johnsonmtz
Newbie
I had the 700R4 in my sons '89 K1500 rebuilt about 2 1/2 years ago. This was during Covid of course and the shops I knew were over 2 months out on their schedule and reman trannies were back ordered too. I was recommended to a small shop in the area and he could get to the rebuild the following week so I went that direction. The rebuild was about 20,000 miles ago and my son is now driving a different car to college. I'm now using the truck for towing my bass boat and general stuff.
Recently I noticed leaks out of the transmission and found the rebuilder had used a cork gasket on the tranny pan and it was wet all around. I decided to replace the filter and install a rubber gasket and when I dropped the pan found a bunch of clutch material in the bottom of the pan and fine metal on the magnet. The fluid color was not burned, but there was definitely a lot of material in the pan. I went ahead and installed the new filter, buttoned up the pan to the proper torque spec, and topped off the fluid. Then I could see the leaks weren't just the pan as I'm now seeing significant leaks out of the bell housing and with a steady drip as the truck is running. Obviously the front seal is completely shot.
I'm not going back to the same guy because he'll likely say I had a teenage kid driving it for 2 years and it's not his workmanship that caused the problem. I would have no argument there (even though I don't think my son abused it) and considering the price of his rebuild I'm not starting to think I got what I paid for....which was a shoddy job.
The transmission is shifting fine, but I'm concerned the material that's gone through it and been used up means it's not long for the world. I have a reputable local shop that can get to it in a week and they have quoted me $2800 for remove, rebuild, and reinstall. I can get a reman transmission (with warranty) from my local Carquest shop for $1,750 total cost. Of course the reman is me doing the work but that's not outside my wheelhouse.
So let's hear it....Would you folks let the shop rebuild it and save your back crawling on the garage floor, or is the $1,000 savings of the reman worth it? I'm really on the fence here and would like to hear some opinions.
Thanks,
KJ
Recently I noticed leaks out of the transmission and found the rebuilder had used a cork gasket on the tranny pan and it was wet all around. I decided to replace the filter and install a rubber gasket and when I dropped the pan found a bunch of clutch material in the bottom of the pan and fine metal on the magnet. The fluid color was not burned, but there was definitely a lot of material in the pan. I went ahead and installed the new filter, buttoned up the pan to the proper torque spec, and topped off the fluid. Then I could see the leaks weren't just the pan as I'm now seeing significant leaks out of the bell housing and with a steady drip as the truck is running. Obviously the front seal is completely shot.
I'm not going back to the same guy because he'll likely say I had a teenage kid driving it for 2 years and it's not his workmanship that caused the problem. I would have no argument there (even though I don't think my son abused it) and considering the price of his rebuild I'm not starting to think I got what I paid for....which was a shoddy job.
The transmission is shifting fine, but I'm concerned the material that's gone through it and been used up means it's not long for the world. I have a reputable local shop that can get to it in a week and they have quoted me $2800 for remove, rebuild, and reinstall. I can get a reman transmission (with warranty) from my local Carquest shop for $1,750 total cost. Of course the reman is me doing the work but that's not outside my wheelhouse.
So let's hear it....Would you folks let the shop rebuild it and save your back crawling on the garage floor, or is the $1,000 savings of the reman worth it? I'm really on the fence here and would like to hear some opinions.
Thanks,
KJ