Just new to the forum, nice to be here and look forward to learning and helping out here. I was driving my 89 when the transmission went out because it was too low on fluid (4x4, standard with a 302). I do not know much about transmissions, what is the cheapest way to get back rolling: rebuild (not sure what that means), or just put in a new trannie? Thanks

 

Cheapest will be to get a junkyard tranny. Rebuild will be expensive but will be like a new tranny. Then you can get a new tranny which is more expensive than a rebuild.

 

you might check out jasper rebuilt trannys. they carry a good warranty and if anything happens underwarranty they are very fast about fixng them.

might check out what you have locally also. but before you go to a local shop, unless you know them, ask people if they heard any feedback.

I had to get a tranny rebuklt for a 1994 grand caravan, well, the tranny fell out of vehilce and they put the wrong tranny fluid in... i was not happy.

 

Jasper engines and transmissions are supposed to be excellent rebuilt parts. They also come with a very good warranty.

 

Junkyard would be your cheapest bet. Most big junkyards warranty their parts and normally test their parts before selling them. My t-case just went in my truck and they wanted $1,6xx? for a re-manufactured one from jasper but instead i got my truck back and went to the junkyard and got one for $250. It came with a 6 month warranty, it's not a great warranty but not bad from a junkyard. now if you would rather have a tranny that has all new internals then i would go with a re-manufactured one because they are just as good if not sometimes better then a new one.

 

Junkyard is the cheaper way, but you are taking a risk.. Will the JY tranny last a day? A week? A month?? At least with the rebuild if they know what they are doing it has new parts in it. You stand alot better chance of it working. We have a car in the shop right now from a used car lot that had a bad transmission. They supplied a used transmission. We are currently installing the 4th transmission because the other ones were bad.

 

Ok, thanks for the input. Sounds like the best option may be to bite the bullet and get a new/rebuilt one.