Hey fellas,

Let me preface this by saying that I know there are already a f**k ton of transmission threads out there on all the dodge forums. I am in the process of reading all I can at the moment, but if someone feels kind and would be able to weigh in for me in this thread it might save me a big headache.


Now, my situation is pretty simple. I've got a 2001 Ram 1500 with a 5.9 and a 46re. It's been acting up and giving me the P1740 code so I am troubleshooting that at the moment. Unfortunately, with the multiple issues the trans has, I suspect it will be coming out of the truck relatively soon.
I don't usually tow or haul large loads with the truck, but I would like to do this correctly and not have to dick with it ever again. I'm not trying to do the cheapest rebuild possible and do it again in a year.

Since so many people have had major issues with local shop rebuilds, the way I see it I have 2 options.

Option 1: Buy the rebuild parts and a torque converter, drop the trans and take the trans and the parts to a local shop to be rebuilt and then put it back in.

Pros:
-Cheapest
-I get to pick the parts

Cons:
-No warranty
-I don't know a damn thing about the internals of an automatic transmission so finding the best parts may be a challenge
-Trans tech might jack up the rebuild
-Truck will be out of commission while the trans is in the shop


Option 2: Buy a reman unit and install it.

Pros:
-Warranty (although if it fails I still have the take the bastard back out again)
-Truck can be in and out of the garage in a weekend
-Lower chance of the rebuild going wrong or being performed half-***
-My roommate works for a honda dealer and should be able to get a discount and free shipping on a Jasper reman
-Since I don't know every issue with the current trans, this is a blanket fix


Cons:
-Most expensive option (college kid on a budget here)
-May not have the BEST parts in it unless I spend more on the trans than the truck is worth


So what are your thoughts? If you think I should rebuild, what kit would you suggest and why? I talked to a guy at PATC and he suggested the k4 kit but it's $618 WITHOUT a torque converter or rebuild labor so I'd be approaching reman price by the time I mess with that. I think that might be excessive for my application.

Thanks in advance,
Skeptic

 

You want a Mega Viper. But then, "college kid on a budget here" is incompatible with that and pretty much any other worthwhile option.

Juck Fasper.

 

Do they still sell mopar reman trans?

I have one in mine and it has been used and abused for nearly 200k. Never had a problem out of it.

 

Also keep in mind, that one of the conditions to maintain your warranty on a reman trans, is to have it installed by an 'approved shop', or 'professional', or some other such nonsense. Which means: You can't install it yourself, and expect to get warranty coverage.

You could pick up a core, and rebuild it yourself, and then just swap trannies.... Several members here have gone that route, and a fair few of them had never been inside an auto trans before. Lots of good resources available for just such an exercise.....

 

where are you located? if you're within driving distance of Charleston SC call Robert Griffin. tell him your budget and get a mostly stock rebuild with the exception that it'll last forever. send him the money, let him build a core, and then take a road trip for the install.

 

^This is my cold Minnesota winter day(which is happening sooner then I last remembered) "Project Notta Again"

I was in your type of dilemma, jasper transmission or get a rebuild. They both seemed way to much money especially a local rebuild.

I ended up with OPTION THREE: Doing it yourself!
I get that maybe you don't have the space or time, that can be an issue.
After doing the online research (along with a many whiskey cokes) I got a rebuild manual. Reading that thing from cover to cover I made my decision to order parts and do it myself.

Now what killed my rebuild was my stupidity of not knowing what rubber tranny line really is. Kept on blowing the lines found out everybody was giving me fuel/vacuum line. My luck tho

 

Thanks for the responses guys.

I really don't think I need a mega viper for my application. It's really a pampered truck honestly and I doubt it will ever see a rough life during my ownership of it.

I've got the time and space, along with another vehicle that can get me around while I do the rebuild if I chose to do it myself so that's not completely out of the question. I'd really like to have someone who's done it before looking over my shoulder though to make sure I'm not ****ing it up.

Any other good options here?

 

Well granted you could go with a manual transmission.
OR If your really feeling lucky get a junkyard transmission. I've been running one since last winter but the first one I received was a dud right off of the bat. Got it exchanged tho
One thing that helped was I knew the owner she was from my high school and she got me hooked up with an low mileage unit which pissed the manager off lol