Rebuild with friend or pay shop

[SlicksInRain]

I have a 90 K5. I blew up the trans three years ago and haven't driven it since... I really miss it.

Another friend and I removed the transmission and transfer case ourselves. I found a rebuild kit on craigslist for $75 and bought it. I did not know until after the purchase how expensive the tools for this can be, plus I have never done this.

The friend who wants to rebuild the trans is willing to do it for free because he is currently going to school and is looking for a"project"... my old truck.

The trans and truck are 70 miles a part right now. Should I take the trans to a shop, have them rebuild it and I install? Should I give the trans to my friend to rebuild, then install? Should I tow the truck to a shop or my friend so they can rebuild and reinstall the transmission?

I do not know what to do. I really miss driving this thing. I want to help my friend learn, but I don't want this thing to give out on me after it reaches 30mph.

Advice?

BTW if $$$$ was not an issue, it would be in a shop at the drop of a hat, but life happened.

 

[wasted wages]

what type of trans ??? 700r4 ? or an older model ?

For me it would depend on what confidence level you have in your friends abilities and the school he is going to....

If his "class" involves a teacher that would work with him and guide him and inspect his work every step of the way, then It would be worth a shot...
The most you would be out is the parts and your labor if it fails.....

second bet would be to take it to a trans shop and have it built and install it yourself....

just remember.... if it is a 700r4 and you install it yourself,,,just be sure you read up and completely understand how to set the T/V cable.... it can burn up the trans in a very short time if not set correctly..

 

[Deuling]

Sounds like your not super confident in him otherwise you would just do that...

So I'd say pay a shop to rebuild. And you install to save some $$

 

[Joemakerman]

Make a deal with your buddy. Let him do it. If it blows out again, he pays for the new rebuild kit, and you take it to the shop like you should have. If it works, well that's awesome.

-Joe

 

[euzoa]

Make a deal with your buddy. Let him do it. If it blows out again, he pays for the new rebuild kit, and you take it to the shop like you should have. If it works, well that's awesome.

-Joe

This, or if your not going to use the rebuild kit from craigslist anyway (I would have the shop put beefier stuff than stock for internals) just let him do it and help install, on the condition that if it blows he is helping pull it

 

[Fordum]

The main point is, you have not used the truck in 3 years. Obviously its not critical for you to have it running.
Since it comes under the heading of "fun", go with the kit.
If you can help or at least watch, so much the better. You will learn something that may help you in the future.

You might consider a better kit from one of the big rebuild kit places, just for the upgraded parts.
But, that may already be an upgraded kit, ask around.

Make sure that the friend is willing to help you install it, and remove it if it does not work.
I would not expect more from him than that. You know what you are getting, a learning project.
If it works, you get your truck back for the price of a couple of fillups. If it doesn't, you are no worse off than you are now.
The money for the kit is already spent, and the truck will be sitting in about the same place.

If it were going to be a daily driver, or something that was required to be reliable, then take it to a shop.
But you are doing OK without it now, so the gamble is not too much.

 

[kennyw]

There is no requirement for any special tools to rebuild a 700R4 that you cannot build yourself for cheap. A pair of flat bars with a hole in the center, a long threaded rod, and a pair of nuts takes care of 99% of the special tools.

What is needed is a large, clean work area and a good instruction manual. Layout all the parts in the order you take them apart and rebuild each spring/clutch pack one at a time. It takes less to rebuild a 700R4 than a 350 V8, yet most people shy away from the challenge when they are willing to rebuild a motor.

 

[U-711ipmc]

I just tackled this same project. Luckily I had an old nieghbor that used to rebuild 350s and 400s back in the day so a lot of the tools were the same. I borrowed his spring compressor (can be fabricated but I was in a rent house with no special tools) bushing driver set, and a heavy duty feeler gauge style lip installer. I purchased thin plastic sheets about 5"x8" (wal-mart) in size to install and re-size the Teflon rings. I purchased Transmission goo a special grease, and ATSG manuals, and the haynes manual. I used a TCI Maximizer kit Hughes torque converter, TCI deep sump pan, and Beast Sun shell at the direction of the much more knowledgeable peeps on here. It takes time and room! My garage was unusable unpassable during this! I used a wire rack with 5 shelves and still didnt have enough room to lay everything out. I will rebuild more! As the more you do the easier it is. Hopefully by the end of the year I will have my shop organized enough to get it installed and tested!

 

[Blue85]

Not needing it up right away is an advantage for you. Pay the $25 for this site so you can post up pictures. Buy a good manual. Anything you're not sure of, stop and ask questions. This will let you know for sure if any hard parts are needed and keep you from buying stuff you don't need "just in case".

I have done FWD and RWD transmissions and never bought any special tools, other than snap ring pliers. You can fabricate tools as you go if you are creative, even though it makes the job take a lot longer. There are several sizes of seal sizers recommended, but I just use tape now. Masking tape can protect seals during installation and electrical tape can resize them after they're on. It's not for the average Autozone customer, though. You need to really have mechanical intuition to know if what you're doing makes sense or not.

 

[SlicksInRain]

It's a 700R4.

Does anyone know if I can go to a Napa store and rent the tools?

My friend is totally willing to do it, but has never done this.

I am kinda confused on the tools to buy being that some of you mentioned making your own. Can I even go to a Napa if they do not rent and say "I need to rebuild a trans, what tools do I need?" Buy the tools and be go to go?

Sorry, I am totally new to this. Worst that can happen is nothing changes and I am out $75.... and cost of tools.

 

[kennyw]

What kind of mechanical experience do you and your friend have? Have you replaced brakes, wheel bearings, swapped a complete motor, etc?

 

[Blue85]

It's a 700R4.

Does anyone know if I can go to a Napa store and rent the tools?

My friend is totally willing to do it, but has never done this.

I am kinda confused on the tools to buy being that some of you mentioned making your own. Can I even go to a Napa if they do not rent and say "I need to rebuild a trans, what tools do I need?" Buy the tools and be go to go?

Sorry, I am totally new to this. Worst that can happen is nothing changes and I am out $75.... and cost of tools.

Napa can probably get you a lot of the tools, but I would be surprised if ANY of them were for rent/loan. Take $20 down there and buy a rebuild manual. Read it and then see if you want to tackle the project. You also find most of a manual posted online.