Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) ave. labor cost for transmission upgrade?

[JMachemer]

i am in the process of seeing what kind of coinage i can spend on my truck for this year, and i am leaning toward upgrading the transmission. I am 95% sure i am going to go with a Gorend triple disk and their valve body. Roughly $1650 for those 2 items. My big question is how much have u guys been spending on labor cost - or how many shop hours should it take. I do not live near Iowa, so the goodies will be shipped here and put on by a local shop. Its a reliable shop with a lot of veteren hands with 20+ years wrench turning, and i have done buisness in the past, so i am not worried about getting the run around.



another question - any other upgrades i should be looking at while the transmission is out? I hear stories of damaged flex plates with high hp and competition. I am planning on doing some weekend pulling and racing every once in a while once i get the transmission in. My hp goal is right around 400 when it is said and done.

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

Had mine done by a shop in Fayetteville, Pa. Not too far from you. $250 for R&R of the transmission, and $250 for replacing the rear drum, changing out the VB, and replacing the seals. So far, I am extremely satisfied. I didn't have the flexplate done.



Jim

 

[DieselRam30]

That sounds about right. I think I paid around $600 when I had my transmission replaced.



As far as the flexplate, just check its integrity. If it's cracked replace it. Otherwise, at 400 hp, IMHO I don't think it would be worth the money.

 

[bmoeller]

Goerends charged me $400 labor to r&r the transmission. The full transmission and triple disc T/C was less than $3000. Had them also replace the 2 other steel lines I hadn't changed yet, plus the rear main seal, and both transfer case output seals too.



I didn't get the laminated flexplate either. Dave welded a reinforcing plate onto my OEM plate. Haven't broken it yet. A laminated plate from Dave was less than $200.