How Long Will a 518 transmission Last?

[jimnance]

I know this is a tough question, but assuming the 518 auto transmission hasn't been abused, towed excessively, and serviced regularly, is there any idea how long one would be expected to last?



Has anyone had a 518 go over 150,000 miles w/o a rebuild?

 

[Tippin Spotted Cow]

Mine was still the original with no rebuilds when I bought the truck at 147,000. My first rebuild was at around 215,000 or so. Since then I'm on my third. In part because the first place that did the first 2 rebuilds really screwed things up, and part because I've turned the motor up and I beat the **** out of my truck.

 

[cerberusiam]

Mine lasted 250k and was still working just great aside from a howl from the straight cut OD gears. It spent the first 170k dragging a 30 ft 5'er from AZ to FL then me turning all the screws on it.

 

[Rattler]

The 518 in my son's 92 was doing well until he figured out he could do burnouts with it. It didn't last very long after that. Randy

 

[DBF]

Stick a decent torque converter into it and go. I more than doubled the HP and towed the 5er all over the place, probably 65,000 miles plus the 50,000 light.

The only thing that crashed was the flexplate. A recent detailed inspection of the trans showed that it looked like new. It's a tough beast if you rig it right.

Regards, DBF

 

[Tippin Spotted Cow]

Yeah, I ripped up my flex plate on mine. I was 500 miles from home. A TDR member came through with one for me. It was off an 89. If you can find one in a junkyard or something, take it off an older truck. I'm not sure which years exactly, but the 89 would work. My 93 came with a "spoked" flexplate. My motor sheared the center right out of it. The 89 is a solid flexplate and I've yet to rip that one up, even the way I drive and what I have done to my truck.

 

[Flexiheep]

I put 255K on mine before I had it re-done as a safety measure (it was slipping a lot and making crazy heat towing the 30 ft trailer)

The number one thing to keep them alive is to keep the heat out. First get a good converter and second make sure you have all the cooling you can install.....

 

[jimnance]

Great information. I feel much better as I only have 150K on my '93 and the sole owner before me was an older fellow that kept excellent maintenance records. It also has the optional transmission cooler installed. Sounds like I'm good for at least another 50,000. Oo.

 

[Madurski]

325,326 miles today. Slips a little when cold but just keeps on going...