94 LT1-tranny failed
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 482
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington NC
94 LT1-tranny failed
I had 165K miles on it so I can't complain.
Here's my options:
1. A GM rebuilt unit with a 3 year 100K mile unlimited warranty-$2800 installed within about 7-10 days.
2. A rebuild at the dealer ~$2K, 12 mo/12K warranty
3. A rebuild at a local tranny shop, $1700 with a 12/12K warranty
4. Buy the rebuilt GM unit myself for $1400, may take 3 weeks to get it or longer and the warranty is 12/12K if a local shop does it. The dealer wants $800 to install this (TOO much).
I had to get a rental car so time is a factor. Which option would you experts out there choose?
Here's my options:
1. A GM rebuilt unit with a 3 year 100K mile unlimited warranty-$2800 installed within about 7-10 days.
2. A rebuild at the dealer ~$2K, 12 mo/12K warranty
3. A rebuild at a local tranny shop, $1700 with a 12/12K warranty
4. Buy the rebuilt GM unit myself for $1400, may take 3 weeks to get it or longer and the warranty is 12/12K if a local shop does it. The dealer wants $800 to install this (TOO much).
I had to get a rental car so time is a factor. Which option would you experts out there choose?
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
From: Elkton MD
Trans Rebuild
I had a local shop do it for $1600 with a 12mo/12k guarantee. It was in and out of the shop in 2 days. That was 2 years ago and it is still strong.
The main thing I relied on was the recommendation of a good friend who was in the body shop/full reconstruction business (quick paint jobs on insurance jobs to C3 frame straightening for restorations).
I wouldn't have gone to a chain trans shop on a bet.
Go with your #3 if you can get a positive "inside the business" recommendation from someone in the business of serious repair.
Good luck
The main thing I relied on was the recommendation of a good friend who was in the body shop/full reconstruction business (quick paint jobs on insurance jobs to C3 frame straightening for restorations).
I wouldn't have gone to a chain trans shop on a bet.
Go with your #3 if you can get a positive "inside the business" recommendation from someone in the business of serious repair.
Good luck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 7
From: Metairie Louisiana
I had the dealer rebuild mine, summer 05, and added a higher stall torque converter and shift kit at that time. Everything is still running fine and it shifts much better. If I was to do it over I would get a transmission that could handle more power for my future plans. You may also want to add an external cooler to extend the life of the trans.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,841
Likes: 19
From: CLT, North Carolina
Ask around for someone who likes to do 4L60E transmissions and pull it out yourself and take it to him. Probably can have someone go through yours for a few hundred and retain the original that way. I wouldn't recommend a rebuilt because they are often assembled from a collection of used parts from 100 different transmissions with who knows how many miles on each part and I absolutely would not go near any so-called specialty transmission shop. A local Corvette club might be able to recommend someone reliable. For example, we have a guy who used to do automatics for a Chevy dealer before coming here and he loves them. He doesn't advertise looking for work but he loves to do 700R4's and 4L60E's. He also said they are extremely good transmissions. I plan to let him do mine just to have it renewed when I get some of this other stuff back together and finished up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 5,009
Likes: 38
From: jackson nj
If you go to a "local" shop for a rebuild, make sure you get your trans back and not one "from a rack". This was done to my daughter's corvette and they did not install a corvette trans. The shift points were off both normal and WOT shifting, but they would do nothing about it because...."it worked".
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
If it were my car, I would probably use the local shop. This assumes he comes highly recommended. Rebuild yours, new converter, toss a beast in it and beef up the 3-4 clutch pack. A local pro will know what these parts are and also recommend them.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
um, um ,um, so what are you going to do? BTW, that suggestion re local Corvette club might also include NCRS chapter at/nearby in Wilmington. them guys is pretty particular......
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 482
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington NC
I talked to a couple of GM mechanics I know that don't work at the local Chevy dealer where I'm getting the work done.
They said on the GM rebuilds with the 3yr/100K mile warranty that all new parts are put into these rebuilds and they are tested before shipping, and that is what they would get one even with the $1k difference.
I've heard other horror stories about chain and independant tranny shops using used parts and like was said above about putting in someone's else's old tranny, I've had a couple of bad experiences with a Mustang tranny rebuild.
They said on the GM rebuilds with the 3yr/100K mile warranty that all new parts are put into these rebuilds and they are tested before shipping, and that is what they would get one even with the $1k difference.
I've heard other horror stories about chain and independant tranny shops using used parts and like was said above about putting in someone's else's old tranny, I've had a couple of bad experiences with a Mustang tranny rebuild.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
Originally Posted by grayml
I talked to a couple of GM mechanics I know that don't work at the local Chevy dealer where I'm getting the work done.
They said on the GM rebuilds with the 3yr/100K mile warranty that all new parts are put into these rebuilds and they are tested before shipping, and that is what they would get one even with the $1k difference.
I've heard other horror stories about chain and independant tranny shops using used parts and like was said above about putting in someone's else's old tranny, I've had a couple of bad experiences with a Mustang tranny rebuild.
They said on the GM rebuilds with the 3yr/100K mile warranty that all new parts are put into these rebuilds and they are tested before shipping, and that is what they would get one even with the $1k difference.
I've heard other horror stories about chain and independant tranny shops using used parts and like was said above about putting in someone's else's old tranny, I've had a couple of bad experiences with a Mustang tranny rebuild.
The 1 disadvantage of a gm trans is that they are only available stone stock. A local shop can make improvements to you trans.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Originally Posted by grayml
I talked to a couple of GM mechanics I know that don't work at the local Chevy dealer where I'm getting the work done.
They said on the GM rebuilds with the 3yr/100K mile warranty that all new parts are put into these rebuilds and they are tested before shipping, and that is what they would get one even with the $1k difference.
I've heard other horror stories about chain and independant tranny shops using used parts and like was said above about putting in someone's else's old tranny, I've had a couple of bad experiences with a Mustang tranny rebuild.
They said on the GM rebuilds with the 3yr/100K mile warranty that all new parts are put into these rebuilds and they are tested before shipping, and that is what they would get one even with the $1k difference.
I've heard other horror stories about chain and independant tranny shops using used parts and like was said above about putting in someone's else's old tranny, I've had a couple of bad experiences with a Mustang tranny rebuild.
WADR to your friends, I'd say PeteK is correct re the trans. The way to have fewer (maybe "no problems" is too hard to expect) problems down the road is to get it done. And done correctly with all new parts.
Your experience with the Mustang rebuild would teach me one thing: there are good shops, and there are bad shops. I found the bad shop; time to go find a good one.
And if you found one bad one, it means the good ones are harder to find.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 482
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington NC
Being that my vette is my daily driver for now I went with the GM unit from the dealer, can't beat the warranty.
Even if they don't use all new parts that 3 year warranty is a little peace of mind until I can afford a C6
Even if they don't use all new parts that 3 year warranty is a little peace of mind until I can afford a C6