smoked my transmission

[Tilesetter Too]

smoked my transmission (UPDATED)

Well, I just got the official word, my transmission is toast. Officcial time of death 66258 miles 2yrs, 1 month of age. They will rebuild it for my $100 deductible. No complaint about that, I run BTW loaded or empty, 8000 or 23000 lbs.



Now for my question, Ive got an opportunity to get a mega cab, I'm doing work for the dealership and would be at 1K under invoice plus 1K rebate and 5-6K down, my other option is to keep my 03 which I've had zero problems til now, and upgrade the torque converter and valve body, turbo and tst powermax, but no warrranty. The 06 would remain stock... . so which should I Do??????? I want the new truck, I want the bombing power... the dilemma is killing me!!!!



I may go ahead and do the torque converter/valve body on the new truck but that would be the end of warranty for the transmission.



So the ultimate question is, will the torque/valve combo get me a 100k miles even if I turn up the juice to say 375-425 and tow on the 375 range on the old truck????



I need options people!!!!



Thanks for any help,

Shawn

 

[BHolm]

Couple considerations... . The '06 only has 36k worth of factory warranty to start with. So you don't give up much if you bomb it right away I think the VB/TC mod will hold 400hp pretty easily. Much more than that and you need the upgraded shafts and clutches.



Having owned two '03s, an '05 and now a Mega, there is something to be said for the '03 version, both of mine were trouble free as well. Great trucks and if you mod the trans you should be good to go for a long time yet.



Of course, having a new truck is pretty nice too, and the Mega is awesome.

 

[OT-OF-HERE!!]

New truck

Well, I just got the official word, my transmission is toast. Officcial time of death 66258 miles 2yrs, 1 month of age. They will rebuild it for my $100 deductible. No complaint about that, I run BTW loaded or empty, 8000 or 23000 lbs.



Now for my question, Ive got an opportunity to get a mega cab, I'm doing work for the dealership and would be at 1K under invoice plus 1K rebate and 5-6K down, my other option is to keep my 03 which I've had zero problems til now, and upgrade the torque converter and valve body, turbo and tst powermax, but no warrranty. The 06 would remain stock... . so which should I Do??????? I want the new truck, I want the bombing power... the dilemma is killing me!!!!



I may go ahead and do the torque converter/valve body on the new truck but that would be the end of warranty for the transmission.



So the ultimate question is, will the torque/valve combo get me a 100k miles even if I turn up the juice to say 375-425 and tow on the 375 range on the old truck????



I need options people!!!!



Thanks for any help,

Shawn

I'd go the new truck but I'd order the midyear version that I've heard talked about. Isn't that mid year '06 when the new CTD will be ready to compete with the new Duramax? Ask a different dealer on that issue as they of course want to sell you what would be old stock. I'd check it out.

 

[mlewis73]

I'd go the new truck but I'd order the midyear version that I've heard talked about. Isn't that mid year '06 when the new CTD will be ready to compete with the new Duramax? Ask a different dealer on that issue as they of course want to sell you what would be old stock. I'd check it out.

Duramax, shmuramax...



I'd think taking something that's relatively proven and paying much less money would be the best choice. My opinion is that the existing '06 motor is adequate for just about anything. Why take chances on the new motor when it comes out? First production purchase ain't a great idea...

 

[Tilesetter Too]

I would like to wait for mid-year, and suppose i could with the transmission fixed. I was going to wait for January anyhow so I could get the mega-dually. so whats a few more months. I've just got the job at the dealership first of the year and it makes a convienent excuse to the wife :-laf if I just say they are giving me a teriffic deal I can't pass up and a little cash to boot...



I guess I could go ahead and bomb the 06, I put 35K on first year anyhow. If I had bombed the 03 transmission, I probably wouldn't be having my transmission rebuilt now.



Is the current thinking that there will be some radical change to keep up with chevy power? I figured they would just tune it a little, we already know that you can get big power from tuning the cummins.



Shawn

 

[Pourinthecoal]

Keep the 03, better engine and BOMBable without worrying about the warranty. The engine is good for a LONG time, so once the trannys upgraded you'll be happy you did it!



Do you really need the MegACAb? They both have 4 doors.

 

[p-Bar]

You have to HO motor same as ours ,no third squirt on the injection (better MPG) You have the HPCR, Bomb it , put the billet shafts in the transmission with the upgrades you are also talking about. Detail it out , put some tires and wheels on it if you haven,t already.

 

[Tilesetter Too]

I'm leaning toward keeping the 03, no need to detail, I'm hard on trucks. I've got a couple of small bed dings (golfball size), tailgates taken a couple of hits, cracked a dually fender (not bad), scratches galore, but hey, its a WORK truck. It works hard every day, almost 24/7.



The only benefit fot the mega dually is it would be an easy sell to the wifey. All the money would be on paper and my wife hates reading things .



On the other hand, she has an eagle eye for numbers going lower in the checking account, I'm not sure how to explain away $7k in upgrades... :-{}

wifey = me :{

wifey = me Oo.



Shawn

 

[tschwab]

You won't like my answer, but here it is anyway. STOCK! You are better off, don't care if it is the '03 or the '06, you are just better off, the 3G's don't like to be BOMB'd like the the 2G's. It's your money and your warranty, so do what you feel comfortable with. For me, the stock 3G makes plenty of power and runs/tows great stock for me.

 

[KDillard]

Id keep the 03 and have the transmission rebuilt but with stronger parts. I personally think you can feel better about working the 03 as a work truck than you would beating the crap out of a brand new 06. You have the potential on the 03 to have a kickarse rig.

 

[ECappleman]

You won't like my answer, but here it is anyway. STOCK! You are better off, don't care if it is the '03 or the '06, you are just better off, the 3G's don't like to be BOMB'd like the the 2G's. It's your money and your warranty, so do what you feel comfortable with. For me, the stock 3G makes plenty of power and runs/tows great stock for me.

I agree stock motors run fine, but.....

have you ever driven an aftermarket trans with a higher locking torq conv ?



If so you would know how much better it drives and how much more power you get on the pavement.

 

[tschwab]

I agree stock motors run fine, but.....

have you ever driven an aftermarket trans with a higher locking torq conv ?



If so you would know how much better it drives and how much more power you get on the pavement.

Had the DTT tc & vb in the 12V and I will still stand by my statement that STOCK is best, I had faster accelleration, but there were trade offs. TDR had an article several years ago titled "the factory knows best" and I fully agree.

 

[OT-OF-HERE!!]

Everyone has opinions,...but

Had the DTT tc & vb in the 12V and I will still stand by my statement that STOCK is best, I had faster accelleration, but there were trade offs. TDR had an article several years ago titled "the factory knows best" and I fully agree.

I hear you and respect your opinion, but whatever your mixing with your eggnog,... I don't want any.

 

[Tilesetter Too]

I gotta tell ya, I've been driving a rental 05 F350 6. 0 auto and I love the 5spd tow/haul mode. That downshift for compression braking is fantastic. Without it , the ford doesn't stop ANYWHERE near as good as my 03, but with it, its a solid 1/4+ better.

Did I see somewhere that the 06 has a tow haul mode or was it a exhaust brake available? That may help me lean towards new. .

Shawn

 

[Tilesetter Too]

Well, I got the truck back, man what a difference. I guess it was a little worse off than I thought...

Mechanic report...

clutches worn and burnt, bands worn out...

replaced clutches, bands, pump and converter



I took it in Monday at 4:00pm, they called me Wed 10:00 am and said it was ready. Thats on the ball now.



It drives like a whole different truck, I can't wait to hook up and tow with it.



I'm going to talk to the dodge dealer to see what kind of deal I can work out on a new mega cab, if it isn't in the cards,

Oo. THEN ITS BOMB CITY BABY!!!! Oo.

Shawn