4R70W ate it.. what now?

[Socal20]

basically the title says it all... my 4R70W died badly about two weeks ago.
2000 F150, 4.2V6, 2WD, 120K miles.
disassembled, this is what was found:

clutch plates burnt up (NO friction material left)
torque converter blown
OD servo messed up
vlave body clogged with metallic junk
some bad wear on the reverse drum
oh and the end of the pump shaft (that mates to the t/c) sheared off.....

god knows what failed first, causing the tranny to implode, but i was looking for feedback cost wise as far as repairs go, and any other options i may have available.

local ford dealer wants $2800 (plus tax) for a ford reman trans with 3yr warranty. they won't rebuild as they claim damage will cost more to rebuild than cost of the reman tranny. saw the tranny disassembled at the dealer, inspected it by hand myself and verified the damage. if i walk out with my dead tranny boxed up, it'll set me back the $500 for labor. another local shop estimated $2200 for rebuild.

it all sounds damn expensive, so i just wanted to explore my options. doing the rebuild myself is out of the question, and i'm not keen on getting a used tranny out of a junker.

[85e150six4mtod]

Pay the $2800 and get a working trans with a working warranty and have a working truck so you can get back to working.

[Matt99362]

In addition to getting the new transmission, get a heavy duty cooler. Personally, I am using one from an RV rated at 25,000gvw. While rebuilding my AOD I decided I only wanted to do it once.

[subs1000w]

wow 2800 for just the trans not including install thats crazy id slap a used one in for a few hundred dollars or if you want a warrenty call a few other places besides a dealer for a rebiult or remaned trans

[85e150six4mtod]

Well, $1800+ here:

TCI Auto: 4R70W StreetFighter® Transmission

+ your $500 for the basket, plus the tow, plus install...

I'd still pay 'em and be done with it.

Looks like you have a choice between money vs. time and money.

[Socal20]

thanks for the replies. yeah, if i had the garage space / equipment, i'd do the rebuild myself. went ahead and told ford to do the install. either way it seemed about the same. i was looking at $500 to cart the old one out, another $1200+shipping+tax (so $1500+) for a reman, plus installation cost for the new trans. so, that was putting the price right back around the $2800+tax that ford quoted me (and yeah, that included installation.) at least this way i get a 3 year warranty too.

can't say i was too thrilled though after talking to the two mechanics who worked on my truck. they estimated that about 4 out of 10 of these ford remanufactured tannys fail as well, thus an additional reason for the 3 year warranty.... ugh...

[85e150six4mtod]

Check out the TCI site for beef up tips. If you are going to keep it past the warranty, (and you make it) you may want to beef it up.

I'm in the same boat with my '98 Exploder. Got a new trans out of my ESP, but that warranty is over. Since we semi-retired it, I have less than 2000 miles on the new one and it is flaring. The "fix" seems to be over $500.... I did an adjustment and additive and we just take it easy till we can unload/trade/arson it. (just kidding about one of those)

[Socal20]

yeah, i've read up on some of the valve body mods and misc. parts replacements to improve the 4r70w. for the meantime though, what's a good brand fluid and additive to use?

btw - just got the truck back today. came in just over $2700, including tax, so it was a few hundred less than quoted...

[Socal20]

hahaha... just saw that last part. i'd add that, if you're in a coastal/lake area, then there's the chance it may get "stolen" and turned it into an "aquatic reef" ; )