DIY dodge auto tranny...

jimboy · Aug 2, 2009

lucky jeff

The trans was a total rebuild at source dunrite converter and VB billet shafts.

The band broke, they blamed it on him for manually shifting the transmission.
I drove the truck when they first finished the job the trans shifted terrible and Rip told my buddy that it was fine.:rb:

Everyone has good and bad experences at performance shops. I just wanted to give more information to the thread.

The people that recommended my freind to go to source, also had not had a transmisson rebuilt by them.

I bought parts for my dodge(exhaust and injectors) I had a great experence, but I did see how dirty there shop was. Seeing that threw up a red flag to me.

I do recommend source if you are just looking to buy parts, in house labor is Qeustionalbe at best.

Lucky Jeff · Aug 3, 2009

well I can't blame you there.. I have bought parts from him numerous times. He's worked on a friends head I brought down there.. Know a few people with his tranny's.. And I know what his truck does in the 1/4 mile repeatedly. But like you said, sometimes stuff just happens and you end up with an un-happy customer. Seen it at all shops. And yea, it is a little on the dirty side. Rip doesn't have much help like the other shops I visit often and he's usually running around like crazy. Barely even have enough time to talk to him while he's at work..

jimboy · Aug 3, 2009

Sourceauto

Is a truck that runs a 1/4at a race track important?

I use my dodge to tow my buggy on 1000mile plus trips regularly.
I think Sourceauto thinks about the drag strip maybe more that reliability?

cisco · Aug 4, 2009

After spending 3k on mine, Its been trouble free. I never take the camper off. Course now I can't sell the rig due to the gold plated tranny.

Lucky Jeff · Aug 4, 2009

jimboy said:
Is a truck that runs a 1/4at a race track important?

I use my dodge to tow my buggy on 1000mile plus trips regularly.
I think Sourceauto thinks about the drag strip maybe more that reliability?

Honestly.. Towing a buggy 1,000 miles is nothing. So yea, if a tranny can hold up to these things drag racing. It's obviously just fine for towing a light load a regular distance.

Binder · Aug 4, 2009

Lucky Jeff said:
if a tranny can hold up to these things drag racing. It's obviously just fine for towing a light load a regular distance.

I don't agree with that..

Lucky Jeff · Aug 4, 2009

Binder said:
I don't agree with that..

ever done a 15-25+ psi launch? Many of those well built trannys can even drag race while hauling more then a buggy and trailer weigh. My truck has it easy when it is left to just hauling and towing. When I try and drag race, or play while empty, it starts to fight back. And I am definitely not a light footed driver while towing.

Binder · Aug 4, 2009

So you assume that if a tranny can drag race it will hold up to towing? How about a trans with a slow overheating problem? Not a issue for the 5 minutes it runs before a race, try towing to AZ.....What if it had a oiling issue with a main bearing? Again works fine for 5 minutes, try towing all day. There is more to a auto trans then how much torque it will hold up to...We could go on and on about things like this but the answer is racing and towing have different parameters and the transmission should have different parameters too.

CHOP SHOP · Aug 4, 2009

The best part of racing is, you only have to make it last about 20 seconds.

And if it dont, well its only a 1/4 mile tow back.

Racing needs BRUTE, not dependability.:beer:

Lucky Jeff · Aug 4, 2009

You guys are digging deep.. The tranny is STRONG enough to do both. A cooling problem is a design flaw. When was the last time you heard of an aftermarket manufacturer building a tranny that ddin't last more then 20 seconds or 5 miles? I'm pretty sure it'd be fixed pretty quick.. Keep digging though, It's fun.

And yes cooling is still an issue.. Try putting your truck in 4 wheel drive.. Powerbraking it up to a certain amount of boost and hold it there.. See what the temp gauge does.. It doesn't go down :hi:

82toyomud · Aug 4, 2009

Binder said:
So you assume that if a tranny can drag race it will hold up to towing? How about a trans with a slow overheating problem? Not a issue for the 5 minutes it runs before a race, try towing to AZ.....What if it had a oiling issue with a main bearing? Again works fine for 5 minutes, try towing all day. There is more to a auto trans then how much torque it will hold up to...We could go on and on about things like this but the answer is racing and towing have different parameters and the transmission should have different parameters too.

The major failures that have been brought up in this thread and in about 90% of the past threads have "mechanical" failures, rather thermal failures... So the assumption that if it can make it down the track it can make it down the interstate is a pretty valid assumption. If the TC or the VB or the clutches or the shafts can take the abuse given by a 4x4 15-20 PSI launch then they will definitely take the abuse given during hauling... Cause I know for sure no one on here tows that hard, or if they do its to get their rig out of the parking lot...

And if your tranny over heats that's your own dumb ass fault for not looking at your gauges:looser:

jimboy · Aug 4, 2009

lucky Jeff

I did'nt explain my self very well. I think a shop that builds a tranny around drag racing is different than trans that is built to last for many long miles even if it is towing a normal weight buggy.
If my transmission would have only lasted only 3months I would have been ****ed. More than likely I would have been standed some where a long ways from home.I average close to 9000miles just in the summer on my dodge.
It sounds like u drag race ur truck but u have a 5speed manual right? You don't have to worry about what the shop did to your trans, just if ur cluch is gonna hold. ur lucky.

Lucky Jeff · Aug 4, 2009

jimboy said:
I did'nt explain my self very well. I think a shop that builds a tranny around drag racing is different than trans that is built to last for many long miles even if it is towing a normal weight buggy.
If my transmission would have only lasted only 3months I would have been ****ed. More than likely I would have been standed some where a long ways from home.I average close to 9000miles just in the summer on my dodge.
It sounds like u drag race ur truck but u have a 5speed manual right? You don't have to worry about what the shop did to your trans, just if ur cluch is gonna hold. ur lucky.

no, I don't drag race.. I find it pointless with a manual, they are way too slow in comparison with an auto.. I screw around and beat on it pretty much every day. But I don't go down the drag strip.

And you'd be surprised how many miles a 1/4 mile drag race is compared to normal driving/towing. Trust me, these things aren't built for short spirts. They are built to take the abuse for a LONG time. With that said. I have seen complaints from every single tranny builder that is well known. Some times problems come up. It does happen.

jimboy · Aug 4, 2009

Lucky Jeff said:
no, I don't drag race.. I find it pointless with a manual, they are way too slow in comparison with an auto.. I screw around and beat on it pretty much every day. But I don't go down the drag strip.

And you'd be surprised how many miles a 1/4 mile drag race is compared to normal driving/towing. Trust me, these things aren't built for short spirts. They are built to take the abuse for a LONG time. With that said. I have seen complaints from every single tranny builder that is well known. Some times problems come up. It does happen.

I totally agree that problems come up. That has been my whole complaint with source is that if their customers have a problem they don't take care of them. they blame them

Binder · Aug 4, 2009

82toyomud said:
And if your tranny over heats that's your own dumb ass fault for not looking at your gauges:looser:

So you think it's acceptable for a trans to overheat and have to stop and let it cool every quarter mile or so? Please stay off of the highways I tow on.:looser:

Lucky Jeff · Aug 4, 2009

jimboy said:
I totally agree that problems come up. That has been my whole complaint with source is that if their customers have a problem they don't take care of them. they blame them

I've seen many different scenarios.. I've heard plenty of complaints from customers and also see how the company views it. Customers don't exactly know everything. There are companies out there that try to screw people over. I know for a fact Rip isn't one of them.

Lucky Jeff · Aug 4, 2009

Binder said:
So you think it's acceptable for a trans to overheat and have to stop and let it cool every quarter mile or so? Please stay off of the highways I tow on.:looser:

You know what he was getting at.. Quit trying to argue just for the sake of arguing.

Binder · Aug 5, 2009

Lucky Jeff said:
You know what he was getting at.. Quit trying to argue just for the sake of arguing.

But that's why I come to this board.:haha:

82toyomud · Aug 5, 2009

Binder said:
So you think it's acceptable for a trans to overheat and have to stop and let it cool every quarter mile or so? Please stay off of the highways I tow on.:looser:

Its the people who throw a 11' camper in the bed of their pick-up, and put two buggies on a trailer and expect to still do 75 over the pass...