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What would you do

3

37chief

Well-known Member
Location
California
My 96 Dodge 3500 is in the transmission shop now. They say I need a rebuild. 2,700 to 3,000 to do that. I know this shop, as being honest. They have done work on several of my vehicles in the past years, Next option is buying a used transmission for 1,000 with 96,000 miles. That means I need to change it my self. Would probably get help with that. Any thoughts? Stan
 
That's a lot of money to spend on a '96. How many miles are on it? Condition?
On the other hand, have you seen the price of new trucks?

Unless the used trans comes with a real good warranty I wouldn't go that route.
 
Rebuild it that?s cheap . I wouldn?t waste my money on a used automatic transmission for a dodge . I spent 5000.00$ on a transmission for my dodge Cummins
 
IF
It?s a one owner truck(you)
Doesn?t have a ton of mileage for yr
Doesn?t have rust/rot issues
It does have a Cumins
You?ve kept up with and are comfortable with the
maintenance history

I say go with the rebuild from the reputable shop

-Will
 
Stan I had a '99 diesel 2500. Tranny went around 150,000 miles.
We have a shop that we take all of our trannys to. Been using them for years. They also do other repairs we can't, or don't have time for. I got that rebuilt for around 1500 with converter. I put 50,000 more on that one and sold it to someone I know. 250,000 now and have not heard about the tranny going bad again. My current truck is a 2007 2500 diesel. Had the trans rebuilt at 223,000. Was slipping real bad. It now has 257,000 on it. Took it to the same place. That one cost 1700 with new converter. I don't doubt you when you say it's an honest shop. Just seems a little high. But all in all different areas are different on prices ect. The place I deal with does a boat load of transmissions and am sure they get a break on parts. Well after all that I can say this. I love my dodge diesels. Transmissions we're an issue with them though. If the truck is pretty dependable and in good shape get the tranny rebuilt. Then you know what you have. I would not trust a used tranny for 1000. You have no idea what your getting even if less than 100,000. And to add my truck gets used like a truck not some weekend grocery getter !
 
I just commented above. My tranny rebuilds come with a 1 year, 30,000 mile warranty. Just saying.
 
The last one I bought was $1500.00 cheaper at the dealer(3 year 36,000 mile) than a local rebuilder. Jeep = Dodge dealer.
 
I would shop around for the rebuild. $2700-3000 is high unless your case is damaged. Also you should get much more warranty than 90 days. I have had a Ford 350 with a 7.3 rebuilt. It was $2000 and one year warranty.
 
I have a 2000 ford 7.3 with 223,000 towing miles mostly, tranny is still fine. My brother has a 1999 7.3 ford, 101,000 miles or so he had problems with the tranny, he found a guy in CA, John Wood that rebuilds them, supposed to be really good rebuilds, no problems with his so far, he ordered one they ship it to you you install it and ship him back yours. Wasent hard to install in the driveway on 4x4 ford.
Check that place out see what they have to offer. I had a local shop put a tranny in my 1999 4x4 f150 3 years ago, that was $2000.00 then.
 
I did the one in my 96 Dodge with the Cummins.(same trans as the V10)I pulled it out in my shop,and handed it to a guy that pretty much only works for garages.He does no R&R,he picks them up and takes them to his shop.He is OK with garages buying their own parts too.My trans had 209,000 miles on it,plowed and towed it's whole life.I paid $2300,for parts.The converter alone was $1100.I bought the parts to build a transmission that would stand up to plowing.So,I stepped up and bought the heavy stuff.My trans wasn't blown,but it was lazy and was shifting a little funny.I was replacing the frame so I went through the trans while it was all apart.When I talked to the guy about doing it he said look,I can build you a solid grocery getter trans for about $2-$2200.If I wanted it to hold up under work the parts would run more than that.
 
Is that just for an OEM/stock rebuild? If so, that's high. 46,47,48RE's are not expensive, or difficult to rebuild, the labor is not even intensive. If they are upgrading a lot of stuff, I would have to see their list to comment further.

You can order HD/HP parts kits online for $1000-1500 that would make that trans very strong, especially for a V10. I would go that route and pay their labor before having them do an OEM/stock build.

Stock parts are good and will last a long while if not abused, that's not really the problem here. The problem is the price for what you are getting (unknown?). Around here $3k will get you a strong built trans with upgraded clutches, servos, struts, billet T/C and shift improvements that will even stand abuse behind a diesel.
 
That right there is why I drive cars and trucks with 3 pedals. A clutch is easy to replace and a standard transmission almost never goes bad. But I can say this. The car I drive the most has a bad transmission. 1st 2nd and 5th work but 3rd and 4th went AWOL before I got it. Ben putting it off as long as I could but I do need to fix that. I have all the parts to do it and getting to the point if I step on it in 5th the clutch slips. Guess I need a round to it LOL
 
Call ATS or Goehrend. ATS you can take the trans to them and they'll rebuild it if you're near Denver.

Goehrend will ship you the parts And instructions to do it yourself, and I believe the special tools, which would be a spring compressor for the OD clutch, and a gauge for measuring end play.

Guys have rebuilt these in the back yard on a sheet of plywood. They are fairly simple.
 
If you plan to keep the truck for a long time (5+ more years), it would be worth rebuilding it. If you won't be keeping it much longer, now would be the time to replace it before investing anything to fix it.
 
Old: I forget how much exactly they cost but some of the Ford diesels had what they called a dual mass clutch. They were prone to go bad and EXPENSIVE ! around what an auto tranny rebuild costs. Luk came out with a regular type replacement and if you know someone who works there you can get one for cost which is a good price. Not sure what is in these even newer trucks but I bet they are not cheap or simple.
 
Well my 1996 2500 had about 200,000 miles and the tranny had been acting up off and on ? I sold the truck before I had to put more money in it than it was worth while it was still worth something.
I do not think I'd buy a USED transmission. It may be going bad too. Many of the rebuild companies do "upgrades" so they should be better than original. I would check price with a Dodge dealer and see what they can offer.
 
I like a straight drive truck but clutches are not cheap,paid $1200 to have a clutch put in my F550 definitely not a shade tree job and manual transmissions don't last forever.
 
When/where did you get an E4OD rebuilt and installed for $2000? Although with only a 1 year warranty that may be about right.

I spent right at $3000 for one in a 4x4 (with new torque converter) but got a 3 year 100K warranty.
 
Actually I'd slap the used transmission in it if I was going to get rid of it. A used Dodge gasser with a blown transmission isn't going to be worth anything in trade or private sales price. Just cross your fingers and hope the used transmission isn't worse than the original.
 
Have a shop do it and not try to do it yourself, At your age and I am sure from your posts you are not young and then you probably do not have all the tools you would need. So to tru to find and buy them would equal the labor to have done. Never had a truck that had that done to but several cars with used trannys put in. Fact is at one time I had 2 cars in same shop at same time getting used trannys put in.
 
3 pedals does not decrease cost. Sorry 'bout that. How many clutch jobs versus how many automatics? Odds are you will pull that standard trans twice to once pulling the automatic. Chances are your labor cost to pull that standard trans twice will equal up to pulling that automatic once. Saved gas? More power with your standard? Maybe the old stuff did, not the new stuff.
 
In 1996 the Dodge V10 was rated 300hp and 450 torque, the 1996 Dodge with a Cummins only had 160hp and 400 torque. It wasn't until the 2000s that the diesels started getting more HP and torque than the gas
trucks. The Ford 460 gas and 6.8 gas had more HP and torque than any factory 7.3 of the same year.
 
(quoted from post at 09:07:54 10/10/18) In 1996 the Dodge V10 was rated 300hp and 450 torque, the 1996 Dodge with a Cummins only had 160hp and 400 torque. It wasn't until the 2000s that the diesels started getting more HP and torque than the gas
trucks. The Ford 460 gas and 6.8 gas had more HP and torque than any factory 7.3 of the same year.
Click to expand...

1996 was 180hp and 420ft/lbs. not that it matters.

The difference, at least for the Cummins is the peak torque is achieved at 1500 RPM. What hurts the diesel transmissions is all the torque at low RPM, the transmission is not building maximum line pressure at lower RPM's and they are also creating a lot more heat through the T/C.
 
I can work on a standard but not an auto so in this case a standard cost a whole lot less then and auto. I can replace the clutch in my car for just a little over $100 but an auto will cost me 10 times that if not 20 times that
 
An F550 is not a run of the mill truck it's a 1.5 ton or bigger. I do not remember what it cost to have a clutch put in my Diamond-T but not near that.
 
The last transmission removal did was my ford van, I was around 56 That was 20 years ago. I noticed as I age, I don't stronger just get wiser. Stan
 
They are relatively easy, I switched an '80 K-10 from auto to 4 spd with a complete set of donor parts from a rusted out, older K-10 that only had 30,000 miles. I had never installed a clutch or manual transmission before. When I was done, it was just about on the money for adjustment and I still have it today, but its been sitting a long time now. I did it right too, all spicer parts, had the flywheel surfaced, changed the oil that was clean looking in the transmission, all new U-joints in the drive train, fun little project.
 
A friend of mine bought three used transmissions over the years, two on the same pickup. Each one of them failed prematurely - if the stated mileage on them was accurate. I would go for the rebuild.
 
never had good luck with used trans, even manual ones. Bought one once looked good got it in and growled like a bear. come to find out it had been from a truck that was in a head on collision.
 
Had a 2001 2500 I bought with a tranny that was suspect. Bought a Dodge reman tranny from local dealer and had neighbor install. Tranny cost was $2,000 and install was cheap. That one ended up going bad and I ended up trading the truck but the dealer was totally happy with it as it had no rust and it was going to get another reman Dodge tranny at no cost to the dealer. Gave me near retail for the truck, said "It's going to have a new tranny. That's worth something!" So check a Dodge reman tranny -- will come with a very good warranty.
 
I have a 96 3500 with Cummins engine. At 60,000 I was advised to increase tranny oil capacity as this was problem with this model trucks tranny running to warm. I installed a Mag-Hytec double deep pan and temp guage. Creates 4 additional qt capacity. Now have 186,000 and still (fingers crossed) shifting as intended.
 
(quoted from post at 06:47:54 10/10/18) 3 pedals does not decrease cost. Sorry 'bout that. How many clutch jobs versus how many automatics? Odds are you will pull that standard trans twice to once pulling the automatic. Chances are your labor cost to pull that standard trans twice will equal up to pulling that automatic once. Saved gas? More power with your standard? Maybe the old stuff did, not the new stuff.
Click to expand...

It all depends on how you treat them. I bought a Dodge Cummins 6spd dually new in 04 and had a 14k trailer behind it 90% of its life. Edge w/Juice tuner at 50k. I sold it with 151K miles 2 years ago with less than $1000 in repairs. Original clutch, one set of brakes, water pump, front and rear u-joints and #4 injector line replaced. Sold it for $5k over book, truck owed me nothing. My only regret is that I sold it!
 
So that makes you 1 year older than I am at 75 and we cannot do things laying on our backs anymore like 20 years ago. If you had a hoist to get it up to a standing position it would be different but I don't think you have that hoist.
 
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