So on my way home from work I got into my car and got about 100 feet and the transmission would not engage. I could turn the car off then back on and it would do the same thing. I got a tow home and took a day to decide on what I wanted to do with it...

I wanted to get a transmission from Dave at TEP but I did not want to wait a month and have to have it shipped then finding someone to install it or do it myself. Book time on Removing and Replacing is 7.9 hours for the transmission. I have all the tools needed but after calling around to local shops (Milwaukee, WI) and guys that work out of their own garages that have their own transmission business said it was a very hard job to do even with a hoist. Given I am pretty familiar with a wrench and have rebuilt 2 engines, one out of my old 98 grand am with a 3.1 in it, I did not feel too ambitious about this project.

So I called around to see if anyone would do it for around $550 (What dave will do it for) and no one was able to beat him, the cheapest i found just for R&R was 700. I looked around locally to see if anyone would be able to do a performance transmission rebuild for around the same price as Dave. A lot of shops would not do anything to "Beef" it up so the same parts would fail again, like the TCC, the clutches, etc. I was recommended by a mechanic that has been working on transmissions for the past 30 years to give ATD a call and they answered.

Automatic Transmission Design (Certified Transmission Specialists) is the shop I ended up going with. After talking to them for about an hour on what I wanted specifically done they quoted me with a price. The guy Charles has personally done over 300 of these transmissions, that and with a 2 year 24k warranty behind him I felt I was in good hands. The build is expected to be just about the same as Dave at TEP but with a different shift kit. The price came out to be 2100$ installed and done in 4 days. I added in a trans cooler $200 installed, they are also mounting, balancing, and doing an alignment for an additional $90.

So that is where I am at now, I will keep everyone posted with updates as I get them!
Any and all comments/thoughts are welcome

 

Cool... glad you didn't decide to get rid of the car. You'll love it even more with a solid rebuild.

 

I Hope so I just installed the Hogan catless DP with my magnaflow catback and love the sound!

 

If it's not too late, might I suggest getting 3.29 gears. The build shouldn't cost more, but you'd have to get a re-tune. Really peps the car up. Need good tires though

 

He said the kit is between 300-400 more to get 3.29 gears, should i go with it?

 

What kind of car do you have?

 

sorry i need to update my sig on here. 2005 grand prix gxp 104k miles, hogan catless DP, magnaflow cat back, k&N Cai

 

I've heard those LS4 cars are notorious for their transmissions going out. You'll have to keep us posted on how good this built transmission is.

 

I would unless you have plans on going to a turbo set up as Dave recommends the stock gearing for high hp applications.

 

Is that just due to traction issues? Would DavidGXP's setup be considered "high hp?"

And to OP's question, for $300ish I'd still do it. Sorry, Dave didn't charge me extra for 3.29's but he must've had a use for the stock ones I sent him and called it an even trade I guess.

 

I thought I had what he said in an email from when I got a quote for a built trans. Maybe I read it in another thread, but it has to do with the longevity of the trans. I believe the chain stretches faster with the steeper gears.

But in general the 2.93s should also build boost faster as there will be a greater load on the engine.

Maybe that extra $300 is for a 7/8" chain upgrade and the gears because that is also what Dave charges for that.