It looks my my transmission is almost dead. To get a shop to rebuild it is going to cost a good $3500 - most of this is labor (I've only checked one place, but they have a very good rep). I was looking on the Jegs site and they have TCI a518 transmissions for as low as $700. I know the quality may not be as good, but at least it might work (would also allow me to pull the stock transmission and rebuild it in my own time). I was hoping for opinions on TCI transmissions. Even their higher priced ones would cost me less then having a shop do it. Has anyone tried them? Or know of anyone using them anywhere?

 

thats seems a little steep for a rebuild, i think you should check with another shop

 

They estimated 16-20 hrs of work at +$100/hr. I probably used the wrong terminology. The $3800 is if they have to completely gut the transmission and replace everything, which is a possibility, the transmission fluid is greyish in color. That was the worst case senario. The best case was somewhere around $1500 plus parts. Like I said, it's mostly labor that killing me. I feel that I can do the work, but I need time. I thought that a cheap transmission would at least get me a year (I know it can be done in a few days, but I'd like to take my time since I need to learn as I go).

 

I would take it to another shop and have them quote you, that is way to much for what they are asking. The TCI wont gaureentee it lasting you a year and if there is a warrenty you would have to do it all over again to send it back. I would scratch the TCI because if you are gonna keep swapping in and out transmission, I would rather spend the extra money just to have it all done and you can take it somewhere if something happens to it.

 

you could get a brand new bad-*** tranny for 3500 dollars.... look at other shops for putting a new one in/rebuild and see what is the best deal. i would go with one that will warranty there work too.

 

a very reputable performance shop 2 blocks away from my house only charges 54$/hour.. and they're the best in the business. they deal mainly with mustangs though. I have talked to them about a cam swap on my truck and they said no problem.

 

I know I could get a new transmission for that. I'd love to do the work myself, but I have doubts about getting parts or tools that I may need in a timely manner. I'm in Canada, and I've found it very difficult to get parts for such an old truck (1992). I went to three different stores trying to get a new radiator, none of them could even order one in. I had to order it from a US company myself (luckily they have a distributor here). If I find I need anything for transmission after I've it off I want to know that I have time to get it. As I'm just getting into working on trucks/cars, I have little to no idea about where the best local places are to go to getting things. This is my only vehicle, so I can't take it off the road for more than a few days. I just thought that I might be able to swap the transmission so that I have time to work on original or just go with the TCI if it's a decent transmission.

As for warranty, these guys give a 1 year or 20,000 km (which is what I usually drive in a year).

Again, I was mostly curious as to opinions on TCI and their reliability, and any problems I might have installing it. I'm going to call around, but I was recommended to this first shop by a friend who worked for various dealerships over the years and warned away from some others.