![]() I would NEVER "mow your grass" when it comes to automatic transmission rebuilds. Even the case can be in doubt if the trans "grenaded". MOST of the time customer/consumers/shade tree mehcanics want a trashed transmission rebuilt which usually doesn't happen because all of the clutch packs, pistons, sprage(s) (sp?), bearings, pump, etc. You are completely correct in what you said though. I also "assumed" that all he wanted to do was "freshen up" his transmission with new bands and clutches which IMHO, the B&M or Transgo master kits do address. ![]() The main assumption was that the transmission he had WORKED FLAWLESSLY without problems. Jake: I made some "assumptions" when I told him about rebuilding his own transmission. I charge $650 to do a bench rebuild IF the customer supplies a good core, and as stated that's not likely. ![]() It has become a trans that may take 3-4 cores to build one good transmission. I have a shop that is paid for but I still have an electric bill, phone bill, labor expenses, shop supplies, wear and tear on my equipment, etc.Ī Th350 will come in with a case worn beyond serviceability, a worn out pump, bad planetaries, bell shaped sun shell, ring wear on the direct drum, etc more often than not. I do my own internal mods and valve body mods that achieve better results than any of the packaged kits. ![]() I don't use or recommend the B&M valve body kits, although a knowledgeable builder can make them work, the instructions included are a good way to a premature death, especially on a TH350. I don't buy a prepackaged valve body kit or valve body, that's a $50 hit for most shops minimum. Wide sprag low support with case-fix- $65 TH350 Master Kit with Steels- $85 (This is the clutches, steels, gaskets, seals, o-rings, etc, it does NOT include a band, bushings, filter, modulator, seals, etc). I've bought over $30K in product from them this year so far so I deal in volume. I get a very good price on parts through my supplier. Not unless you have a GOOD friend who is willing to build it for the cost of parts.Ĭost breakdown of the parts required to rebuild it, keep in mind this is MY cost for high quality stock type rebuild parts. You are NOT getting a properly rebuilt TH350 for $350. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but let me break down the costs of building a TH350. The TH350 is about the simplest transmission out there. If you have some time and some clear bench space, I say give it a whirl. But you don't learn anything doing that, and you will probably get a "flat-rate" job no selectivity on marginal parts they will just re-use everything not included in a kit. Look at this way: the cost of the overhaul kit and the video and a couple tools is about the same as paying to have a carry-in rebuilt. That's carry-in price, of course, and I think it included a rebuilt torque converter, too. That's what it cost me to take my buddy's TH350 in 2 years ago. As for prices to rebuild, I can still get a standard TH350 rebuild with shift kit for about $300 there. Needless to say, that shop will get all of my business and anyone I can refer. He ended by giving me some pointers and telling me to stop by or call if I ran into any problems. He sold me a couple, and just swapped for a couple of others. He then walked me back to his storeroom where the neat shelves held used parts of all kinds and picked out better pieces to replace ones I had that, while OK to re-use, and they would definitely be re-used if I just paid a shop to rebuild it, were not quite as good as the demands of a 4x4 plowtruck might like. He went over each part with me, pointing out what was good, bad, and average. Obviously, with all the computerized and highly complex transmissions in use today, a guy wanting to rebuild his own nearly antiquated TH350 was no threat to his business and he knew that. That guy thought it was great that someone even cared to learn anything automotive anymore. The 4th, place, run by a really nice older guy, and a very upscale tranny shop by my standards, was different. Not surprisingly, when I told these guys I was doing it myself for the first time, the first 3 places looked at me like I had just told them their teenage daughter was pregnant. I also took my re-usable hard parts to a few transmission shops to have a more experienced eye to look them over and determine which, if any, were not up to snuff in case I missed something. Snowplowing is really hard on trannies, and I had gotten shoddy rebuilds on the previous two and was fed up. I used this video and bought a few of their specialty tools to make things easier several years ago when rebuilding my plow truck's TH350 was an every-couple-of-years thing.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |