Another thing I have been told is that the Auto Tranny is the weak link. I have an 98 and I was told that I should only get 70-80K before it needs to be rebuilt. In my previous post I asked whether or not I should disengage the O/D around tow because I was told that the O/D being engaged is causing the premature failure of the tranny. Any experiences or input?

 

Dunno what tranny was in a 95 360, but mine was acting goofy and needed rebuilt @ 114k

 

My stock transmission made it 159K miles before I replaced it and it was functioning flawlessly the day it was taken out.

I towed 10K + at least 3 days a week for the first 3 years that I had the truck. After that I towed with it randomly.

To get the maximum life out of a stock automatic you need to adhere to the recommendations in the owners manual when towing. I believe it states that you should lock OD out when towing.

Now, once you know and understand how the stock automatic operates you can drive it a little differently. For me the transmission was capable of towing in OD when I was on flat grades and of course downhill. Pulling a grade though was always without OD, in fact even with the built transmission I lock OD out so that my EGT's stay in check when towing heavy.

 

Mine has 120K on it now...chances are I'll kill it before it has a chance to die peacefully

I hope
Chris

 

Not sure if mine was the origional or not when i replaced it around 130 000, not at 144 000 , it is started to shift funny, sometimes it hangs for a second between first and second , sometimes it labours really hard on the 1-2 shift (feels like it may be tryin to take both at the same time), and sometimes she just plain does not want to move. I am taking it back into my tranny guy to get it fixed before the year warranty is up.

 

Mines got 177K on it, still all original.

 

Same here except I went to 212k, just happened to have the time and money for a built up tranny. I was running about 350 hp almost since the truck was new. It all depends on how you drive, I rarely mash the pedal and always unlock OD under 55 mph.

 

125k so far still stock.

 

Some have lasted 350,000 ++ ,heat and slipping kill them though QUICK !!!
(to much low rpm torque with the pressure in the trans very low at the low rpm)..

 

original on mine....i drive like a granny...and i play with the O/D button alot to ease lock-up in 3rd...i'll start off with OD on...in 3rd gear i'll let it rev up abit more than it normally would and then i lock out OD and i barely get an RPM drop during lock-up...i think it makes the tranny happy...i never mash it when its locked unless im over 2000rpms...otherwise im gentle and gradually accelerate while locked...in really slow traffic in residential neighborhoods, i drop the lever to 2nd so i dont lug down into 3rd ...i try to never drive locked under 1500rpms for too long....most tranny shifting irregularities ive ever had have been due to low fluid levels...some of my seals(between tcase and tranny) need changing so i loose a quart every 6 months...just top it and it shifts like new

 

125,000 on original, thats because i towed in OD for two seasons and still nursing it at 167,000 on an OEM rebuilt!

 

Ive almost got 1000 miles on mine and its shifting great! Holds good too

 

I have 158,xxx on mine,so far so good.

 

Mine had 175K on it when I got my Georend. The TC was slipping, other than that it was still shifting just fine. When I bought the truck with 160K on it it had a transmission shop keychain on it so I don't know what kind of work was done. Who knows it could have been just a fluid change or a full rebuild...... The truck was a cattle hauler so it didn't live the easiest life out there.

 

Rebuilt mine at 120k after towing thru the mountains with no trans temp gauge. Now at 140 + it performs flawlessly. And I do have a temp gauge.