Which Trans and why?

[Hawk]

This is my last name to throw in the hat

Revmax: Performance Torque Converters | RevMax

Another shop that seems to have great customer service and everyone that has used them says nothing but great things.

 

[WalterJ]

HAWK: I heartily agree with CERBURISM, if you can possibly find a local transmission rebuilder & discuss you needs. I got lucky here in Racine, WI with GT Transmissions. I too was tempted to buy ATS, Goerend, et al. I mentioned this to GT & they were OK with installing anything I wished. The soft sell got to me. We talked. I got convinced they could build anything to do the job I needed.



By the way, they had a split input gear from one of their "good customers" for me to evaluate right on the bench with her parts & pieces. OEM input shaft is pressed into a triangular splined gear. This spline geometry baffles me, in that the triangular shape forces the "hole" in the gear to "open up" under stress. I gladly agreed with the $729 billet input shaft.



Glad I'm a shadetree mechanic & understood most of their lingo. Bottom line... they quoted an aftermarket torque conv. rated @ 1200+ lb-ft torque with 500 RPM reduced stall speed to make best use of diesel power, performance 3rd gear disc pack, Kevlar 2nd gear shift band, aftermarket pressure regulator, billet input shaft, slightly modified shift kit, etc. , etc. and 3 yrs. or 100K miles 100% parts & labor warranty. I was cautiously stoked. $4300 complete, done in 2 days. We left for Orlando 2 days later. Getting a Goerend or similar transmission shipped & installed would have been another $2000 in my estimation.



I feel very fortunate to have found someone trustworthy to build it locally. They were just fine taking a few calls from the road with some general questions I had. I pushed it @ Banks Pwr. Lvl 6 all the way to Orlando & back, looking for any sign of trans slip, shifting bumps, etc... nada. I love my truck.

 

[JJPage]

See thats whats I'm talking about. A shop that is down to earth and will explain the work and enjoys their craft.



Jess thank you for the input. How is your transmission working out for you?

When DTT did my trans in early 05, they were still only offering a single disc converter, I would choose a triple today. They told me the trans would handle 500 ponies, been north of that for a few years and still holding strong .

 

[MegaJeff]

I just had my 06 rebuilt by Tricity Transmission in Tempe... just south of the Tempe Marketplace. I had them build me their Toyhauler Transmission. Ask for Dave and he will treat you right. They have allways stood up and backed their work no matter what. They have been doing our trannies for years. We went with the Triple Disk Precision TC, the custom Valve body, stronger and deeper pan, and all the HD interior goodies. I love the transmission and it seems like it anticipates my moves and is always in the right gear when I need it. I had Dave Goerend's TC and VB in my last truck (which Tricity installed for me) and really liked Dave's product as well. These guys even gave me a loaner while they re-did the trans.

 

[Hawk]

I just had my 06 rebuilt by Tricity Transmission in Tempe... just south of the Tempe Marketplace. I had them build me their Toyhauler Transmission. Ask for Dave and he will treat you right. They have allways stood up and backed their work no matter what. They have been doing our trannies for years. We went with the Triple Disk Precision TC, the custom Valve body, stronger and deeper pan, and all the HD interior goodies. I love the transmission and it seems like it anticipates my moves and is always in the right gear when I need it. I had Dave Goerend's TC and VB in my last truck (which Tricity installed for me) and really liked Dave's product as well. These guys even gave me a loaner while they re-did the trans.

Good deal. I will talk to these guys as well. Thanks for the information. One of these days we'll have to get all the AZ TDR guys together to compare notes on our RAMS.

 

[MegaJeff]

When you talk to Dave Riccio, tell him you were referred by Jeff with the white Mega. He'll know. This shop does alot of the little things right. He replaced my rear main seal on the engine for me when they rebuilt the transmission. It has since started to leak and he said bring it back in and we will get it fixed up. I went with them because they are local and responsive.

I'd love to get together with everyone in AZ and beyond! Great idea.

 

[Hawk]

When you talk to Dave Riccio, tell him you were referred by Jeff with the white Mega. He'll know. This shop does alot of the little things right. He replaced my rear main seal on the engine for me when they rebuilt the transmission. It has since started to leak and he said bring it back in and we will get it fixed up. I went with them because they are local and responsive.



I'd love to get together with everyone in AZ and beyond! Great idea.

MegaJeff, I will let him know. I was going to call last night and I got tied up with work. Thanks again for the info.

 

[weldingmiller]

Hawk, which route did you take regarding transmissions? I went with a local shop who handles Suncoast and couldn't be happier. We had some teething problems in the begining but they were more than happy and willing to work everything out. The first TC they installed was actually defective. The shop covered the tow bill and from what i was told they were reimbursed by Suncoast for the tow and the TC. I only use my truck as a daily driver with the occasional camping trip towing the 31' fifth wheel. My target hp is around 700 so thats what the transmission was built to handle. It came with a 150K/3yr no questions asked warranty.

 

[Hawk]

Hawk, which route did you take regarding transmissions? I went with a local shop who handles Suncoast and couldn't be happier. We had some teething problems in the begining but they were more than happy and willing to work everything out. The first TC they installed was actually defective. The shop covered the tow bill and from what i was told they were reimbursed by Suncoast for the tow and the TC. I only use my truck as a daily driver with the occasional camping trip towing the 31' fifth wheel. My target hp is around 700 so thats what the transmission was built to handle. It came with a 150K/3yr no questions asked warranty.

I haven't made up my mind yet. I have to talk to the local guys and see what they say. I will def let you guys know once I make up my mind. Thanks for the info.

 

[DonFitzwater]

My . 02, Goerend gets the nod from me. Installed their torque converter, valve body and a few other Sonnax parts from them and then proceeded to plow for two hard winters and towed lot's of boats, large and small. The Goerend valve body is great, the torque converter is to me, perfect. I like that fact it has a drain plug in it. Anyway, got a new to me 06 and will be putting the same goodies from Goerend in this one. Good luck with your decision and I hope whoever you choose treats you as good as Goerend has done for me!

 

[Fiver]

To be honest, I have no experience with any of the others but went with a DTT outlet in Logan, UT (Moonlight Diesel) three years ago and was very impressed with their professional approach and the transmission turned out great, has not missed a beat. They explained the different available levels of rebuild, from max (for about 12,000 hp-smile) to relatively mild and I went with a sort of mid-level rebuild, doesn't shift too harsh and has never slipped while towing. All in all, very satisfied. Good luck!

 

[IdahoMan]

Some distressing info regarding DTT on the DieselTruckResource forum.

See http://www.dieseltruckresource.com/dev/good-read-dtt-transmission-t306176.html



Kevin

 

[BILLUA]

Well, the bottom two trucks in my sig both had full built DTT transmissions by Fred Swanson in AZ and have tens of thousands of miles of semi hardcore towing and neither needed anything more than a fluid, filter and band adjustment at the proper intervals.

Both trucks have also been modified to put out more horsepower and torque than stock.

 

[HBarlow]

That post means nothing. I wouldn't give it a thought. It is one guy's complaints and he claims he's the one who assembled the transmission. Is he an experienced and highly skilled performance transmission builder? As they said, DTT can't examine the transmission and the complainer doesn't even want to ship parts back to them.

Several years ago when 47 and 48RE Chrysler automatics were the transmission offered in all automatic transmission trucks and engine performance upgrades were very common DTT was strong and had authorized DTT installers all around the country who had satisfied Bill Kondalay's requirements for experience and skill. I doubt anyone still has the volume of transmission builds now. Our economy is weak and getting worse and the old four speed Chrysler automatics were replaced by a six speed over six years ago. I don't think the new transmissions are easily modified like the 48RE was. I would not be very surprised to hear that the Kondolays have moved on to some other business before long.

 

[TCDiesel]

O Lary Ellis is Big time winer... ... (The Owner of DTR) back in 2004 Lary and I were in the Process of Bringing Banks Products to his site, I discovered He shared the Pricing to X Company when I call him on the info He went on a rant and Ban Me for life from his site He claims to be righteous, but ONLY when its lining his pockets, His comment on thread tells it all:-laf

 

[cerberusiam]

when I call him on the info He went on a rant and Ban Me for life from his site He claims to be righteous

:-laf You and me both :-laf