Transmission Builder in SW Missouri?

[HBarlow]

Can anyone in MO recommend a good and honest 48RE rebuilder, preferable in the south-west corner of MO?

An old friend of mine who lives in Shell Knob, MO has an '06 Ram 3500 srw he bought new. He has serviced it properly and regularly for the 150k miles he has driven it and never abused it. The truck has pulled a moderate-sized fifthwheel trailer much of its life and just returned home from a trip to Alaska pulling a large Airstream. On the trip my friend says he had to make one long pull at low speed in first gear on about a 6% to 7% grade due to construction. He said his gauges showed the ATF reached about 220° on two separate occasions. After that long slow climb he began noticing a slow and weak one-two shift problem.

The problem he is concerned about as I understand it is what he perceives as a slow one-two shift with apparent slippage or flare. He says that once he allows the very slow and soft shift into 2nd and gains some speed he thinks the torque converter locks and then the transmission seems to shift normally until he takes off from a stop again.

Information and advice will be appreciated.

 

[cerberusiam]

Off hand, the front band is way out of adjustment. Reseting the adjustment may get him some time but if the set screw goes below the locknut the band is worn out and they don't have much wear surface. There are slip in bands that can be put in without rebuilding or pulling the trans. Depending on how much he wants to spend and how reliable it needs to be that may be an option. I would think in Joplin or Springfield he could find a shop that is good. I don't have a reference for that area other than going to OKC and Blumnethals.

 

[HBarlow]

Is Blumenthal's reputation with 48REs as good as their reputation with NV-5600s?

Do they do in-truck diagnosis and repairs or does Blumenthal's require the transmission be removed and delivered/shipped to them?

 

[cerberusiam]

Blumnethals does a lot of HD automatics, truck and bus, and custom hotrod stuff. I have an idea they know their stuff. I think they have a full service shop to remove and install, I was told that a while ago anyway. More than that I don't know. Just an option that has a good chance of being excellent. Your friend might very well find a local shop that is good also, you just have dig and kick over rocks.

 

[HBarlow]

If you're not a transmission expert which I certainly am not and my friend is not either, it's hard to know which shop is good and honest and which ones spend their money on advertising.

I sent my friend an email advising him to monitor this thread for a day or two to see what he can learn and then make a decision.

Thanks for the Blumenthal's suggestion. I took a quick look at their website and didn't find anything about diagnosis and repair - only complete rebuilds. I would certainly trust them if I needed an overhaul of my Aisin.

 

[cerberusiam]

If you're not a transmission expert which I certainly am not and my friend is not either, it's hard to know which shop is good and honest and which ones spend their money on advertising.

Yep, even if you know what you want done it is a total pain to find a shop to do it. I went thru 5 or 6 highly recommended people and ended with a guy that was building his business several miles from me. We tore it down, decided what was needed and what modifications to make, and I turned him loose on it. Cost me about half what other places wanted and I got the build I wanted. All you can do is make the best decision you can with what you can glean from talking to the shops face to face. The next round of mods to try, I am shipping some pieces to Goerend and doing the rest myself.

 

[Hoefler]

Harvey,

What is your friends name?? I live in Shell Knob. I went to Central Dodge in Springfield when my 48RE acted up. The dealers in Cassville, Joplin, and Fayetteville could not fix it. Had a torque convertor coming apart and they were the only ones to figure it out. They are now Corwin Dodge, they were ought out, but still retain all of the techs! Have him call Terry Tate, 417-862-9272, tell him Ed from Shell Knob told him to call.