There are rebuild kits that you can buy from places like www.transmissioncenter.net that will have an upgrade package price, and you can throw in extra goodies if you are interested.

 

Thank you to everyone for the advice. It is rebuild time. I got a reference to a small transmission shop that has been in business since 1981. I was looking at pricing for a rebuild on the transmission if we dropped it out. He was concerned about if we had the equipment to flush everything out properly otherwise we will have the same problems shortly after the rebuild.

He quoted me a price of $1400 to pick the truck up on a flatbed (about 30 miles away), drop the transmission and do a rebuild, put in a new torque converter, and flush the system and reassemble. It comes with a 12 month warranty. So we are going to have him do it. We just don't have the space or time right now to take on a big project like this. The engine rebuild took quite awhile when my son was only working one job. Now he works 50 hrs a week at his new job and about 20 hours at his part time job. Doesn't leave much time to work on the project.

Again thanks for all the help getting this diagnosed. I feel good about the fact that we checked out all the simple stuff before we sent it in for a rebuild.

 

Still, have him do some of the upgrades. Sonnax Sure Cure for one, it alleviates a fair few of the shifting issues on these trannies. Since it is going to be torn down anyway... no better time than the present.