GMC work truck

[chieffan]

Lot of the transmission problems in tow vehicles is driver error, but not all. Way to many drivers can't start up easy. They have to see how fast they can get up to speed which really puts a load on the transmission. A little common sense goes a long ways to making things last.

 

[SimplyRad]

Only had to rebuild one auto, in a 1980 Chevy full size Blazer. Not mine nor the trans fault, but due to someone at the factory installing the shaft coupler backwards at the transfer case input. It was 13 years old when the coupler, being backwards it finally slid past the seal lip and flooded the transfer case with oil and left the trans extremely low on oil. I bought all the trans oil at stores along the way to limp home, as it ultimately overpowered the output seal at the driveshaft and started leaving a trail of ATF. I took the transfer case out and saw the issue and reversed the coupler. About a year later it lost forward, so I took the trans out & took it to a local rebuilder. He fully rebuilt it for just $150. But that was in
94.

I had a 74 Blazer that I stalled in a river that got water in the 4 speed. It had always leaked the oil out of the tranny into the transfer case so when I pulled it to replace an iron bushing in it I found that at the factory they had bent the seal on the back. Never had another till the rear gears broke.

 

[MFDAC]

Have you towed with it?

Not after we owned it. My wife bought it fairly cheap from a dealer where a salesman was a long-time friend of hers. It had about 45,000 on it then. A tourist outfit out in the Badlands was the first owner and she the second. No evidence there was ever a hitch on it. It had actually had gotten damaged in a tornado and repaired. The salesman told us that straight out. It was a pretty reliable van and very comfortable to drive. In 2003 we drove from Rapid City, SD to Crawfordville, GA straight through in 28 hours. Her and I switching off and on much to the kids dismay! I forget how many miles.

She called it the "Silver Bullet" when she first got it, and towards the 200,000 mile mark she started calling it "The ol" grey mare"---LOL! Pic is while I was converting it into a storage shed.

DAC

 

[dodge trucker]

I buy em cheap with a dead trans rebuild them myself and run them into the ground. Just did the one in our Durango just because it has 258k on it, as preventive maintenance, bought it with 214k and to that point I had never touched the trans besides 2 pan drop fluid and filter changes, and I had the engine out anyways

 

[Shorty]

About 2 month ago I was so nicely driving along and an owl swooped down and smacked the windshield. It hit so hard I thought it was coming inside. Boss man was snoozing until it hit right in front of him. With a big cracked windshield, the tranny troubles, fuel gauge hasn't worked for a long time, the topper leaks like crazy, the bed is warping that the tailgate doesn't want to latch and the air conditioner quit again. He got another truck! Just waiting for a topper and ladder rack to be installed. Just thinking about all the stupid quirks that go with this one, a newer truck will ride like a dream. No counting miles for a fuel guess will be the best.

 

[Cvans]

Be nice if the new truck turns out to be a Peach and not another lemon. Best of luck to you.

 

[dodge trucker]

Lucas trans conditioner is not thick.

REALLY???? The ONE time I tried that crap it was thicker than molasses, I 1/2way filled a funnel with it then had to "chase" it with ATF to get it to flow thru the funnel.... that trans died VERY soon after/ I only put ~1/4 of a bottle of Lucas in at that point as it poured SO slow.... I threw the rest of the bottle-ful away.

 

[Shorty]

REALLY???? The ONE time I tried that crap it was thicker than molasses, I 1/2way filled a funnel with it then had to "chase" it with ATF to get it to flow thru the funnel.... that trans died VERY soon after/ I only put ~1/4 of a bottle of Lucas in at that point as it poured SO slow.... I threw the rest of the bottle-ful away.

Yup, had a bottle like that. Got chucked because it took to long to put in.

 

[Shorty]

And finally, just a memory. Surprisingly, with all her issues, I never got stuck along the road with it. Probably will head to a junkyard.