I got a 92 rs automatic 97k and the transmission is ok still, I had aamco check it out, they said there was no need to replace anything at the moment but the service guy said do not change the fluid, it smells a little burnt, not much though. I need a second opinion on this. the basic overhaul (optional) is $1600 and a complete overhaul runs about $2500. I want to change the fluid but I dont want to end up going back to this guy for option 2. what you folks think? dealer? I'd hate to get rid of the 'maro but that much money is out of my league. thanks.

 

My guess is he's saying that to avoid developing any seal leaks, but that doesn't make any sense to me either. And you can get a rebuilt tranny for a lot less than they're quoting you for rebuilding yours. Heck, you can get a 500HP capable 700R4 for less than $2500 !

 

Nice car bud.

I recently had a 700r4 built for a friends 400, hes been runnining it for a year, and he loves it and it still preforms well at the track runnin 9.9s

1900 (cdn) was spent on it, new rebuild, corvette cervo, 2800 stall and a transgo kit.

700r4s are amazing transmissions, if i ever have another automatic car, i wont think twice.

 

How does a shop get away with charging $2500???

Don't they know you can go buy a built race tranny, let alone a stock rebuilt one, for less than $2k?

 

I guess no more aamco for me. I been asking around here in the area and they seem to be a lot lower also. The reason I felt bad about is that he stated that the tranny doesnt need to be repaired, but not to change the fluid, I'll keep asking around here. and I'll post results. thank you for your opinions!

 

I would say if it ain't broke don't fix it. If the trans is fine don't bother with an overhaul, unless you've got future plans for the car that are going to up the power level. Then I'd highly suggest a Pro-Built 700R4.

Seriously, I've seen mail order 700R4s with a converter for like $1,000. That's a stock trans mind you. You can buy a ready to run Pro-Built 700R4 for ike $2,500. I just built my own trans using Pro-Built's kit. I saved a lot doing it like that. Keep that as an option if you think you're up to the task. The kit is about $575, and figure roughly $350 for a new converter. That'll get you a trans sturdy enough for 500+ hp.

I got 135,000 from the stock 700R4 in my Blazer. I beat the snot out of the trcuk from day one. The last 30,000 of those miles was behind a built sbc making roughly 360HP and 450 lbs/ft. Actually I broke the trans trying to drag the truck with the front axel when the rear was locked up solid after the spider gears exploded. It may well have lived even longer. I added a B&M shift kit and a 2,500 stall converter when I swapped the 305 for the 350. I also re-set the governor to shift at 5,500. All in all it was a good trans. The Pro-Built with the TransGo kit is much better though. I love the way it shifts now. Jeckel & Hyde. Just cruise around and it shifts like a Mercedes. Plant your right foot and it bangs gears and chirps tires like and race built TH350.

 

The 2500 that AAMCO wants to charge you is for the Lifetime warrenty. If the transmission every fails again they will fix it for free.

My 200c was build by AAMCO back in 92. I have 120000+ miles on it and it still shifts perfectly. Back in 92, AAMCO charged us about a $1000 to build the 200c with new torque convertor.

With inflation, $2500 may not be all that much.

 

Thats not a bad price for a shop like that. You have to think about it. A 700r4 book time on a rebuild is like 9-11 hours if I remember corectly plus r and r ing it out of the car. Plus parts. Thats a good deal if you dont know how to remove or rebuild transmissions.

 

Aamco "is not"going to build you a transmission that will hold up to 550 horsepower or more, along with a 9.5" lockup torque converter and give you a 1 year warranty. Get real.......

 

If you read the orginal poster's queston/comment, he is talking whether or not he should change the fluid of have his transmission rebuilt. He never mention drag racing or 550HP. Not everyone on this board drag races there car.

 

If you plan on modifying your car in the future, I'd avoid Aamco.
They will void any warrantee if they think car is no longer stock.
I would change the burnt smelling tranny juice if I were you.
-Rich-

 

Change the tranny fluid and filter. It won't hurt anything at all.

 

Wrong! If you modified you car, you must take it in to Aamco to cerified the changes. When I implanted the 350TPI into my 82Firebird, Aamco OK it with out any problems. They wanted to make sure that the TV cable was connected, TCC lockup was working etc.

 

i was told to change the fluid and filter, then after a few driving hours change it all again to avoid any possible worries

the new fluid will carry all the garbage in the tranny to the new filter, because the old filter may have been full, then once u change it again u can almost be sure ur trans is 100% cleaned out

 

Holy back from the dead thread. All you need to do is pull the pan, replace the filter, weld a drain plug into pan. There your set. When I was still an auto I was draining and filling my trans fluid every other oil change.