Quote:
Originally Posted by killed300ex
for you guys who have built your own trans how much have you spent to build a full billet trans in parts? Wondering how great the savings are doing it yourself to having someone do it
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I only bought a billet input for my trans. As far as saving by doing it yourself, there's the labor part, then there's also the parts markup. Unless you provide the parts, the shop usually buys them for you at their cost, and you get charged the list price which is sometimes a good amount higher. I personally think it's better to do it on your own because:
1 Bragging rights. It's great to drive it around everywhere and be able to tell everyone you redid the trans yourself. I take great pride in building my own stuff.
2 You know what's in it. I bought a performance TH400 from a trans shop that custom built it for another racer. He wanted to go for a Powerglide, and the TH400 lasted 3 passes in my car before the Sprag went. When disassembled, it was all F'd up inside with the way it was put together (they tried a grind here and there to put a torrington bearing in where it originally was not)!
3 I work hard for my paycheck and have a family to support!
There are tons of posts on different transmission threads that have a guy who wants to build his trans, and then you get the killjoy that comes on and says NOOOOOOO!
Only a certified trans guy should build a trans! WAAAAAAAAAA! Not you in your backyard! WAAAAAAAAAAAA! It's impossible! WAAAAAAAAAA! All those complicated parts! WAAAAAAAAAAA! 137% of my customers tried to do it themselves and messed up royally! WAAAAAAAAAAA!
Well, here's a box of tissues, go somewhere else.
This is not rocket science. If you look though the ATSG manual in the first post (GO BACK IF YOU MISSED IT) and are still intimidated, check out the FSM also. If you're still lost, buy a transmission rebuild video for the trans you're doing. I have one for each trans I've done and they are great. Remember the first time you did drum brakes? Looked complicated right? I know I was intimidated. Not anymore though. Now they're a joke. (If you're asking "what are drum brakes," I definately feel old)
If you tend to be all thumbs, and can mess up a wet dream, call a friend over that is mechanically inclined that can give you a hand. Most guys are eager to learn, I know I am. If you don't want to tackle the OD spring because you're intimidated by it, or don't have the tools to do it, bring that part to a trans shop and have them take care of just that. Some trans shops are great and are more than happy to talk shop with you. Others are all "time is money" and won't be as friendly (don't know about you but I'd spend twice as much at a friendly shop on principle). Besides, chances are you will need some parts. If they get hard to find, the trans shop may be able to get them for you.
I know there are some guys that need the truck back on the road right away also. Throw a junkyard trans in there for the meantime, and redo the original while you have the chance. Twice the labor, but still saves you a boatload of money. You could also drive the junk trans till it dies, or pull it to install your rebuild, and save it as a spare, or resell it to get your money back.
Will I outbuild the true pros out there on my trans? Not in a million years! Can you and I build a respectable trans that will last a long time and fit a low budget? Absolutely. See, there is no excuse. Call some friends, buy them some drinks (I LOVE SCOTCH!), do the research, get some manuals and/or the rebuild video, and get crankin!