Just got my used 727....now what?

[heminut]

Since he's not charging you to put the shift kit in as part of the rebuild, tell him you found it cheaper and will get the shift kit for him. See what he says then.

[bb71challenger]

Now thats a great idea! I bet he says he cannot warranty another brand of shift kit.

[heminut]

Now thats a great idea! I bet he says he cannot warranty another brand of shift kit.

Shadango said he could get the Transgo kit for $75. That's the same kit the rebuilder is wanting to charge him $180 for.

[tactransman]

shadango,here is the best place to get Transgo S.K.'s on-line.
http://www.transmissionpartsusa.com/TF8_A727_Transmission_shift_kits_s/9260.htm

That is why I thought $150 was kind of high. If you try to "tell" him what to do or parts to use,he might tell you to do it yourself or take it some where else though. 

$700 is a little high, but if he knows what he's doing and has a good rep with the Mopar guys around,I say you are OK.

[shadango]

I certainly don't want to try and tell the guy what to do or what parts to use etc......In the end, he is the pro here.....

But at the same time, I want to know what I am getting and that I am getting a fair shake.

If the kit costs $100 or less, why is he charging me $180 for it, telling me that there is no charge to install it? Shipping certainly doesn't cost $80.

This isn't sitting right with me......there has to be a logical explanation here......I was hoping that it was simply that I was looking at the wrong kits......

[71chally416]

You can buy a rebuild kit, MP deep pan AND a Turbo Action shift kit from Mancini for $229 if you buy them bundled together ($209 for the 904)

[shadango]

Like I said, I dont want to come off looking like I am checking up on the guy....I was simply trying to get some info on what I am getting......and in the process, found that the price he is giving me doesnt jive with what *I* can find on the web.......I am wondering if there isnt some sort of "super kit" or something that is above and beyond what I have found so far and that is why the price doubled....

[tactransman]

No,he is talking about the same kits as you are.

[shadango]

So is it common to upcharge that much?

Seems strange that he would double the price of the kit yet talk me out of more expensive kevlar/red clutches etc.......he is "throing in" the neutral safety switch.....he didnt give me prices on the billet servo stuff or the strut, but I threw out what I thought they cost and he didnt balk at that.....

I guess I am just a bit unsettled on this....

He was recommended to me by a neighbor who has had work done on his mopar trannies by him......

[heminut]

I'm sure your neighbor is happy with the guy's work, or he wouldn't be recommending him. The question is though, was your neighbor dealing with the same set of circumstances, i.e. was he getting a shift kit from the guy priced $100 over the regular price and was he aware of it? What it all boils down to is you know the guy is charging you another $100 for the shift kit that is going to go in his pocket and he is trying to tell you that he's not charging you extra for the shift kit install. What you've got to decide is if you're going to take the $100 hit and let the guy do your tranny, or if you're going to confront him about the price discrepancy and get him to charge you the actual cost of the kit or let you get it for him. Your decision!

[shadango]

Yeah, thats exactly what it boils to I guess.

Thing is, if I call him on it, I will likely offend him *if* he already knew that the cost of the kit os only $90 or so.....

One side of me says to just sit back and eat it.....if I do call him on it he could very easily say "no problem" and find some other issue that costs $100....not saying he would, but that would be in the back of my mind....

I could wait until he has the thing apart and then see what he says and then bring this up....he said he needed to tear it down (obviously) to see what the innards were looking like....

I really hate dealing with stuff like this....I much prefer everything to be open and honest........

I may give my neighbor a call again and see what he thinks....

[tactransman]

I can see him marking up the part,he has to MAKE money,that is just a big mark up. Maybe he does not have a good source to get one? $75 is my cost from my supplier on the TF-2 kit,so like I said earlier,that Transmission Parts USA is a good source.

I can see him charging a little labor for the kit install since you have to modify the VB and take time to read the instructions if he has not done many of them.


Make sure your trans has a 3.8 ratio intermediate lever as well. If not,the part # from the dealer is # 2125067

[shadango]

On the lever, what is the result if its not the 3.8?

[tactransman]

A softer 1-2 shift.

[shadango]

Thanks...

Talkedto the guy again today to ask about these. 

To be really honest, I am not sure he is a true "Torqueflight expert".  Maybe I wasnt asking the right questions or maybe he was just too busy at the moment....but he didnt seem to have great answers to the questions I asked....

I asked about the shift kit and asked if it was a TF-2, etc....he said he didnt think so but that he could check the part numbers on the box when it came in, which he claimed would be today at 3pm.... this, after he told me yesterday it would take several days to come in...we even discussed whether I wanted the parts overnighted and we agreed NO......  He didnt know what the cost on the servo was.....told me he would check the paperwork when it came in....

I dunno, maybe he just has a really poor "bedside manner" and is the best tranny guy around.

Waiting to hear back from my neighbor who recommended him....

Ya know when you just get a funny feeling?

I am trying not to over-analyze.....but hey, I wont know WHAT is in this tranny until it is taken apart again in reality....I really want to be able to trust the guy.......but so far, things arent adding up as far as first impressions........

He hasnt torn it down yet , said he was planning on doing that tomorrow to see where we stand internally.

Tactransman, wish you were closer....would have just brought it to you.  You have provided more info to me in this thread than the guy who is getting paid to do the job has...

On the upside, the pan you suggested from Summit came today ....WOW! NICE! Very nicely made and heavy..... Thanks for turning me on to that one....