Should I pull the trigger on a new trans ??

[LRutigliano]

Need your advise...



I have approx 22k miles on my '03.



At 13k miles, I installed the injectors and other mods except for Smarty.



I have been running the Smarty on SW1 since 16k miles.



Last summer I ran the Smarty on SW3 for approx 500 miles just to see if it made any difference.



TQ has always been on 2. TM on 2 or 3 and RP on 1.



I have used my truck to tow our slide in camper and then our 5er only. Barely ever been used as a daily driver.



No transmission symptoms at all. Never abused. Always drive it easy. Always take it out of OD when approaching a hill.



Change the fluid/filter every year. Always notice some amount of black paste on the magnet.



I have the money for the new trans saved up. (laminated flex plate, 3x disc billet cover torque converter, new VB, billet input shaft, new steels and frictions, new ratio arm, etc.



Camping season is coming and I just don't know if I should pull the trigger ...

 

[Prairie Dog]

Twenty two thousand miles??? Wow, thats what I call a cream puff!

Your trans has lots and lots of life left in it but if your looking for a performance gain then i guess only you can decide if it's worth it. I just wouldn't be able to do it myself. Of course if I'm spending your money then that would be a whole different matter. .

 

[TCDiesel]

Just do TC/VB upgrade. The trans is fresh and will hold up just fine to your demands... SAVE the Money...

 

[Prairie Dog]

... SAVE the Money...

For what??

Come on Todd, you know you want to do it!! #ad
:-laf :-laf

 

[TCDiesel]

You can still do that..... Your right about the cream Puff... .

 

[Prairie Dog]

Kinda feel guilty now if I don't...

Save your money for a nice modified fuel rail or a better yet, a CPRV!
(Ok, there you go ~ just don't tell Alan/Cerb. !) #ad

 

[JJPage]

Finally, someone with an 03 with less miles than mine(just turned 30k).



In the fall of 04, I can't remember my exact mileage, it was around 9k. The only addition to my truck at the time was an Edge EZ and a stage 1 AFE intake, that Dishman Dodge had installed before I took possession when new. About a third of those miles were pulling my 30ft 5vr toybox.



I made an appointment with DTT, drove up to Abbotsford, BC, and in one day (in at 09:00hrs out at 15:00hrs), newly rebuilt trans. I was in their shop all day, they allowed/encouraged me to participate in the whole rebuild. I was dumbfounded when the pulled the clutch packs, and my 2nd gear and OD clutches were about gone, they actually predicted this. I had no idea anything was wrong or wearing out in my trans, always shifted and behaved normally, and at the miles on my truck would not have believed it.



To this day, my trans upgrade has been the best and most noticeable modification to date. I would not hesitate to do it again, the manufacturer should be doing this to begin with, it would have to be less expensive to do it right when new, than to have to do it over, like I did.



I would highly recommend that you do a trans upgrade, you will not be sorry, just like a completely different/new truck.



Jess

 

[Prairie Dog]

And I thought I had low miles at 71K.
I spent the day at DTT once. What a great bunch - they treat you like family, let you watch and even feed you.
They know what they're doing too.

 

[LRutigliano]

Finally, someone with an 03 with less miles than mine(just turned 30k).



In the fall of 04, I can't remember my exact mileage, it was around 9k. The only addition to my truck at the time was an Edge EZ and a stage 1 AFE intake, that Dishman Dodge had installed before I took possession when new. About a third of those miles were pulling my 30ft 5vr toybox.



I made an appointment with DTT, drove up to Abbotsford, BC, and in one day (in at 09:00hrs out at 15:00hrs), newly rebuilt trans. I was in their shop all day, they allowed/encouraged me to participate in the whole rebuild. I was dumbfounded when the pulled the clutch packs, and my 2nd gear and OD clutches were about gone, they actually predicted this. I had no idea anything was wrong or wearing out in my trans, always shifted and behaved normally, and at the miles on my truck would not have believed it.



To this day, my trans upgrade has been the best and most noticeable modification to date. I would not hesitate to do it again, the manufacturer should be doing this to begin with, it would have to be less expensive to do it right when new, than to have to do it over, like I did.



I would highly recommend that you do a trans upgrade, you will not be sorry, just like a completely different/new truck.



Jess

Hi Jess,



Thank you for the very relevant information ! Every summer we take at least 1 RV trip that is approx 850 miles round trip to the middle of no-where Idaho and I've always had this bad feeling or stress about the trans... all of other trips are within 150 miles of Portland, but still it would suck to be stranded...

 

[Bill Stockard]

I have approx 22k miles on my '03.

WOW! I thought my '03 truck was the low mileage champ at just barely over 38K...



Bill

 

[ColemanR]

I'm with TC on this one Flexplate,TC,VB do it now you wont regret it. As you can see I have a few miles on my truck. If you want more input PM me. I'm the opposite of most of you guys I'm just about to click 440k on my 06 LOL

 

[MChrist]

My trans in the 06 was a sloppy, slippy mess at around 35,000 miles, so I took it to Dave Goerend for help. When they tore it apart, the trans was actually fine, but the TC was about to give up the ghost. They beefed everything up, worked their magic and I chose a low stall Torque Converter (1700 ish) and it is simply incredible! Best money spent to date! Others that have had this done also say the same.
You mention Suncoast, and I've heard many good things about them, too. Your truck will feel like a completely different truck with a built trans. You will NOT regret it!

 

[Bernie]

If you do, can I please have your old trans?

Mine has almost 180k on it, mostly stock. It gets to a trans shop every 50k for a tune up. New converter and "upgraded" valve body at 100k.

With that said, I think yours has plenty of life. Unless you want to give me the old one. Then, it is junk and it is about to fail!

 

[JJPage]

I spent the day at DTT once. What a great bunch - they treat you like family, let you watch and even feed you.

They know what they're doing too.

Exactly, Amen!

Hi Jess,



Thank you for the very relevant information !

Your Welcome!

Your truck will feel like a completely different truck with a built trans. You will NOT regret it!

Agree 100%

 

[LRutigliano]

The truck is at Source Automotive now getting a complete rebuild, laminated flex plate, 3x disc low stall Dunrite convertor, billet input shaft and new VB... approx 1 mile from home

Thanks for the replies. I was waffling both ways, but finally figured that getting it done now when I'm not using the truck (before camping season) and the shop is only 1mile from home is much better than finding out it needs to be done later in the summer when I'm 400+ miles away from home in the middle of nowhere...

 

[LRutigliano]

Just got the truck back last night.

Got the works: laminated flex plate, 3x disc low stall convertor, billet input shaft, reworked VB, complete rebuild. Drove it to get fuel last night on the way home and I felt like I did in high school the day after I got my Driver's License... :-laf

Thanks for your replies and Thank You Bill, Rip and Robert at Source Automotive !!

 

[MChrist]

Just wait 'til you tow with it... it'll feel like the first time you got to second base... in baseball, of course!!
Did they happen to mention the condition of your trans when they had it apart?