My transmission's blown and I have to get it rebuilt. Advice?

[Deoxyribonucleicvitriol]

My transmission is slipping all over the place so I'm getting it rebuilt. I've got a 1997 Camaro V6 (Auto, obviously).

My dad knows of a reputable shop that is willing to fix it for $1800-$2200. They said they'll put in an "upgrade kit" with all of the modern parts that are improvements over what was stock when the car was made.

My car is pretty much stock and I'm not into racing or anything, but is there anything I should request that they do while they're in there? Should I buy my own parts then have them install them and just pay for the labor?

I'm not a car expert like some of you, so any and all advice is welcome. Thanks so much :)

[ssms5411]

Re: My transmission's blown and I have to get it rebuilt. Advice?

Thats expensive for $2000 you can get a built tranny. You could buy a low mileage used tranny for $400 and just swap it in , after a Transgo shift kit and Vette servo your looking at $600 in parts labor shouldn't be more than $400 so that leaves $1000 left over. Performabult trannys are around $2000 , or find a local shop to build it up , for mine I have found a place to build my A4 and a stall for $1200 plus $300 for labor. Its all about looking around.

[Deoxyribonucleicvitriol]

Re: My transmission's blown and I have to get it rebuilt. Advice?

Thats expensive for $2000 you can get a built tranny. You could buy a low mileage used tranny for $400 and just swap it in , after a Transgo shift kit and Vette servo your looking at $600 in parts labor shouldn't be more than $400 so that leaves $1000 left over. Performabult trannys are around $2000 , or find a local shop to build it up , for mine I have found a place to build my A4 and a stall for $1200 plus $300 for labor. Its all about looking around.

You'll have to speak to me like a child because I don't know all of the lingo :P.

1) What's the benefit of a Corvette servo?
2) Where can I buy one?
3) What's the benefit of a transgo shift kit? Longevity or only performance? I only care about longevity.
4) Where can I buy one?
5) Will a shop typically install this kind of stuff for me? ...because there is no way I can do any of this myself.

[ssms5411]

Re: My transmission's blown and I have to get it rebuilt. Advice?

Vette Servo stiffness up your 1st 2nd shifts, while the Transgo shift kit does 3rd and 4th gears. It makes them slip less so the tranny lasts longer the clucthes that is. Any transmission shop sould be able to install both of them, or you can buy them seperate off ebay motors for about $100 shipped total.

[Deoxyribonucleicvitriol]

Re: My transmission's blown and I have to get it rebuilt. Advice?

I'm in Middle Tennessee. I found a shop up in Kentucky that will fix everything and put a Corvette servo in it for $750-900 (including the cost of the servo - he'd provide it). With the gas spent on 2 cars I'd be looking at around $900-1050 total. He said he wasn't willing to put in the shift kit because he didn't want to reprogram the computer. He did top-notch work on my dad's Suburbans a few years ago.

I'm not sure if I could find a better price anywhere and don't know how much benefit the transgo kit would give over stock. Thoughts?

[whitdog54]

Re: My transmission's blown and I have to get it rebuilt. Advice?

Call the shop and see what they mean by built. Get a list of the things they can do.

1800 is a good deal if theyre building that tranny to hold 600+ horses.

[Deoxyribonucleicvitriol]

Re: My transmission's blown and I have to get it rebuilt. Advice?

Call the shop and see what they mean by built. Get a list of the things they can do.

1800 is a good deal if theyre building that tranny to hold 600+ horses.

Nashville's a relatively rich area so I don't think that's what they mean. Even so, I don't want to spend a $1000 premium for a marginal increase in life, y'know? Plus, my car is totally stock, so I'd never need anything like that.

I think the reason Kentucky is such a good deal is that they're a pretty poor area up there. My dad has never had any problems with the suburbans and he drove them for years after those guys worked on it (ended up selling it).

The main thing I'm wondering about at this point is the transgo shift kit and how much of a benefit it might bring.

Also, about the corvette servo... It brings a stiffer shift.. Does that just mean its cleaner, or would it actually jerk the car? I don't care as long as it's better for the tranny, I'm just curious.

Thanks everyone!

[LETZRIDE]

Re: My transmission's blown and I have to get it rebuilt. Advice?

shifts are crisper...suppose to increase longevity, especially if you leave it on setting 1 (3 settings)

you shouldnt have to reprogram the pcm after putting one in as far as I know...

[Deoxyribonucleicvitriol]

Re: My transmission's blown and I have to get it rebuilt. Advice?

shifts are crisper...suppose to increase longevity, especially if you leave it on setting 1 (3 settings)

you shouldnt have to reprogram the pcm after putting one in as far as I know...

Thanks :)

Can anyone else offer a more definitive answer on this? I want to be 100% sure before I bring it up again with the mechanic. I think if he was sure he'd not have to reprogram anything, he'd be a lot more comfortable with installing the kit.

[kristen]

Re: My transmission's blown and I have to get it rebuilt. Advice?

to be honest...i don't think rebuilt trannys are worth jack...i think you should just fine another one for a few bucks

[ACiFiC]

Re: My transmission's blown and I have to get it rebuilt. Advice?

to be honest...i don't think rebuilt trannys are worth jack...i think you should just fine another one for a few bucks

Like new new, or new used?

[techsan23]

Re: My transmission's blown and I have to get it rebuilt. Advice?

Thanks :)

Can anyone else offer a more definitive answer on this? I want to be 100% sure before I bring it up again with the mechanic. I think if he was sure he'd not have to reprogram anything, he'd be a lot more comfortable with installing the kit.

Get on transgo.com and contact them, but my guess is the mechanic doesnt know anything about the kit so he doesnt want to mess with it. Also, if he had the ability to tune vehicles he wouldnt be afraid of it.

[Atrum Rosa]

Re: My transmission's blown and I have to get it rebuilt. Advice?

Don't have to mess with the computer. It's all just springs and accumulators and gaskets in the valve body.

[ssms5411]

Re: My transmission's blown and I have to get it rebuilt. Advice?

If a tranny shop doesn't know what a shift kit is or Vette servo , I wouldn't have them working on my trans, Transgo has been out for like 30 years.

[ACiFiC]

Re: My transmission's blown and I have to get it rebuilt. Advice?

I called about getting mine rebuilt with a corvette high stall and converter, corvette servo, trans go stage2 and all the high friction components and he said I would be looking at 1800 (4l6oe)