I just looked on the map and see Goerend is 190 miles away. I may just call him up and see if I can bring it in or if it is better to have a trans shipped.

I could go down one afternoon, stay the night and have a new trans put in the next day maybe.

So to be clear, can I do better than a Goerend for the 25K GVW I sometimes run? Not trying to be too picky, there is probably always some tweak here or there, but staying with one manufacturer's parts, will a Goerend be a great trans? Let's stay around $5,000 too....

I even checked out ATS and read some really bad comments from a few years ago, but who's to say most of those problems weren't brought on by the driver? Self-installed parts, misalignment, it would give me peace of mind if I just have the builder install it.

 

Definitely better to drive down and have it installed. That way a test drive and tuning can happen. No builder is perfect and no truck the same.

A Goerend will be a GREAT transmission. Can you get better, probably not. Can you get worse, definitely.

At that distance you could drve down early in the morning, have installed and be back for supper.

 

Thanks again No_6! A little encouragement when guy spends $5 or $6K really helps the medicine go down!!!

Well with a locked TC I'd probably get there quick, no stopping at stop signs!

But realistically, 200 miles will take 4 hours. I wonder if Dave will want to rebuild mine or if he can just swap a different one in? I'll have to call and ask.

I just cleaned the shop from yesterday's work. I am not good with black oil (did an oil change too), tar, caulk, anything like that. If I'm going to go patch a roof with tar, I may as well squirt it in my hair right away and get it over with....

I poured the waste oil in a big jug I have just for that purpose and overflowed the jug. Then I spilled the old trans fluid pan all over. Picking that up I slopped a bunch all over the shop. Then I stepped in a puddle and tracked it over to the tool chest.... Oil dry is my friend...

 

WOW, only 190 miles. Road trip would be in order.... I would let him rebuild yours. That way he knows exactly what went south. Just make a day trip out of it. Wish I was that close.

 

I called Goerend today.... If you want a Goerend transmission you should plan a couple of months ahead. They MAYBE could get me in around mid-December. With a bad TC that just can't happen.

So who else can I maybe try???

 

HTS Transmissions in Lansing MI is about the closest to you. Scheduling may be an issue like Goerends.

Any local builders you could chat up about just getting the parts and putting it together with maybe some tech help from Goerends?

Did you ask about any certified builder\installers they could direct you to?

It is more expense but you get a cheaper TC and just toss it in until you can get to Goerends. Not the optimal solution but it gets the truck back on the road until you can get what you want where you want it.

 

I'll call HTS.
What does Big Swole run?

I tried some local builders and some bigger outfits say no problem, but no warranty no matter what.

Could be back to rolling my own....

 

Is this if they do it? Can they supply you the parts?

 

He ran a Garmins tranny, they are in Atlanta,GA.

 

They could supply parts.. I could maybe get a Goerend TC, then baby it until Dave could get me in... Then I wouldn't be buying more parts than I need.

 

That may be your best bet. Since you addressed the front band issues the TC may bet you thru until you can get it to Dave.

Swole and others are using Garmons in Griffin Ga, just down the road from me. Still have about the same cost and shipping.

 

If you can find a good tranny guy you can trust to put Dave's parts in
that would be an idea. That's what I did. I didn't have a lift or time to mess with it. I had a guy I trusted do the work. He did good for the most part except one little mistake which I corrected.



Take your time on your decision, you only want to do this once.

 

Just got off the phone with DTT and I am impressed with them. The nice woman I spoke with was well versed in the 48RE requirements, more so than the gal I talked to at Goerend.

DTT will ship a trans in 3-4 weeks and when you put it in they have you pressure test it somehow. You call in your numbers and they can tell you if all is well.

Cost is $4550 with a billet input, triple TC, billet servo and accumulator. All these prices are the same....

EDIT: Spoke to Suncoast. They don't care what I pull. They are only concerned with how much horsepower I have. So I said 425 and they said $4500 will work for a trans up to 450 - 500HP. If I want I could put a billet input in for another $767. So Suncoast is at $5267. They are quite a bit more expensive than DTT....

 

Don't forget to upgrade your flexplate too. With the amount of weight you are pulling you will need a billet input shaft also. You are taking a chance without it.

 

Thanks Spooler, you read my mind and my next question!