Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) BOMB the transmission or just a simple rebuild?

[LLindsey]

Auto transmission on my 01 has been storing up a little concern lately.



Just like Summit's transmission mine also won't shift down to 1st without a little manual help but now mine seems to be lacking something (more so than usual) when taking off. Engine has plenty of power... rpms come up just fine but it seems to take much longer than usual for the transmission to catch up.



Been thinking about a rebuild but maybe I'm jumping the gun.



I pull a 12000lb+ dump trailer on occasion and depend on the truck daily.



Several people have said a stock transmission is just fine if you add a Performance TC and VB. Others have said a whole new transmission.



Prices from 1800 for a stock rebuild to 5000 for a Performance transmission and TC.



I only want to do this once so I was hoping for some experienced knowledgeable thoughts on this subject.



Does anybody know of a good transmission shop near St. Louis?

01, 4x4, Auto, Little black box, 5" exhaust for future use.

 

[LSMITH]

How many miles are on it and what exactly are the performance mods?

 

[LLindsey]

I'm a little embarrasses to say I don't know a lot about the box. About a year ago I took the truck to a diesel performance shop in the St. Louis area. I got the exhaust and box at the same time. The guy who did the work haD a good rep in town for turning up pumps on the twelve valves. I had the work done and really didn't get much paperwork or ask a lot of questions. Since then he has retired to Arizona and the guy who took over the shop said it is most likely a Van Akin box. It is supposed to increase the HP 60.



Just a few weeks ago Cummins put the truck on the dyno after I had the lift pump replaced. I was running 201 HP at the wheels.



Anyway the truck has a little over 50K on it. Last week I made a trip to Nashville pulling a trailer with a Nissan pickup on it back to STL. As long as I was at highway speeds I had no problems. Getting to 3rd gear seemed to take more time than usual. Since I have been back home It seems to be getting worse.



I'm more than a little embarrassed that I don't know more about the box and now I've mentioned it on the TDR. This is like one of those bad dreams where you find yourself in school in just your underwear



I don't want to make the same mistake with the transmission. I would like to take the time and do a thorough search on auto transmissions here but the circumstances don't allow that right now.



Any help is much appreciated.

 

[turbo lcc]

If your in the Stl area I just had my transmission rebuilt wit all the DTT stuff is you want to take a ride. . And I found a great guy in the area to put the DTT parts together.

 

[rrausch]

Hey LLindsey! I grew up down near Springfield, and used to visit my folks after they moved to South County, right off of Lemay Ferry Rd. They lived on Ringer Rd. for many years, and I have a lot of fond memories of St. Louis.



I can tell you something NOT to do. Do not go with a Brand X rebuilder, whose name and reputation are unknown to the guys on this site!! Don't go with a stock rebuild either.



You should definitely do some homework. Talk to the major rebuilders. Go with the people you are comfortable talking with. Go with the folks you trust. I went with ATS, and Clint can ship a TC and VB, or a complete trans anywhere. Any decent shop can put ATS stuff in, and I'm sure there are more than a few in the St. Louis area. ATS is in Denver.



If you only have 50,000 miles on your truck you probaby could get just a TC and Valve Body and be fine for many tens of thousands of miles. Although your transmission symptoms concern me. But 201 HP is not a lot to be putting through an ATS trans. In reality, just a TC and VB will prolong the life of a trans, as the TripleLok Torque Converter clutches WILL NOT slip, burn, degrade, crumble, suffer adhesive failure etc. etc. , like the stock one will when the power is turned up and it starts to slip under a heavy load. Clint's number is 800-949-6002



Here is a thread I posted when I got back from Denver and getting my ATS rebuild.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...?threadid=40441&highlight=Experience+with+ATS



Good luck. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[DavidGardner]

LLindsy



If you plan on keeping this truck for a while and are going to bomb it (which it sounds like its been done already) Go with an after market trans from a reputable builder ( DTT, ATS, Goerend, et al) If you go cheap and put in a stock rebuild you are going to have the same problems and will just end up doing it again. Do it right the first time and you will be mutch happier. If you are going to run higher than stock HP then pay the money and do it right. As the old TV ad says "pay me now or pay me later"

Just my two cents worth.



Dave Gardner.

 

[PZech]

I drove to Denver and had ATS do a complete transmission rebuild and love it! They had me out the next day and it has performed flawlessly for the last 15K. I recently towed a case 580 on a heavy trailer from Reno up over the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Northern Calif and didn't have a bit of problem. They have my vote. When I priced a good rebuild and a new transmission from one of the better shops I felt the difference was worth the price. I tow heavy and am willing to pay for the peace of mind.

 

[Bob Wagner]

2 1/2 years of pure pleasure

Bill Kondolay is 2nd to none and never will be



When only the best will do www.dieseltrans.com



Call and talk to Bill

 

[klaybus]

DTT.... When Only The Best Will Do!

Just had Bill build mine last month & it has performed flawlessly! Performance Transmission is an understatement!! I can't say enough good about his product & professional staff.

Give Bill a call at 1-866-504-4002.



www.dieseltrans.com



Clay