Today my A4 bit the dust
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: New York
Today my A4 bit the dust
Driving at about 65 and I lost all gears above 2nd gear. Spoke to two people (both vette owners). One says to rebuild and the other says to get a rebuilt one from a rebuilder with stronger parts. Basically with a car with 70K on the clock, should I bother rebuilding?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Although I don't have an A4, I've heard many times that it is safer (more likely that you will end up with a reliable tranny) to buy a factory rebuilt tranny with all the latest upgrades. I've heard and read of so horror stories regarding indepemdently-owned shops' rebuilt trannies, that I would stay away from that scenario unless you personally know someone who's had good luck over many years of having his tranny rebuilt by the place.
I've also found this to be true of engines - a factory crate engine is very often more likely to give you 100,000+ miles of life, compared to home-rebuilds or rebuilds from mom & pop engine shops. At least, this has been my experience when I had my 68.
I've also found this to be true of engines - a factory crate engine is very often more likely to give you 100,000+ miles of life, compared to home-rebuilds or rebuilds from mom & pop engine shops. At least, this has been my experience when I had my 68.
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,904
Likes: 2
From: London(UK)/Troyes(France)
Please do yourself a favor and get a new built tranny!
Contact Rodney or Todd at RPM transmissions
www.rpmtransmissions.com
These guys are the best of the best, period!!! Thei trannies are very strong and they take abuse from cars with over 700 RWHP. I have their Level 5 tranny and I couldn't be happier. I make between 450-500 RWHP and their tranny has been hloding up great and I am driving my car really really hard!
It takes everything you throw at it! I just wanted to share my experience as I am an extremely happy RPM customer!
Contact Rodney or Todd at RPM transmissions
www.rpmtransmissions.com
These guys are the best of the best, period!!! Thei trannies are very strong and they take abuse from cars with over 700 RWHP. I have their Level 5 tranny and I couldn't be happier. I make between 450-500 RWHP and their tranny has been hloding up great and I am driving my car really really hard!
It takes everything you throw at it! I just wanted to share my experience as I am an extremely happy RPM customer!
Last edited by torchvette10; Aug 12, 2007 at 07:41 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 7,727
Likes: 7
From: Twilight zone
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
If or when mine goes.......
I will be getting one from RPM transmissions
http://www.rpmtransmissions.com/
I will be getting one from RPM transmissions
http://www.rpmtransmissions.com/
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 647
Likes: 2
From: Keystone, I.T.
Had a similar experience. My top two gears dropped dead at 77,000 miles. I looked around and had several options. The problem with a rebuild was that no shop would warrenty their work and it was going to cost about $2,000. I considered an RPM and then went to a local dealer that I've had real good luck with (they have a couple of really good Vette techs) and they quoted pretty much the same price as the installed RPM. The only difference is the GM has a 3year/100,000 mile warrenty. Granted I probably won't drive 100,000 miles in the next three years, but 36 months is a long time. Another thing, I was going to have to find a shop that I thought was competent enough to do the work of removing and then installing the RPM transmission. My advice is to call around and examine all of your options carefully. When you get to the point where you have narrowed your options go to the shop/dealership and look at the quality of the operation and then get a written quote. Good luck.
Last edited by widewheel; Aug 12, 2007 at 08:59 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 8,629
Likes: 16
From: York PA
Please do yourself a favor and get a new built tranny!
Contact Rodney or Todd at RPM transmissions
www.rpmtransmissions.com
These guys are the best of the best, period!!! Thei trannies are very strong and they take abuse from cars with over 700 RWHP. I have their Level 5 tranny and I couldn't be happier. I make between 450-500 RWHP and their tranny has been hloding up great and I am driving my car really really hard!
It takes everything you throw at it! I just wanted to share my experience as I am an extremely happy RPM customer!
Contact Rodney or Todd at RPM transmissions
www.rpmtransmissions.com
These guys are the best of the best, period!!! Thei trannies are very strong and they take abuse from cars with over 700 RWHP. I have their Level 5 tranny and I couldn't be happier. I make between 450-500 RWHP and their tranny has been hloding up great and I am driving my car really really hard!
It takes everything you throw at it! I just wanted to share my experience as I am an extremely happy RPM customer!
I second that!!!!!!!!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: New York
I really appreciate all of the feedback. I had the car towed to a real good vette mechanic in LI. Not going to go with the rebuild and spoke with the folks over at RPM this AM. Basically the only thing I wanted to ask you guys was that during my conversation with RPM, they said that the car would have to be re-tuned back to the original stock line pressure. The car was tuned by the same people that have it now so it should not be an issue but is this really the case, did RPM make a trans that does not need to be tuned?
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
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,904
Likes: 2
From: London(UK)/Troyes(France)
Hi there,
wait until someone more competent adds some info but in the mean time, I believe that the RPM tranny is built as to provide sharp and quick shifts, and I clearly noticed that when I installed mine. It also enables the tranny to take the extra power. However adding pressure over that is kinda overkill and reduce the tranny longevity
wait until someone more competent adds some info but in the mean time, I believe that the RPM tranny is built as to provide sharp and quick shifts, and I clearly noticed that when I installed mine. It also enables the tranny to take the extra power. However adding pressure over that is kinda overkill and reduce the tranny longevity
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: Nevada Texas
a4
mine kinda dun thet too. but didn't go out alluva sudden. Started slippin in 4th a little then got worse over a couple thousand miles, then started slipping in third. had a feller over in Mansfield Texas rebuild it. former GM tech. took it out rebuilt er ( OEM parts) put er back in, while he had er out he dun the diff. & axle seals replaced tha diff grease+LSD additive. charged me $1,400.00 fer tha whole thang. no problems wif it so far got 30 sumodd thousand on it.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,590
Likes: 1
From: Littleton Colorado
The RPM transmission has a shift kit in it, I think having high line presures from a tune will put too much pressure on the trans and shorten the life. But, talk to RPM they will tell you exactly why.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
If or when mine goes.......
I will be getting one from RPM transmissions
http://www.rpmtransmissions.com/
I will be getting one from RPM transmissions
http://www.rpmtransmissions.com/
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,904
Likes: 2
From: London(UK)/Troyes(France)
I wont. I got a stage IV A4 from Rodney. Put about 4,000 miles of mostly easy driving on it and it now bangs hard when shifting from 1st to 2nd. I sent an e-mail on Saturday to RPM describing the problem in great detail and still have yet for them to respond. From now on, I'll just deal locally.
I really hope you will be fine! Please keep us posted when you get a reply from them. You might want to give them a call. I am really sorry to hear about your misfortune
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,539
Likes: 3
From: South al
I have done both ,had a tranny mechanic locally build me one , 1 month later he was trying to rebuild it again ,After i brought the car home that evening, i pull it out of the garage to find tranny fluid Leaking , it broke a month after the install so there are 2 ,then someone recomennded finish line transmissions , Chuck Johnson ,bought one from him & havent had any issues O ya i also went from a 3200 yank to a 36 00 yank get @ least a 3600 & from a reputable builder & you should be Fine i also go to the track twice a month
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 8,629
Likes: 16
From: York PA
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,719
Likes: 3
From: Anderson Indiana
I wont. I got a stage IV A4 from Rodney. Put about 4,000 miles of mostly easy driving on it and it now bangs hard when shifting from 1st to 2nd. I sent an e-mail on Saturday to RPM describing the problem in great detail and still have yet for them to respond. From now on, I'll just deal locally.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,625
Likes: 1
From: Rhode Island
I wont. I got a stage IV A4 from Rodney. Put about 4,000 miles of mostly easy driving on it and it now bangs hard when shifting from 1st to 2nd. I sent an e-mail on Saturday to RPM describing the problem in great detail and still have yet for them to respond. From now on, I'll just deal locally.