So the transmission in my 97 has been giving me fits the last few hundred miles not wanting to shift into second gear when it is supposed to. I would like to put a zf5 speed in it but my wife would prefer that I don't mainly because its the only vehicle we have that's not stick shift. Finding parts to install a stick shift could also be a pita since the closest salvage yards are 130 miles away. I know most everyone says go with a BTS transmission but between the cost of the tranny, shipping cost to get it here and send the core back, etc etc thats a little bit spendy for my wallet. I only occasionally tow but I want something better than a bone stock transmission. I have looked into the heavy duty rebuild kits that go between $700 and $1200 but its been a long time since I've been that far into a auto tranny but I'm sure I can do it with a good manual. I would like to hear what you guys have to say about alternatives keeping in mind that my pockets aren't super deep.

 

You can buy all the parts from racer x for around 1300 pull the trans your self and have a good trans shop build it and you put it back that should put you around 2k give or take

 

I just had mine done by a very good tranny builder near me. Cost me $2800. That was a heavy duty rebuild, billet shafts, billet converter, terminator valve body, and a couple of other things. check around for pricing before you jump into it. It may be worth your time to have someone do it. I got a 2 year warranty with mine too. Im in SC by the way.

 

blowed the front pump seal on mine trans shop said 1900 on hd rebuild if i took it out and 2600 if he did on a 2wd. got lucky and did not have to rebuild just did pump and i took it out so i went ahead did rms and joints saved me a little $ and time but when it finally dies im going to a stick and i think that was a 2 year warr also

 

I'm pretty sure Racer X is in Vegas, so thats closer than BTS. Give them a call. They will answer an questions you might have.

 

Looked him up in the members area, if we are talking about the same member it doesn't appear that he has been on here since march. Also we don't have any transmission shops around here, the closest is aamco about 145 miles away

 

what makes you feel its a mechanical issue rather than electrical?
are you sure its the second gear that is giving you issues? this would be the first shift you feel the truck make when starting out,coming out of 1st of course around 10 mph or so.
rebuilding the trans or swapping for a zf5 is talk best suited after a proper diagnoses.your wallet will thank you.
9.9 times out of 10,when this trans act's up,it's electrical rather than mechanical.

when starting out in D (1rst) and she gets up to 10mph (ballpark) does it slip into 2nd and fall back out,or does it hold in 1rst and rev,and then finally slam into 2nd (the first shift you feel) at high rpms?
if the latter,what happens if you shift manually into 2nd before she revs too high.does she go right in just fine?

this is racerx fyi.
http://www.racerxusa.com/

 

Call Racer , you will not regret it ....


Phone: 702-522-6430
or 702-274-7729

 

The reasons I believe that it is mechanical is first when doing a manual shift into second the engine just revs, to red line if you let it but if I let off the throttle you can feel it wanting to engage but will not in manual second. Second starting out in drive it will not shift into second unless I'm turning around 2500 rpm's and I let off the throttle slightly. If going around 30 mph or more I can go wot and it will hold (no slipping whatsoever) run up and shift into third gear like it should, but if going below 25 mph and wot it comes out of second red lines the engine in first gear.
I've had the pan off, very little material in the bottom of it. Also had valve body down and checked spools and springs.

 

lol nah i meant that's the site to racerx,not that i am him.

 

Ha Ha yeah its been really long day

 

I'll subscribe to this thread since my rebuilt tranny has 30K on it and is doing the same thing. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't

 

I ended up replacing the trans, The builder said that the one I pulled everything looked like original and if it was it had 307000 miles on it. It was well worn but the real problem was the intermediate seal had a nick in it. I couldn't be happier with this replacement trans.

 

How much did that run you? I'm sure I will be in the market soon. Did you do a standard rebuild or order parts from racer x or bts?

 

$1600 for a heavy duty rebuild plus $500 for aluminum pan and tru-cool cooler. Don't know what shipping would cost you though. I just couldn't justify the cost or need for a Racerx or Bts trans since it is just a daily driver with occasional towing below 12K and I put on less than 4000 miles a year. Click the link in my sig. He used sonnax parts, dacco upgrades, kevlar clutch's hardened steels etc. He was easy to work with, I told him what I wanted and expected and he provided.