It seems clutch material in the pan is a bad thing, and well my transmission has kind of bit the dust. I lost 3rd and OD, but I have Reverse, 1st, and 2nd. All of which work great. So, obviously the transmission is gone. I could have gone the route of getting a used unit, but I always talked about rebuilding a blown one. I think this is my time.

To all the members who want to tell me 'oh, well, it is hard, you won't be able to do it.' Don't. I'm not going to listen. I am doing this mainly for education. If I happen to get a good transmission out of this, then great. If not, I learn the hard way, automatic FWD transmissions are not to be touched. I will be going in skeptical, but with a positive outlook on skepticality. Whatever that means.

I believe I will go about removing the engine/trans above. Instead of dropping the sub frame. It sounds the latter would be harder for just me [gotta remember, i'm just a weak 15 year old doing this alone]. I have no clue what the rental costs would be for an engine hoist.. but I think it is good to assume it will be less than purchasing one [at $150]? I think I will be helped greatly from Randy [randman1] and Bill [BillBoost37], since they seem to be the only members who pulled an LN3?

As far as the where I will be rebuilding the trans.. I have a 4x8 work bench in my basement [dry], a bottom shelf just a smidge smaller than the top shelf, and a good amount of [dry] floorspace. This is obviously an unfinished basement. I also have the garage, but I don't have a workbench out there [no problem there, if necessary], it'* kinda waterproof [wherever i would place it, it would be water proof], but idk about how 'sterile' it is. My basement seems better, IMO.

Then for the actual rebuilding part, I don't know anyone who has really rebuilt a TH440-T4, except for Alec [alec_b]. Who has already been a great help with giving me a great overall type thing of what to expect and whatnot. I believe I am correct on this?

Oh, BTW the whole reason I posted here is for views. Not a whole lot of people visit the 87-91 forum. So please don't move this thread.

EDIT: Just for everyone'* information, I have acquired a job, and have an income of about $100/week. I only work one day a week, and only for a few hours.. so I will not be overwhelmed by work or anything. I should have $300 within 2 weeks.. which will probably cover the majority of the costs.. right?

Sounds good. Since this is going to be a major ordeal can I suggest opening a thread in 87-91 where you can post questions and things that would be more directed toward that era.

Randy and I both have the gearhead forum available if we run into something we are unsure how to advise you.

I like the idea of pulling it apart and going at it. Your skepticism is good. A suggestion though, if possible put off buying the parts you will need for the rebuild as far into the process as possible. This way if you get it apart and decide there'* no way you want to rebuild it, you can use that money toward another one.

Wow, you have some balls to tackle that project. Good luck.

Personally i would have just ordered a brand new one from GM

Do your best and learn what you can, but don't expect a good trans out of the deal. If Don and I were working together and had a month to do it, we still wouldn't. There'* a good reason for it. About half the certified transmission shops don't even produce good rebuilds.

I can assure you that you will NOT get a good trans out of it, but have fun anyway.

I have to agree with Will on this one. I would suggest tracking down a replacement tranny so your car will be back on the road sooner, and possibly not break down due to the tranny. BUT I would still say take the other one apart and document as much as you can, and learn.

I can just see you rebuilding the tranny and it go out on you, so your hard earned $$$ and time went nowhere. PLUS if you have a replacement tranny back in your car then you won't be in any kind of rush to get this one rebuilt, and your car won't be sitting on blocks or stored like before as to not **** anyone else off( neighbors).

Bill, that sounds like a great suggestion. Along with in case something turns out to be broken, I can also get that part too.

Once the process is under way, I will start a thread in the 87-91 forum. For now, this will be a great general thread.

auroradude: I wish I could afford that. $3,000 is not an investment my car is worth. Nor would I be able to afford it in a many months. Although I would love to go that route.

Bill #2: Still not listening to me . Oh well, you may turn out to be right. But at this point, it could go either way. 51/49 [hey, at least give me an extra point in my favour ].

sse1990: purchasing a replacement tranny would cost $500 [there are a handfull that are less, and I may be able to work out a $400 deal, but then you got to worry about shipping and all that crap]. So that wouldn't get me on the road any quicker. Because I can get $300 in two weeks for sure, and then it would take me two more weeks to get $500. In that time I could very well be done with the rebuild, or at least far along. So timing and whatnot would be no quicker. Although I want to get the car back on the road as fast as the next person, it probably won't be any quicker either way. I also enjoy pissing off my neighbours.

Might be the best $15 you spent yet?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ATSG-Manual-for-...QQcmdZViewItem

Sounds like it will be a good learning experience, but I would have to also say try and get a good used tranny in the car right now. Will help with getting parts and also possibly help with the job. I am sure that you could get one from a junkyard for cheap. I know the U-pull-it yard by me sells them for <$80, so that would be a 1 week investment based on your calculations and $20 for those manuals. This is just looking at the situation logically rather than critically.

Good luck on the rebuild.

Even though your not going to listen, i still think you should get a used tranny.
Then you could just go to town on your own tranny. Learn all you want without any consequences.

Okay, so say I do get a used tranny and rebuild my old one. How would I know I did it right? I wouldn't pull a perfectly good engine/trans to put in a good engine and a questionable trans. I would die curious if that transmission would ever work.