as best you can). Save money, fix it yourself, learn a new skill, and then be proud of what you did. Anyone can buy shit, not everyone can build shit.

BadAssEddie wrote:It is easy and tempting to buy a brand new built transmission from a company like PACT, ATS, or B&M. However, you are young and have more time than money. You say you will keep your truck forever, but don't count on it as you get older and needs, taste, and knowledge change. I still have my first truck but it isn't exactly in the same state it was when I was 18. You will want the truck to be fixed now and the anxiety of having it out of commission will outweigh the opportunity cost of repaying your parents during the summertime. Will you be happy you bought the shiny new purple transmission when you are slowly chipping away at $2500 in debt at $10-$15 an hour?

With that being said, I would suggest rebuilding the transmission. I did it in about 10 nights worth of work (take out to put back in on my own without a lift or similar). I had never been inside an auto or manual and it was a tremendous learning experience. You can price out the components in those whizz-bang trannies typically for about half of what they cost. If all your internals like your shafts, sun shell, and planetaries are okay (grinding suggests otherwise but you can purchase only what you need) you will only need wear components like clutches, steels, and OD bands. I was able to build a 700R4 that costs ~$1300 for $500 in parts (better converter, redband clutch packs, valve body flow upgrades, etc).

Don't take the easy way out and rely on your parents wealth (as best you can). Save money, fix it yourself, learn a new skill, and then be proud of what you did. Anyone can buy shit, not everyone can build shit.

I would love to save the money and rebuild my tranny myself but I honestly have no idea what I am doing or the time. Did you have any knowledge about transmissions? And if not how did you learn about how to rebuild it? With class and everything I don't have much time so the earliest Id be able to work on it would be at thanksgiving and I don't even know that would be enough time to replace everything and get it back in. I'll watch some youtube videos and try to learn as much as I can but I'm afraid if i rebuild it myself it will cost more in the end if it breaks and takes out something else with it too. I'm all for saving money but I would like something reliable too. Should I buy a junkyard one for 300$ and try to rebuild that in blacksburg? Unless i trailer my truck all the way to Blacksburg I wouldn't be able to work on it for a long time.

I really didn't know anything about autos inboard of the valve body and torque converter. I bought two good manuals, read a lot, and researched more. Thanksgiving Break should be enough time to do it if you prepare properly. My trans went out the week I was coming back to Tech from Summer break and I left it at home until Thanksgiving to fix it. I also had to leave my Bronco at home for several weeks Freshman year because it needed some work and I didn't have time or money to do it. Having a vehicle as a Freshman really is a privilege and not everyone does. Sometimes you have to have to suck it up and do what you have to do. In the end, it is your choice, but having been through the same situation, this is my 2 cents.

P.S. You keep saying you know nothing about everything, but you have painted your truck, built bumpers, replaced parts, etc. So, you obviously have the capacity to do your own work. You never learn anything new unless you try. If your clutch packs burn up, you will be twic e as fast and 3 times as good redoing it and still be $1000 in the green. You will look back on Freshman year and say "Holy shit, I had so much free time!".

You will look back on Freshman year and say "Holy shit, I had so much free time!".

This x 1000

I would be willing to bet you will never have more free time than you have in college unless you win the lotto or marry into money and dont have to work.

Dont discount just putting in a junyard low mileage trans and going for it. How many junkyard trans can you replace before you reach the price of a quality rebuild? You could likely buy 2 junkyard trans put 1 in and rebuild the other when time permits and still be money ahead.

Again, your amount of free time just drops from this point in your life on. I've got three kids, a wife, full time job, a house to keep up with, vehicles to keep up with, and find myself farming out work I would have done myself 10 years ago because I just don't have the time to do them and still get other things done.

Pull the transmission and tear it down. Most damage in an automatic is easily spotted. Everything should be smooth and clean, and scoring or wear will be easy to spot.

A few things that need to be considered in a computer controlled transmission are shift solenoids and other electronic pieces that a rebuild would normally replace that could cost you another transmission if not replaced. I'm not familiar with Dodge stuff, but I know in a 4L60E and 4L80E you need to replace the solenoids as they are a common cause of failure on their own in an otherwise healthy transmission.

Shafts are replaceable, but you need to see what you have and price out pieces to see if chancing a junk yard transmission for parts would be cheaper for internals.

The things to remember in automatics are:
1: Get a good book
2: Get ANOTHER good book
3: Clean, clean, clean and clean
4: If you damage an internal seal installing or assembling it, you HAVE to replace it.
5: DON'T REUSE ANY SEALS!!!!

I've done a couple GM TH350 transmissions and a TH700R4. Probably looking at another 700R4 in the next few years to replace the one in my K5. It's doable!

Failing all else, you might call a local shop. I paid $1700 to have the 4L60E done in our Suburban because I didn't have the time to do it myself, the guy had a good reputation, and he warrantied his work. Sometimes a warranty is worth the cost, especially in a DD. Just something to consider as well.

alk1174 wrote:You will look back on Freshman year and say "Holy shit, I had so much free time!".

This is so true. And you really don't need a vehicle. I didn't have one freshman year, and most freshman don't. It's convenient, if you count the cage parking as convenient. The one thing I learned Sophmore year was that it was more expensive having a vehicle. Between gas, parking pass, time to find parking, and general repair/maintenance I didn't think it was worth it.
So, during sophmore year round 2 I purchased a bike off craigslist for $125. I looked for about a month before I found a decent road/commuter bike for that price. Buying a bike alone vs a pass saved me money, saves gas, wear, and it's faster than the bus or anyone driving door to door for class in most of the bburg area.

I believe it was Alec or Will who told Sam "you don't have free time, you make it" when he was doing his coilovers. I can't tell you the amount of times I woke up early, went to bed late, or skipped doing something else to fix my shit. I broke down in March, on the side of the highway similar to you. Rear lower CONTROL ARMS (Alec ), rear drive shaft, front shaft, diff covers, steering were all damaged, broken, or obliterated from wheeling and the combination of my break down. It took about 5 weeks from that break down for me to make free time and find the parts needed. Guess what saved me that entire time, my bike.

So long story short: If money is an issue, take the time to learn and build it yourself. Don't be scared to take on a project. We all started from 0 knowledge and learned via forums, friends, books, and just diving in. Once a project is started though, people start to show up and lend a hand. Shit, we've done lifts in the parking garage and axle swaps in the FR parking lot. I'm sure a tranny rebuild in the cage isn't an issue.

Get a couple good books about rebuilding your trans, read them cover to cover, then tear it down yourself. Take your time, clean and organize parts as you take them off, take lots of pictures along the way so you can remember how things came apart if you decide to rebuild it. Your transmission is already shot, so taking it apart will be of no harm. Once you've torn it down you'll have a good idea of how it works and what failed, and you can decide if you want to rebuild it or buy another one.

Another option would be buy a good junkyard transmission, freshen it up and run it.

Now would also be a good time for a manual transmission swap if you've ever been considering it.

VerticalTRX wrote:Get a couple good books about rebuilding your trans, read them cover to cover, then tear it down yourself. Take your time, clean and organize parts as you take them off, take lots of pictures along the way so you can remember how things came apart if you decide to rebuild it. Your transmission is already shot, so taking it apart will be of no harm. Once you've torn it down you'll have a good idea of how it works and what failed, and you can decide if you want to rebuild it or buy another one.

Another option would be buy a good junkyard transmission, freshen it up and run it.

Now would also be a good time for a manual transmission swap if you've ever been considering it.

Grubb has a good point on the manual swap. Personally, whenever my trans shits itself, definitely going the manual route. Less you really have to worry about besides the clutch.

FJCcrawler wrote: Grubb has a good point on the manual swap. Personally, whenever my trans shits itself, definitely going the manual route. Less you really have to worry about besides the clutch.

But if you're Topher the clutch is everything you need to worry about

NJKURPat wrote:

FJCcrawler wrote: Grubb has a good point on the manual swap. Personally, whenever my trans shits itself, definitely going the manual route. Less you really have to worry about besides the clutch.

But if you're Topher the clutch is everything you need to worry about

Stupid GayKs... no good for nothing.

I talked to my dad a lot about this today and he is very hesitant to let me rebuild my own transmission that would be going back into my daily driver and said he is much more willing to invest in a nice rebuilt for my truck and personally i can't really blame him. With that being said, Im also not trying to tear my truck apart going hardcore wheeling so what i think I'm going to do is replace the trans in my truck with a nice rebuilt one and keep the broken one and then rebuild that one and put it into an offload rig. That way i can still learn a lot about how to do it and if it does shit the bed I am not putting my life and others in as much danger. And in the long run it will probably be a better thing to do. As you know Patches sucks offroad and i keep breaking parts on it because it is not built for this. Im thinking about buying an actual rig for offloading that i can beat to shit and not worry about trying to figure out how I'm going to get home. I will still do light wheeling in Patches but its going to remain my DD.

Also I would love to get a motorcycle but my dad and mom use to ride them and have lost a brother and a boyfriend to motorcycle accidents so I will never be allowed to get one.

You can bring a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.