Transmission decision

Neil · Oct 8, 2009

I'm trying to figure out what to do. It just popped a P1756 which is governor pressure not within specification and it went into limp mode. The fluid is a little toasted (probably my fault since it's been a while since it was serviced.) Anyway 160+k on it and it hasn't been rebuilt. According to the FMS, burnt fluid pretty much points to a rebuild. Searching the forum here and other forums, a few people have replaced the governor solenoid along with fluid/filter/band adjustment and carried on.

My neighbor is a mechanic and he talked with a tranny guy who's a known race tranny builder. Cleaning out things and servicing may be a 50/50 shot at buying some more time on it (or it may already be shot.)

I plan on keeping the vehicle going so rather than dumping a few hundred now and maybe getting a little more time only for it to go who knows when and where, I may just go ahead with a full rebuild or a Martin Saine (I sent him an email about cost and availability.) I'll see about his or let the trusted race shop rebuild it. It hasn't been opened yet, but the shop says about $1k for a rebuild if it's in good shape or it could get close to $2k if the OD unit and other parts are shot.

IndyDurango · Oct 8, 2009

Personally, if the maintenance has been lacking, then swap it out instead of a few hundred on service that may still lead to in the end to swapping it out.

As long as the race shop is building a stout setup and not just rebuilding a stocker at stocker specs, $2k is good. MS is always a reliable and confident choice.

IndyDurango

FSTDANGO3 · Oct 8, 2009

Go with a Martin Saine if possible
Steve
DOC Pres

skitzo.d · Oct 8, 2009

replace it. I had mine rebuilt last year.

Zen · Oct 9, 2009

I'd just replace it. It's about time anyway, spend the big bucks now instead of a few hundred now and another couple thousand later on when you do inevitably have to replace it.

Neil · Oct 9, 2009

Yea that's the way I'm going. I spoke with Martin. Great guy. I dealt with him before with my valve body. Not cheap though even though he cut me a couple discounts. Shipping is tacking it on. I need to talk to the local place some more.

IndyDurango · Oct 9, 2009

Let me know what it sets you back in total. Someday I'll need to go that route too.

TIA,

IndyD

race D · Oct 9, 2009

I just had mine rebuilt by a local racer buddy. I'd go the route of the local guy.

The MS tranny is probably a great piece, and I was looking that way also, but if something was to go wrong he's across the country.

IndyDurango · Oct 9, 2009

I hear ya and that's a concern? however if you have a race shop, can't they fix it even if "it" was an MS to begin with?

Can't any shop take care of it as long as they have the MS specs?

It certainly wouldn't have to be shipped back to MS for general maintenance. Only a complete failure, under warranty, would that be an issue. And then for the money why not go ahead and ship it back? What's his warranty anyway?

IndyD

Neil · Oct 9, 2009

I wouldn't say complete failure. It could be an adjustment or minor problem that could fall under the "warranty" situation.

RT Mark · Oct 10, 2009

race D said:
I just had mine rebuilt by a local racer buddy. I'd go the route of the local guy.

The MS tranny is probably a great piece, and I was looking that way also, but if something was to go wrong he's across the country.

I'd agree with you, except I've been running a Martin Saine tranny for years under Paxton boost and it's held together just fine. If it was going to come apart, it would have by now.

Neil · Oct 21, 2009

Just an update.

I decided to go local. The guy used to work in a tranny shop and is a local racer who works out of his garage. My mechanic neighbor who also used to be in racing used this guy for a lot of work and totally trusts him so I went with it. Last Sat, we pulled the transmission and it wasn't as easy as I thought it'd be. As my neighbor kept saying, "Welcome to the wonderful world of Dodge!" The way they have this assembled doesn't make it easy. When we opened the pan, it didn't look bad. The fluid does have a slight brownish tint but wasn't toasted. There was some evidence of clutch wear and a little metallic sparkle but no chunks. I'm waiting to hear from the guy.

Martin was going to be about $600-$1000 more by the time it was all done.

Neil · Nov 1, 2009

Tranny is all done. $2k all said and done. It worked out well.

Oldtin · Nov 1, 2009

Had mine done a few months ago also!

IndyDurango · Nov 2, 2009

Neil said:
Tranny is all done. $2k all said and done. It worked out well.

Did you end up with a stocker type equal or something special?

IndyD

sandman88 · Nov 8, 2009

Is the average rebuild about 2k? My tranny just went tonight, hit 30mph and was tacking out about 4-5000 rpms. Last couple of mornings reverse was almost non-existent.

Connman · Nov 8, 2009

sandman88 said:
Is the average rebuild about 2k? My tranny just went tonight, hit 30mph and was tacking out about 4-5000 rpms. Last couple of mornings reverse was almost non-existent.

Yes.
Also, when they rebuild it, have them bypass the stock transfluid cooler completely and add a larger than specified auxiliary cooler. The stock cooler is serious garbage and is the real reason for many people's transmission issues - although most don't realize it. When the stock cooler gets very hot under normal driving conditions, it has a tendency to actually 'collapse' inward on itself, thus restricting the flow of tranny fluid? thus starving your tranny of fluid? thus leading to costly repairs that an 'average' tranny shop will simply credit to age/mileage without fixing the REAL problem.

After 2 rebuilds and $3900, ask me how I know.

FWIW, I also looked into a MS tranny a couple of years ago and was also leery due to the fact that there isn't anyone local who could work on it without voiding the warranty. So my interpretation was, IF it breaks, you're SOL.

IndyDurango · Nov 8, 2009

Connman said:
Also, when they rebuild it, have them bypass the stock transfluid cooler completely and add a larger than specified auxiliary cooler. The stock cooler is serious garbage and is the real reason for many people's transmission issues - although most don't realize it. When the stock cooler gets very hot under normal driving conditions, it has a tendency to actually 'collapse' inward on itself, thus restricting the flow of tranny fluid? thus starving your tranny of fluid? thus leading to costly repairs that an 'average' tranny shop will simply credit to age/mileage without fixing the REAL problem.

Well I've never heard that. The only thing normally mentioned to watch for is the valve that goes bad. Never anything about any inner collapse stuff. :?

IndyDurango

tomk · Nov 8, 2009

x2, I've never heard of any cooler issues other than the drainback valve. tell us more!

sandman88 · Nov 8, 2009

Yes, more.

How much does it typically cost for the aux cooler? Figure might as well know what I'm up against. Anything else specific I should ask for when I'm getting it rebuilt. I have a mechanic that I trust and he uses a tranny shop that he highly recommends, since his shop isn't equipped to do the work. He's been taking his business/personal/racing cars to this guy for years. So if it's good enough for him?

Transmission decision

Neil

IndyDurango

FSTDANGO3

skitzo.d

Zen

Neil

IndyDurango

race D

IndyDurango

Neil

RT Mark

Neil

Neil

Oldtin

IndyDurango

sandman88

Connman

IndyDurango

tomk

sandman88

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