Trany Life Expectancy

[DezrtRat]

So, I'll be getting my truck back from the shop next week with a non-53 block engine and a stock rebuilt transmission. I've heard of people who claim they've replaced their trany within a year of new. What are the facts? How long does a rebuild last and what precautions can I take to extend the life? Thanks

[Mopar1973Man]

Ol' CajFlynn has gotten 300K miles out of a mild moded auto tranny...

[Rogan]

Way too many variables to be able to answer that question of longevity..In a perfect world, the trans should last hundreds of thousands of miles. Unfortunately, we're met with part of less than desirable quality, fluid/filter changes that aren't often enough, overworking the capabilities of the units, etc.I put a rebuilt 44RE in a Jeep Grand Cherokee in 11/2010. 21k miles and 16000mi later, it took a duke.This was a $1200 reman trans from a "reputable" rebuilding facility. Roll back 2 yrs, same company... I bought a rebuilt trans for a Ford Windstar. A couple months later, the front pump went out. They sent me a replacement trans, I swapped them, and it's probably got 40-60k on it now, with regular scheduled maintenance, and still going strong. It was a $1400 trans.

[hex0rz]

You failed to mention whether or not your transmission is an auto or manual. I have not dealt with the manuals. Although it seems the manuals do not have many problems like the autos do. I still hear an occassional comment about manuals. I think that part is mostly neglect of it due to too much power and poor servicing.An automatic on the other hand is a different story. The consesus is that a STOCK auto is not nearly capable of even beginning to be able to handle the cummins engines power. Your setting yourself up for failure with a stock transmission. Even when the truck is stock performance wise. You start adding power enhancers like injectors and a chip, turbos, etc. you will soon begin to see the stock auto go out. People are usually not easy on these trucks, thats why they bought them, right? To make a work truck WORK!If you haul or tow anything, you are gonna eventually see the weak links give soon. First thing for me was the torque converter. Then it was the overdrive unit. I'm sure the flywheel will be another one to go out soon too.In all reality though, its what you do with the truck. If you grandma it around and never really open up the throttle and put around town, chances are a stock auto will last you hundreds of thousands of miles with regular service intervals.I assume you wont be doing that though. Cause you have a CTD and not a honda civic. Use your stock tranny until it gives out without causing hard part damage unless you wanna pay for that. Then, get yourself setup with the right tranny built for what you plan on doing.I have a completely stock performance wise truck, and I have a rebuilt tranny with the things in my signature. I have been lectured a little on about getting a billet flexplate and input, but I have also read things about doing the contrary. I do plan using mine to do some work though. Firewood, plowing snow, towing trailers, etc. So I have built mine for what I plan it seeing. With regular interval services, and top quality fluids, I should get quit a bit of life out of it. So long as I don't hot rod it around towing 12k lbs up hills, etc.Even though you may have a tranny built to what you plan on doing with it, it still will see wear and tear on it. Things do wear down no matter what, so you will always have to keep in mind you have to take care of it like it is your body. Hope this was informative!

[Rogan]

If you grandma it around and never really open up the throttle and put around town, chances are a stock auto will last you hundreds of thousands of miles with regular service intervals.

I assume you wont be doing that though. Cause you have a CTD and not a honda civic.

Apparently, you haven't seen my Civic.. LOL

:evilgrin:

[DezrtRat]

OK, I should have been more specific. It's an auto and I primarily use it to tow my 21 ft toy hauler (approximately 6k loaded). Other than that, it will be driven casually. Meaning that at age 47 I don't plan to race the kids or try to pull much larger trailers; however, my wife wants to upgrade to a 5th wheel toy hauler and I do tow up some pretty steep hills/mountains a couple/few times a year.

[pepsi71ocean]

OK, I should have been more specific. It's an auto and I primarily use it to tow my 21 ft toy hauler (approximately 6k loaded). Other than that, it will be driven casually. Meaning that at age 47 I don't plan to race the kids or try to pull much larger trailers; however, my wife wants to upgrade to a 5th wheel toy hauler and I do tow up some pretty steep hills/mountains a couple/few times a year.

being brand new i would put a valve body and good torque converter in it and be done with it. The main issue of stock rebuilds comes from both QC and the fact they never upgraded crap. You don't need anything for this just a good shift kit to raise the line pressures up so that your transmission will handle the massive torque put out. Replacing the stock TC with a billet single disk will help lessen slippage and in turn give you cooler temps which will allow you to prolong transmission life. A good billet single disk will handle your towing (if its infrequent, and heavy), things like that 6,000lbs boat is nothing, im talking 10,000lbs and up, your billet single should be good. (once again infrequent a few times a year and such no problem). I would look into a good billet single disk torque converter and a valve body from DTT (or Goerend etic) Make sure if you go with any company to get the billet 2nd gear accumulator, because one of the major issues is slippage of fluid through the 2nd gear accumulator. Once again there is no need for over kill, unless your like me and have a 5th wheel that rolls across the scales at 15,000lbs unloaded:lmao: