getrag

[RDBuck]

I'm looking at a 91, 350 single wheel with a Getrag- 120,000 miles. What is the general lifespan of these transmissions? I had one in the past that gave up at 101000 - stuck in gear. The truck is in good shape overall- asking $6500.

 

[JLEONARD]

Mine was original and still fine at 200K

 

[Mel Fuelling]

I had one rebuilt by Ryan's in Council Bluffs at 185k and have run it another 125k being overfilled by 1 1/2 qts at their suggestion without any further problems. I talked

to an owner that had 340k on one pulling a 16' cargo trailer without any problems.

 

[KSears]

I had a 90 model w-250 , I drove for well over 250,000 miles with no problem what so ever, I changed the fluid a couple times, also had the original clutch in it working fine when I sold the truck

 

[mweiman]

transmission

Mine has 217,000 on it and is still working ok. I changed the fluid once since I have had it.

 

[SRadke]

A little off topic I suppose but you can find some really nice second gens for that money around here. No way I'd pay it for a first gen.

-Scott

 

[hounddogks76]

It's all about where you live as far as price and of course condition and 2wd or 4wd.

 

[JGrefenstette]

I got 290,000k plus on my getrag, origional clutch. However, my needs to be rebuilt. 3rd gear syncros terrible, 2nd getting almost as bad, 4th and 5th not far behind. how you drive it really plays a big role in how long it will last, along with overfilling it. remeber shift with the 3 "S"s of a healthy getrag, slow, smooth, and square (if my memory serves me right ) my getrag shifts fine if i treat it like a non synronized transmission, match engine/transmission speed. If you can, i would test drive it, and get the owner to drive it with you in the truck, that should tell you alot about how the truck was driven and cared for. just my 2pennys.

-Jimmy

 

[Paychk]

A couple more suggestions for the Getrag...



gearshift lever isn't a good place to prop your arm (bad on syncro's)



shift to neutral & let the clutch out when stopped (lets the cluster shaft fling lube around the transmission without a load on it)

 

[Mel Fuelling]

OT - SRadke: We all have different priorities. Its getting harder to find 1st Gens, but

deer damage repair parts are less expensive, maintenance access is a little better, effort to lift 20 - 30# over the lower sides of the bed is less, I would rather have a Getrag than a NV4500, I have several interchangeable body parts that are handy when

paint deterioration or rust rears its ugly head. I just wish we had a source for 2wd air ride front axle conversion parts.

 

[Mikey-KE7LBB]

I have almost 50k on one that I rebuilt myself and no troubles so far. All I replaced was input shaft and bearings and went a little loose with the shims to allow for thermal expansion when it gets warm from towing and also over filled by about 1qt.

Almost every failure with this trans has been a result of lack of lube on the input due to the angle that it sits and galling of the input race and bearing from expansion and improper shimming to quiet the gear noise.

I did many hours of reading on TDR about the Getrag and learned a great deal from a very wise man who builds them to last 400k +

 

[pepecat]

shift to neutral & let the clutch out when stopped (lets the cluster shaft fling lube around the transmission without a load on it)

this is a good one and one of my pet peeves when someone has their foot on the clutch at a light. In addition to the above, Letting the clutch out in neutral also saves the input shaft. While in gear & stopped, the flywheel is revolving around the stopped input shaft, putting wear on your bronze input shaft bushing and wearing the input overall.

 

[Paychk]

Not to mention the throwout bearing

 

[JLEONARD]

And the left knee