Transmission shop estimates

[Cohiba54]

Ok, so my transmission finally gave up th ghost this weekend at a Boy Scout Camp-out, as i was backing out and while all the dads were admiring the Chero. How dang humiliating, oh well!

Anyways I've checked around Houston the area, even check a couple of old-time shops out past may place. Most all estimates ran between 1000 to 1600 hundred, the one with 16'er must have been smoke something and wasn't' shairing.... They all had about the same warranty, so i was about to do the 1k deal. One last glance at the net and I stumbled across these guys Mr. Transmission $897, tax, title and drive out, 2 year/ 24k miles and I stressed the guy about that price. I also hit hem up on where the parts were from and that I didn't want any cheep overseas garbage. His comeback was we're a longtime company, we're national 300 + stores and we're using Ray-Bestos parts, pulse I have a good re-builder. That last part "a good re-builder" about sold me I tend to shy when I hear "Tech or Technician"

So my questions are.
Any body use them before?
Did they stick to their work about the price, parts , warranty, or did they stick you?

Thanks

[mattmopar440]

we got a local hot rod shop to do ours $400 bring your own part $800 he builds it.
Good guy if it can hold up to a 700HP car it will last forever in my jeep that for a bench build already out of the truck

If the warranties are the same go for the cheapest guys if you take it out yourself the should knock a good $200 of or more

[Chevelleguy]

Stay away from the big chain stores. Mark my word, You WILL be sorry! Call some of the local independent auto shops in your area and ask them who they recommend. Most small shops will R&R the tranny but have someone else build it. A few will do it in house.

[loganvilledude]

Let's face it the parts for a transmission re-build are cheap even if you are buying the best on the market. What you are buying is the warranty and the labor. Labor rates vary so much as do the profitability of the shops. We have a local guy here in our county that rebuilds these for $500.00 if you take it to him, or $800.00 if he takes it out and re-installs (TF727 / GM 400).

[janie]

Stay away from the big chain stores. Mark my word, You WILL be sorry!


Ditto. Ditto. Ditto.

I cannot stress that enough. Find a local shop. Drop the trans yourself and take it to them. Bench job will not run you more than $500.00 and thats with a shift kit installed, good kevlar bands, etc.

Don't forget to replace your torque converter as well.

[slowpoke]

i had my done in dec. at cottmans ?1100
i have less than 2000 miles on it and it's
allready acting up since i'm running 35" tires
they said theres not much they can do

[fulsizjeep]

Ditto. Ditto. Ditto.

I cannot stress that enough. Find a local shop. Drop the trans yourself and take it to them. Bench job will not run you more than $500.00 and thats with a shift kit installed, good kevlar bands, etc.

Don't forget to replace your torque converter as well.

Maybe a little more depending on the area... With my 727, I took it to a local reputable builder last March. He gave me back a rebuilt tranny with RV shift kit and new torque converter. I gave him $660.

[fullsizejohn]

No personal experience with the chain shops but never heard anything good.

Good to see prices are about the same all over.
Found a local hot rodder (automotive machinist at my local NAPA)
TH400 bench job
$120 parts(rv shift kit)
$400 to him
$100 to NAPA for use of their cleaning tank and shop
$620 total :)

[mcjeep80]

if you have a garage you could just do it yourself:thumbsup:
it is $230 for the tci kit and includes a shift kit. they come with instructions. and i have been told that these 727s are the easiest trans to rebuild. there is a write up un here about it also.
and when you are done you can say you rebuilt your own auto tranny:thumbsup:

[Cohiba54]

No personal experience with the chain shops but never heard anything good.

Good to see prices are about the same all over.
Found a local hot rodder (automotive machinist at my local NAPA)
TH400 bench job
$120 parts(rv shift kit)
$400 to him
$100 to NAPA for use of their cleaning tank and shop
$620 total :)

Well now that you speak of the TH400, I'm not sure which one i have the TF or the TH. Anyone have some pictures of the underside of a the TF transmission oil pan or some way of me telling which one i have?

[Dirtball]

Isn't it GSMikie (sp?) who has the CDs on how to rebuild a 400 step by step?

[Cohiba54]

Stay away from the big chain stores. Mark my word, You WILL be sorry! Call some of the local independent auto shops in your area and ask them who they recommend. Most small shops will R&R the tranny but have someone else build it. A few will do it in house.

Yea I know what yall are saying about the chain stores and I'm trying to find a place out far enough away from Houston. Now I'm finding those little shops want the big $$$ too, they know the game too well.

[Cohiba54]

if you have a garage you could just do it yourself:thumbsup:
it is $230 for the tci kit and includes a shift kit. they come with instructions. and i have been told that these 727s are the easiest trans to rebuild. there is a write up un here about it also.
and when you are done you can say you rebuilt your own auto tranny:thumbsup:

I'd jump at the thought of doing my own these days. I did a c4 when i was a 18 and thought it was the neatest thing, once i put it all back together and it ran. Now days I just don't have the time or place for that kind of work....

[Chevelleguy]

Well now that you speak of the TH400, I'm not sure which one i have the TF or the TH. Anyone have some pictures of the underside of a the TF transmission oil pan or some way of me telling which one i have?

Your '82 should be a TF727 not a TH400.

[ncchaos]

A chain store, a local in his backyard, they are both only as good as the people in it. I have been in auto repair for nearly 20 years, most have been with a chain store. It all comes down to the people.

[Dirtball]

Get testimonials from people... if a shop isn't willing to give you some folks to call I'd pass 'em up. They might have something to hide.

[Joe Guilbeau]

So my questions are.
Any body use them before?
Did they stick to their work about the price, parts , warranty, or did they stick you?

Thanks

You have the Chrysler TorqueFlite 727 3-speed transmission with a 2.72 gear ratio.

$400 to drop the tranny
$400 to install the tranny
$100 for the Torque Converter
$500 labor & parts for the Tranmission itself with shift kits and supplies

So you are looking at anywhere from $1200 to $1800 from most shops.

It all depends on their labor rates and hard parts mark-ups.

Read all about the Tom Hands guide...
http://www.allpar.com/mopar/transmissions/torqueflite-tom-hand.html

[Cohiba54]

You have the Chrysler TorqueFlite 727 3-speed transmission with a 2.72 gear ratio.

$400 to drop the tranny
$400 to install the tranny
$100 for the Torque Converter
$500 labor & parts for the Tranmission itself with shift kits and supplies

So you are looking at anywhere from $1200 to $1800 from most shops.

It all depends on their labor rates and hard parts mark-ups.

Read all about the Tom Hands guide...
http://www.allpar.com/mopar/transmissions/torqueflite-tom-hand.html


Ok got a fix on my tranny and yes it's a TF727, apparently the converter failed as in bearings bushings all ground up and made a mess of the rest of the transmission. I ended up at chain store Mr. Transmission, they came out put the Chero on a flatbed and off it went to their shop cross county from me. They did all the work for under 900, 2yr/24k warranty.

I know, I know it's a chain store! But like it's been said here, It's all about the people running the show and for that much the guy with his hand in the oil. Give John (manager) a call 281.890.9191 if your anywhere in the Houston area, big thanks to Bill "the guy with his hands in the oil" and to Wayne the owner.

Good job guys!