Hu Ryde said:
Going to NATS?? Try and win the Roadmaster one, you cant beat a free built tranny.
Umm, Yeah. I'd have to recommend several other options first. And if you did win the Roadmaster offer, go and buy a 4x4 core 88 to 93. Try to get a later model so you know service upgrades are in there and not rely on a shop putting them in for you. I'd keep your original transmission with all the SyTy goodies in tact. (VB, geartrain, etc.) That way, if you get the transmission back from them and you don't like it, you'll have the comfort of knowing you still have your original base to build instead of having to deal with someone else's stuff in your original and only transmission. Nothing is more fun than pulling a SyTy tranny apart only to find all your original stuff modified or exchanged for who knows what. You can't add mods to other people's mods blindly. If you miss a minute detail, you can be hosed. If you get the tranny back and it was everything you ever dreamed of, great. No loss, no risk.
If you aren't fortunate to win the tranny, and in a budget crunch, I'd suggest buying a SRTA replacement from GM with the 3 year/36000 mile warranty. But pay the $250 for the core charge and keep the original tranny. The new tranny comes with a cool shipping carton which you'll need to insist on keeping. If a shop puts it in, they will not mention the carton and either keep it for their use or sell it. Yeah, the SRTA trannies might not be what they used to be, which isn't saying much as far as the quality or strength but at least you have one on GM's dime if it breaks, which it will. They will honor the warranty until they get tired of you, just like most other tranny shops. I went through 7-8 SRTA transmssions before GM shafted me. Most didn't work right out of the box. Why they delivered the truck to me with a new broken tranny is beyond me but they finally said sorry, we can't help you. I said, "I paid for a 3LHM tranny with a warranty that was new and worked, I didn't buy this" They just stare back at you blankly with a smile. "So, what do I do now? Sue GM?" They just smile and say, "You don't sue GM. If you try, their corperate lawyers will extend the case out for over ten years if it takes that long before you run out of money trying to pay your lawyer in the meantime." They also said, " I only know one person that had the nerve to try and sue GM for a breach of contract and he is on his nineth year with nothing still, not even closer to it being resolved than the day it was filed." The only way to get GM to own up to their responsiblity is to die in one of their vehicles just like a 1000 other people for one of the many problems they bury due to the cost of correcting the problem. 2 cents is a lot of money if you broadcast it over the next 500 years. They'll pay when they are forced to or if their image is damaged and they want to look like they care for your safety at all. So, in the meantime, save up your money to buy a nice TC, a nice rebuild or a kit. Build your original or have it done on your own timeline. But you should also make sure that before you go wild modifiying your truck and thrashing it at the track, be sure you are ready at all times to do the job right if you plan on playing zoom zoom with the boys. Nothing will ruin your day quite like your truck breaking. It will happen at the most inoppurtune time and make your life miserable. Theirs a lot better things to be miserable about than a truck but seems like the truck is always there to try proving that theory wrong.
Call me if you have questions, I hope that helps some.
