Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Dumb trans. question

[24valver]

Ok, this kind of dumb, and I think I know the answer. I've got the plate slid full forward on my truck. While towing round balers (work for JD), the truck seems to struggle-I assume because of the weak T/C. Does a preformance T/C and V/B make a lot of difference while towing? I've ridden in trucks with these upgrades empty, but never with a load. Tell me you all's opinions. Thanks

 

[MAleksandrowicz]

If you lower the stall rate it will pull better. Also when you put a performance VB in it increases line pressure so there will not be any slippage in lock-up. There is definately a noticiable difference with a perf. trans.

 

[tp0d]

I second MAleksandrowicz, there is no comparison to an upgraded transmission. I dont haul trailers, but I do haul stacked loads of wood (3' above box), and also have had 1200lbs of steel in the back, and there is a huge difference between my old stock transmission setup and the new build I had done a while back. .



You wont regret it. . just dont go too cheap, if you haul heavy, you`ll end up breakin somethin on the cheap route. .



good luck



-j

 

[24valver]

Thanks for the quick replies. I figured that it would be a huge difference. I know that I've got the power to pull heavy, but when it's not getting to the ground at all, I just wondered how a performance trans would act. I don't tow really often, but when I do, I don't like to be passed! Now I've just got to figure out how I'm going to pay for a perf. trans. while going to college. Oh well, at least I know I have a shop and a truck lift to swap trannys with-I'm going to school for Diesel Technology!!!

 

[Diesel Nut]

Well, you can swap one, or if you are going to school for it, you can build one. You can buy all the parts and build it yourself and it will cost less, and you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you build it, and it works, and thats pretty cool!

 

[JPittinger]

(Re)build it yourself!!! Its worth learning. Call Dave Goerend for help.

 

[Erik.Miller]

I just rebuilt my trans myself over the holidays with Dave Goerend's help. The job wasn't that hard and I am very pleased with the results. I ended up saving $1,700 by doing it myself.

 

[CurtisM]

Hey Miller where did you get the parts and what parts did you use. I am getting ready to do mine and want to know were the best place to get all the parts would be and what parts I should put in, i. e. clutches, bands, etc. Thanks Matt

 

[Buck88]

I regret not building mine myself. I really wish I would've so I could learn how. Suncoast offers rebuild kits that have everything in them to do the job. www.suncoastconverters.com. Good luck, my transmission's in the shop getting built as we speak, I'll let you guys know what I think. - Buck

 

[JFaughn]

I think I'll be ready to take that trip to Daves about march , looking forward to it .

 

[Diesel Nut]

I buy all my parts from Suncoast. I have built a few transmissions here and am getting ready to do another one. Mine has to come out for a fractured stator mount. :{

 

[24valver]

Yeah, I was thinking today that I would like to know how everything works and the satisfaction of me doing the re-build. Can you get performance re-build "packages" from Goerend's?

 

[JFaughn]

Its too bad its so easy to get into trany wars , but here we go , because of reading post about trans. for 3-4 yrs. in advance of my trans. Goerends is my 1st & only builder I'm considering , but I have to admit that I've been paying a lot of atention to puttling in a Alilson 1000 , but the cost so far is not quite dobble , if it were the same , I would still lean to Dave G. trans. the warentee & service is almost unheard of anymore .

 

[Buck88]

Its too bad its so easy to get into trany wars , but here we go , because of reading post about trans. for 3-4 yrs. in advance of my trans. Goerends is my 1st & only builder I'm considering , but I have to admit that I've been paying a lot of atention to puttling in a Alilson 1000 , but the cost so far is not quite dobble , if it were the same , I would still lean to Dave G. trans. the warentee & service is almost unheard of anymore .

Dave is a real good guy. His customer service is far superior to any transmission company I have dealt with. He's got a lifetime customer right here.

 

[WaynesWorld]

dumb trans question

JD,



I first have to say , do you work for John Deere because of your initials ??



But everyone has the same opinion of Dave whenever you talk to him. He did my trans, vb & tdc. Oo.

You couldn't ask for a better job. He will help you in any way he can. He will sell you ONLY what you need. :--)

He will back up his product like no one else I know, after the sale!!!!

Mine has been in for 4 long , beat on the truck years. [ 460/980]



In short, HE IS THE BEST------ IMHO.



WAYNES WORLD

 

[24valver]

Waynes World

No, I don't work for Deere because of my initials-they're just the best farm equipment out there!!! :-laf



Seriously, I've "talked" to Dave a few times with e-mail and he does seem to be a good guy and knows the Dodge trany. He sent me a repair manual and home made DVDs to show me the procedures to the upgrades. I guess I am just trying to convince myself to spend the money and do it right. Thanks again for all the replies.





P. S- Nothing Runs Like A Deere :-laf

 

[24valver]

OK, I've got another question. I was just looking at the Suncoast website and they have an "Extreme Duty rebuild kit". First they say its for the shop or DIY owner, but at the end of the write up it says that the kit requires professional skill. Now I will be doing this in the fall and thats when my class for auto trans. is. If I start reading manuals now, will I be able to do an upgrade such as this????

 

[Erik.Miller]

I just completed my DIY trans rebuild and comparing my experience to your diesel tech training, I would think that it should be no problem for you. I checked out the Suncoast rebuild kit you mentioned. In my opinion, I would talk to Dave Goerend about your application, and he can recommend and sell you all the parts you need and only the parts you need. Some of the parts in that Suncoast kit may not be needed for your rebuild. It is obvious from all of the feedback on TDR that Dave knows his stuff, will treat you right and help you do the job. I rebuilt mine by taking my time and using his instructional DVD videos that he provided me. He even offered to let me borrow slide hammers to pull the front pump. I did my transmission removal & install by myself and the two items that made a huge difference in making the job easier was: a professional transmission jack and a porta power to spread the frame. Everything else was just bolts and nuts. Once you get into the transmission, you will need slide hammers, a micrometer and basic tools. Just take your time and remember the order of things as you take them out.

 

[sdstriper]

If you do not own the Factory Service Manual (FSM) for your year truck/transmission buy that if you intend to DIY. I was disappointed to learn the Automotive Transmission Service Group manual (ATSG) has the exact information the FSM has for the 1989 CTD with the 727 3 spd auto. Not to knock ATSG either, I have bought other manuals by them for transmissions I don't have FSM's for. First buy one or the other FSM or ATSG. Then an outstanding reference book for the 727 based transmissions is HP Books, Torqueflite A-727 Transmission Handbook by Carl H. Monroe, very good info in this one folks. I did not know Dave had a DVD available, I will order one today, Thanks Erik. Miller for posting that!



I would buy a torque converter from someone who specializes in diesel torque converters but I would shop around for namebrand master rebuild kit, they can be obtained much cheaper than you see on the big builders sites. Anyone with the DIY mentality can put in a valvebody reprogram kit or shift kit, rather than buy one(valvebody), if your mechanically inclined it is very easy.



Erik. Miller, how did you address bushing R&R's and did you rebuild the OD too? Did you buy any of the special tools that are often mentioned in the FSM? The only hurdles I see are; bushing R&R's, the OD spring compressor (840lb spring load) and the OD intermediate shaft spacer selection. The bushings you could take to be installed by someone and the spring compressor could be shop built if you didn't want to spend the money on one. I will have to talk to Goerand about the spacer selection tool and see what my options are.

 

[Erik.Miller]

After talking to Dave Goerend about my application, I decided not to do anything to the OD section. He said that if anything goes wrong with it in the future, the OD section can be removed without dropping the trans.