How does one tell if you have a Messican truck or USA truck?

Josh- Those wheels/tires are bad ***

 

yes..

 

Step 1: Open the driver's door
Step 2: Read the tag on the door jamb

 

That is what i'm assuming. Most of the trucks I see with the cracked dashes are the Michigan trucks. My truck is an El Burrito truck and has been a really great truck. I have minimal rust issues(only surface on rockers), solid dash, tranny went out at 130,000 miles.......BlaBla. And my truck was an abused, smoked-in, work truck before I bought it.

 

haha, i said that, and i meant it.

they are below average. the number of sad posts on this and other forums is overwhelmingly about transmissions. some people can handle the cost of the repair, but a lot of people spend all their money on the truck, and then have to borrow more money to fix the f***ing transmission. once rebuilt with quality parts and quality work, they are fine. but, do not assume that every rebuild is a quality rebuild. the number of sad posts from people complaining about their alleged rebuild is neck and neck with original complaints. a lot of shops just put in as little as possible and hope for the best and they get ahead by doing this. then most customers just get pissed off and trade the truck when they encounter more problems, and wish they'd never spent more money on a repair attempt.

congrats to dblj and his cousin on rebuilding/repairing it themselves.

 

I love those rims! And I'm jealous of your seemingly flawless paint. Mine is fading all over the dang truck. Here's mine:




Sorry for the thread hijack. You may have it back now.

 

if the vin starts with w it's a mexican

 

Actually there really aren't a lot of special tools needed unless you want to use a shop press to release the overdrive section.

***MAJOR TIP***
One major piece of advice is to be very clean about it and very thorough and patient. You would hate to have to take your trans back out just because you rushed a little and forgot to put a seal in or something else stupid.

Definitely check around for the rebuild kits though. AutoZone wanted like 250 for the kit and I got a better one from a nearby trans supply place for 105. The shift kit was only 15. Also get a manual to have next to you, it will be your best friend.

 

I agree that transmissions seem to fail at what appears to be an early death. But I would ask how often the fluid and filter is changed and the bands adjusted. Also, do you use the overdrive off switch when towing. Also are you using only Mopar trans fluid.

 

I've learned that when it comes to automatic transmissions, one can never be too clean, and the parts cannot have too much oil on them.

Where did you buy said manual? There are a lot of places out there that advertise rebuild kits. It's hard to tell what all is needed.