Ok dont get me wrong,i know BTS and John wood are the best 4r100 builders out there but getting one here with a core and if something goes wrong with either one for some odd reason i would have to take it out and wait for It to get fix plus pay for shipping again then do it all over. I talk to a local trans shop which is about a 1/4 mile from my house about a perfomance rebuild and he said 2600. Plus tax with a 3year warrenty. I told him what kind of power i have and he said not a problem. This includes a new tripple disk coverter and performance clutchs, i think he said he uses TCI brand.I also heard all the horror stories and i should of done ti right the first time. My optoins are limited here in Hawaii cause of the shippong. What do you guys think

 

Roland (Mueckster) is the one you need to talk to. He rebuilt his own 4R400 and has shared lots of good information. Search his albums and postings.

Start out by going to the Sonnax, Suncoast, and other parts websites and learn about the improved parts they have available. Both Sonnax and Transgo have valve body kits, or you could just buy one from JW or BTS. Roland found an improved center bearing support that uses both a ball bearing and a bushing, for more reliability. Better clutch discs with more plates are a basic, as well as the moulded pistons.

One place you need to keep a close eye on is the free play in the clutches. You have to selective-fit clutch pistons and the retaining (snap) rings to get the travel of the piston before it engages within tolerances. Most tranny technicians give you a blank stare if you ask about this. I can see why most shops don't want to keep an inventory of snap rings of different thicknesses, but that is what you have to do to get this right. Too little free play and the clutches drag when released. Too much free play and they shift slower and wear faster. Torrington roller thrust bearings are available to replace the bushings, but I don't know if they are better.

Depending on your horsepower, you may be smart to add higher strength parts like input shafts, etc. It appears that BTS just puts all that stuff in every transmission, while JW adds only what you need for the horsepower/use.

If your old tranny made metal when it failed, you need to flush or replace the coolers and lines. No matter what, install a filter to keep the system clean. Ford won't warranty a rebuild unless a filter is installed, which tells you something. Most filters are installed in the line before the oil cooler, in order to protect it from contamination. If you don't replace the cooler(s), consider adding another in the return line to protect the tranny from stuff coming loose that the flush did not remove. A good shop will clean all the oil passages in the tranny to remove any debris, and every nook and cranny of every part needs to be spotless as it goes back together.

Don't reuse anything unless it meets new specs. I feel that this is one of the main reasons the quality rebuild shops have few failures.

I'm not an expert, but have watched a few trannys (not 4R100's) being assembled by a good technician, and that is the basis for my comments. I have a 2001 with the mechanical diode that is still going with more than 270,000 miles, and have picked up a core tranny to rebuild and swap in. That is next winter's project.

 

That's not correct.

John puts more new stuff in his rebuilt trans, regarding his entry level "Towmaster" 4R100, than Brian does in his rebuilt trans.

John has Zane at Wide Open Performance cryo a lot of the "hard parts" found in the 4R100. John does more custom machining to the transmission than probably anyone who rebuilds 4R100's, including Brian. John also does all the custom machining himself, in his shop, keeping the cost down. Brian has his machining done by an outside shop. That's NOT a knock on Brian, just pointing out that John does all his own machine work.

For his converter, John buys brand new 6.0 converters, cuts it open and has some of the parts cryo'd at WOP. He uses hardened splines and modifies the clutch, then puts a billet cover on it.

The different "levels" of transmission builds John advertises comes from using higher priced parts. For example, the cost of a billet 300M intermediate shaft (instead of using a cryo'd shaft), is $900 bucks. At least it was the last time I checked.

Almost a grand for one part alone.

If anyone wants to know exactly what John does to his trans, just call him. He'll tell you everything about his trans. There's a lot of stuff I'm sure I left out, like bearings John uses nobody else does, specific snap rings to fit custom machine work he does on his lathe, etc.

I just don't want people thinking John chinzes out on his builds. People who have seen a BTS being built and John building a trans know.

I'm not knocking Brian's build in any way. I'm just standing up for Johns build, making sure the wrong info isn't accidentally posted.

Chris, it's just me, but it wouldn't matter where I lived, if I needed a trans, JW would be the only option for me.

Stewart

 

My friend in Hawaii is real good friends with John Woods and talk to me about his trans. He's getting one soon and maybe my brother in law so maybe we can get some kind of group buy or something. Of hand does anyone know how much his towmaster is?

 

What would be the cost to ship a trans from Cali to HA?

 

Just taking a shot but maybe 400. plus a core so total 800

 

You might be able to buy a core tranny in CA for the shipping cost.

Stewart, I did not mean to imply that JW cut any corners, I just knew that he has different levels of options as you confirmed wit the billet vs. cryo'ed example. I was inferring that he did not "oversell" the customer with expensive parts that are not necessary for the specific applicaton. A 320 HP trailer towing ring doesn't need the same parts as an 800 HP sled puller.

 

Sometimes it's difficult to word a post (trust me, I know), and while I wasn't sure how you meant yours, I was trying to word mine so that anyone who read yours, wouldn't be confused and possibly think John didn't produce one of the best 4R100's money can buy.

It's all good. Brian has his faithful customers and John does too. I was just "cheerleading" for John!

Stewart

 

I THINK it's $3,900.

Call him and leave a message. Tell him you'd like a shipping quote to your location. Just don't drop my name...he'll charge you double!

John Wood Automotive: (760) 356-9421

Stewart

 

Make sure he puts it in writing.

 

I would also be sure to read the "fine print",if i'm correct,most"local"transmission shops will void the warranty if they discover the truck has a chip in it or has been"chipped",I know the guy said agreed on the HP,but I would sure check to be sure.