Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 99 DRW 3500 Auto Trans Band Help!

[aerialimage]

Looking for help or ideas On this, Short of A complete rebuild.
I have a 99 CTD DRW 3500 QC AT That has about 120K on it. Last year I had a Front band problem needing a new band install or complete trans rebuild.
I am told they do not make a cheater band to slip into place for this trans.
Two Trans. shop guys have told me that this trans is pretty much identical to the old 727 mechanically and that maybe a cheater band for a 727 will fit right in??? My local trans shop said $600 to just install a new band and inspect clutchesBut my fear is If they see anything else and I then have it apart in the shop and have to spring for a complete trans job. THe drum looks great still and I have not driven the truck since last year when we found this band worn.
I am a competent mechanic and should have no problem dropping the valve body to install a cheater band if this will work! SO does anyone know if this 727 cheater band will fit in this trans? is the trans the same mechanically? Any ideas? This truck was babied by its last owner and I am hopeful It will give me enough service to let it earn some money and help pay for a future trans upgrade or other upgrades. Any thoughts or Facts will be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much for your time.

 

[painekiller]

buy youself a core trans and drop it off at the trans shop to be rebuilt then you can have the trans swap done in a day. thats what i did and it worked out great. i dropped off my truck one evening and picked it up the next. the truck was only down for a day and i was only charged $300 for r&r of the trans.



is your truck 2 wd or 4 wd? where you located? i have the stock trans that was removed from my truck and it only has 33,000 miles on it and it worked good

 

[cerberusiam]

Well, not sure what a "cheater" band is but there is a wide source of upgraded bands available for these units, from mild to wild. Not sure what these guys you are talking about unless they mean a band that can be installed without dropping the trans, in that case BAD idea.



You cannot change the band by dropping the VB, you have to pull the trans and disassemble the font of the trans back to the forward drum to fix a band issues. At that point you can install a good rigid band that will last a long time.



Technically taking the trans apart is not a big deal, back together can be an issue if you don't understand the pieces real well and get them in correctly. Best leave that to the professionals for best effect.

 

[aerialimage]

Thanks for the replys and sound advice, I'm told someone makes a band that is made to slide around the drum eliminating the need to remove the trans. ( at least for the 727) Several people have refered to this as a cheater band.
I'm located in se massachusetts, I have a trusted trans shop that gave me a price of $600 band only or $2,700 rebuilt. I have about as much in this truck as I would like as of now! I know there's no shortcuts and bargain prices only cost more later!
The budget is tight right now and the plan is to invest as little as possible and try to let this truck help earn some $$$$ to pay for it's new trans!
So far this truck has a new fuel pump new vp44 two new hubs, rear abs sensor and we've used it for a couple hundred miles! The goal is fix band , KDP and use gently plowing roads this winter to pay for some future work!
I don't really want to pull the trans but if there's no cheater band option I'm ready to dig in soon! I would not be afraid to pull the pump and do some basic work! I'm no trans guy but I've rebuilt my share of engines,pumps, fabricated parts and other fun stuff! I'm not excited about the job and happy to pay the pros but if I was smart I would sell now rather than fixing a truck just to have to work it all winter only to try and pay for itself.
Of coarse we like these trucks so not always easy to bail out!
I want a cheater band!
99 drw 3500 4x4 at qc
120k worn front band