Trans leak solved but EXPENSIVE?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Trans leak solved but EXPENSIVE?
Hey everyone, I posted a thread last week about my '93 lt1 leaking trans fluid. I took it to a shop and they called me after dropping the trans that the pump and the torque converter were shot, thus pushing out the front seal causing the leak. They quoted me at around $1400 to replace those parts, put new seals on the front and rear of the trans, and for labor to drop/install the trans overall. I am just wondering if anyone else had these repairs done and what they paid. Am I getting ripped off or does this sound reasonable? Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,383
Likes: 4
I think some have had rebuilds done with upgraded parts to cover the known weaknesses of the 700R4/4L60/4L60e by pros for $2,200 - $2,600. I'm not saying you got ripped off I'm just saying $1,400 is a substantial portion of a total rebuild.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 694
Likes: 27
From: St James New York
Sounds a little high to me!
Last edited by mako41; Jul 8, 2009 at 07:45 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
my 23 year old 86 with 146,000 miles had a trans leak, and I replaced the pan gasket and because I was there, I changed the filter. $55 for synthetic fluid and 2 quarts of B&M trickshift and a filter with gasket.
on Tuesday...........pan is still dry
on Tuesday...........pan is still dry
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
I was quoted $600 to have a 700r pulled and the same repair done on mine, same problem as you. Laborwise mine is a snap compared to a Vette (its a van, nothing in the way) ...maybe his quote was a bit high but it defintely a pain to drop the tranny in a C4. There are other parts aside from the seal that need to be replaced, also. PeteK can fill you in more.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
They are screwing you.
They should be ashamed of themselves.
Stock replacement converters are worth $75-$200
The rubber and metal seals are worth $40
Fluid is worth $40
Filter is $20
Bushing for front pump is $10
Locktite, brake clean, carb cleaners etc are worth $20
That is a maximum retail (for parts) price of $205-$330
Labor to remove and replace the trans is approx 4 hours
Labor to remove pump, and completely overhaul is 1.5 hours max.
While they are in the pump, they may want to add hardened rings, and new pump vanes (complete upgraded overhaul)
This is zero additional labor, and a maximum of $20 more in upgrades.
Sounds to me like their labor rates are worth approx $180 per hour.
I am in the wrong business.
They should be ashamed of themselves.
Stock replacement converters are worth $75-$200
The rubber and metal seals are worth $40
Fluid is worth $40
Filter is $20
Bushing for front pump is $10
Locktite, brake clean, carb cleaners etc are worth $20
That is a maximum retail (for parts) price of $205-$330
Labor to remove and replace the trans is approx 4 hours
Labor to remove pump, and completely overhaul is 1.5 hours max.
While they are in the pump, they may want to add hardened rings, and new pump vanes (complete upgraded overhaul)
This is zero additional labor, and a maximum of $20 more in upgrades.
Sounds to me like their labor rates are worth approx $180 per hour.
I am in the wrong business.