Question for Chevrolet Mechanics

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   Hey guys, I was out coyote hunting a while back and was literally in the middle of nowhere. I noticed the transmission in my 1987 Chevrolet pickup slipped when I was going up a little hill. I thought I better head to civilization. When I got to the nearest town I stopped to check the fluid level and it was full. Then I smelled it. It was burnt. I said Oh Shit. 
So I started heading home. I thought, my son was working the night shift and I could call him if I needed to because he would be up getting ready for work. 
On the 40 miles home I oversped the engine once. I dont think I hurt anything. and by the time I got home I only had first and second gear. Maybe third, but I dont think so. I was cruising at a blistering 30 miles per hour. But I was still moving. I did make it home under the old girls power. She has never left me stranded, so I think I owe it to her to get her running again and use her for many hunting trips for many years to come.
Anyway, my question is, What should a rebuilt 700r4 cost? I have looked around locally and the best price I have found is $1200. Then after I woke up, I looked on line. I found cheaper prices, but I am not too sure about buying something on line that could very well have a warranty issue. 
Another option I have is rebuilding it myself. I have never rebuilt an automatic transmission before, but I was a mechanic several years ago and bullshitted my way into a job rebuilding Detroit Diesel engines when I had never built one and made a career out of it. So, I think I could do it. 
What would you do? 

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Wing master Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Administrator AKA StraightShooter Joined: 10 June 2003 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 8029	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wing master Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Question for Chevrolet Mechanics Posted: 29 March 2010 at 17:43
	Hey guys, I was out coyote hunting a while back and was literally in the middle of nowhere. I noticed the transmission in my 1987 Chevrolet pickup slipped when I was going up a little hill. I thought I better head to civilization. When I got to the nearest town I stopped to check the fluid level and it was full. Then I smelled it. It was burnt. I said Oh Shit. So I started heading home. I thought, my son was working the night shift and I could call him if I needed to because he would be up getting ready for work. On the 40 miles home I oversped the engine once. I dont think I hurt anything. and by the time I got home I only had first and second gear. Maybe third, but I dont think so. I was cruising at a blistering 30 miles per hour. But I was still moving. I did make it home under the old girls power. She has never left me stranded, so I think I owe it to her to get her running again and use her for many hunting trips for many years to come. Anyway, my question is, What should a rebuilt 700r4 cost? I have looked around locally and the best price I have found is $1200. Then after I woke up, I looked on line. I found cheaper prices, but I am not too sure about buying something on line that could very well have a warranty issue. Another option I have is rebuilding it myself. I have never rebuilt an automatic transmission before, but I was a mechanic several years ago and bullshitted my way into a job rebuilding Detroit Diesel engines when I had never built one and made a career out of it. So, I think I could do it. What would you do?
	I have always considered myself to be quite the bullshitter, But ocasionally it is nice to sit back and listen to a true professional......So, Carry on.

Irish Bird Dog Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List .416 Rigby Too many Joined: 01 March 2009 Location: Midwest Status: Offline Points: 5574	Post Options Post Reply Quote Irish Bird Dog Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 March 2010 at 00:11
	find a used tranny at a salvge yard and swap it out for the damaged unit in to your old girl....
	Irish Bird Dog NRA Life/Endowment 2nd Amendment Supporter

d4570 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List .416 Rigby Joined: 27 January 2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 9961	Post Options Post Reply Quote d4570 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 March 2010 at 00:29
	Yes you could use a used one but... You will find all old Chevy tranys are craped out. For some reason GM tranys suck , I have ran MANY GM's and some fords and if you use your truck ,the transmission WILL go out. The new Allison's are finally a good transmission, I don't know what the thing was. I would go to a Transmission shop and see if they can rebuild it of have one they rebuilt. I would never get one from any other source, If you get a New GM trany it will be the same thing only new. In a shop they will put in way better stuff in it than new. I have a rebuilt one in the Sub that has 300,000 miles on it. Most transmissions as of late have a fail safe mode,normally 2nd gear that will lock up and get you home. PS Never ever pull any thing with your truck in over drive that will toast it faster than any thing...
	Remember: Four boxes keep us free ,the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, AND the cartridge box

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 March 2010 at 01:49
	I've rebuilt one auto trany GM.; and a few std transmissions. But that was years ago. I doubt it is worth your time. First I never liked the 700R4. I'd upgrade to a GM 350. The 350 was the heavy duty trany, and the R700 was the one that says Aluminum on the bottom. Most Junkyard, Now 'recycle centers" will sell you a trany and guanantee it works. Trick is you need to put it in check it out, then if necessary take it out, and return/exchange it. Getting the old one out is the toughest part as it has been in there for 23 years, expect rusted bolts, etc. Also you have a learning curve, to kknow the 'easy way' to do your specific trany. If you have to take it out again it will be only 1/3 the time. Cheap way, jusk yard, upgrade, most times the new/used is fine. Also call the local highschool, ,many times the auto mechanics classes will do something like that if you donate $100 worth of scoket wrenches etc.

Rob1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List .416 Rigby The Walnut Whisperer Joined: 10 June 2003 Location: Vatican City State Status: Offline Points: 3413	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rob1 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 March 2010 at 07:08
	If it's a truck you plan on keeping and a regular driver I'd take it to reputable tranny shop and pay the price. Putting in a new or good used tranny without a proper flushing of the cooler lines is like wiping your butt before your crap If $1200 includes the install that is a real good price but be sure it's a good shop. If you go used the removal and installation isn't that difficult if you have access to a hoist, on jack stands rent a good tranny jack. Clean the lines the best you can with air pushing new fluid through the lines. I've gotten away with that several times but it ain't the best.
	last in line for the nobel peace prize. first in line for pie Charter Member of the Round Earth Society

Wing master Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Administrator AKA StraightShooter Joined: 10 June 2003 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 8029	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wing master Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 March 2010 at 11:15
	Thanks guys. The remove and replace is not a problem. I have not thought about flushing the cooler and lines. Being a mechanic for about 12 years I accumulated enough tools to do most anything to my own stuff. The $1200 price tag is not installed. I assume the installed price would be a couple of hundred dollars more but with the cooler flushed might be money well spent. I know a guy that has been in the transmission business for about 30 years. I will talk to him and see what parts they replace and what they reuse and how they go about flushing the cooler. I will keep you posted
	I have always considered myself to be quite the bullshitter, But ocasionally it is nice to sit back and listen to a true professional......So, Carry on.

Tikkabuck Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Administrator Robert E. Lee IV Joined: 10 June 2003 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 8740	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tikkabuck Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 March 2010 at 13:26
	I would go with D and Robs ide.my old GMC had who knows how many miles on it. But a good trans shop will indeed get rid of the bogus crap parts and replace them with the good stuff and the magic word,Warrenty. If you can get her done for 1200 thats a deal,I paid that over 10 years ago for one.
	God,Mother,Country,and Hot Rods. Done with political crap.LOL

Dirt Guy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List .223 Remington Joined: 18 March 2010 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 88	Post Options Post Reply Quote Dirt Guy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 March 2010 at 15:28
	$1200 is about the going rate around here for that model. If the rebuild is good quality, it should last until the fenders fall off. It's hard to say what kind of quality the parts are for a truck/tranny that is over twenty years old. My luck has been quality control begins to suck on parts that old. It's because most are farmed out to jobbers. You may want to ask the shop about any upgrades he would suggest to ensure reliability for years to come.
	In my world...... Every day is MONDAY!!!

Wing master Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Administrator AKA StraightShooter Joined: 10 June 2003 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 8029	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wing master Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 April 2010 at 06:40
	I went to talk to the tranny guy. The price to remove and replace the transmission is $545.00. When I got up off the floor, I asked how much if I brought the trans out and just had then rebuild it. He said $1125.00. That includes a torque converter and several upgrades and a 3 year-50,000 mile warranty. I can buy a good external cooler for about $60.00 and blow air and fluid through the cooler lines for almost free. I think I will do it myself.
	I have always considered myself to be quite the bullshitter, But ocasionally it is nice to sit back and listen to a true professional......So, Carry on.

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 April 2010 at 07:11
	I doubt if merely cleaning the lines is going to fix anything. I'd certainly claen the lines and cooler if I was replacing trany, cause it is easy to do. ATF is a solvent and I doubt yoou will find much in the linesas the fluid is pumping hot solvent all the time. Also might want to go with new lines, as the steel ones will be rusted and the rubber ones dry/cracked. My GM Diesel went 350k milews but it went thru two R700 tranys in the first 100k, before I got the HD 350, then it worked another 250k miles.

Wing master Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Administrator AKA StraightShooter Joined: 10 June 2003 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 8029	Post Options Post Reply Quote Wing master Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 April 2010 at 08:26
	Not cleaning the cooler to fix anything. Just dont want to contaminate the rebuilt trans with crud thats in the cooler and lines. Are you refering to the Turbo Hydromatic 350? Edited by Wing master
	I have always considered myself to be quite the bullshitter, But ocasionally it is nice to sit back and listen to a true professional......So, Carry on.

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 01 April 2010 at 10:52
	Yep, the way to go if you have a v-8 or diesel