If you've been reading this you know that I put a new transmission in the Cutlass a month or so ago. Well the bloody thing was making a funny noise and not shifting right. The whole car was also extremely sluggish- like I'd lost 20 or 30 horse power. I was afraid that the transmission that I bought was bad. On top of that, the company that I bought the damn thing from is in bankruptcy at the moment. I was lucky to even get a transmission, some folks didn't. It was one of the last ones I believe.
But I was afraid to take the car to a transmission shop, because I didn't want to hear the bad news that the whole thing is junk and it'll cost you at least $1000 to rebuild the boat anchor in your drive train. I was talking to Dad about that this weekend and he suggested that I have Doug Widick of Widick Diesel rebuild it for me. Doug's shop is the only place that Dad will allow to touch his semi. Doug uses Dad's Western Star as a test truck of sorts and does all kinds of fun and wacky stuff to make it get better fuel mileage. He is currently getting around 7.5 mpg and pushing 550+ horsepower. That 7.5 mpg is a very impressive feat for a semi.
Anyway I didn't want to bring the car to Doug without really knowing the transmission was toast. So I took the Cutlass to a transmission shop (Transmissions Incorporated at 49th and Dodge, Omaha) that is only about 4 blocks from where I live. They sign out front that says free transmission diagnosis. So I thought that I'd have them check it out first. They then called about noon to say that the funny noise was the transmission dipstick was vibrating against something and the throttle pressure needed adjusted along with a cable stop thingy. Kirk at the shop said they could do all this for $51.43. This pleased me greatly- along with Anke who was very understanding and wasn't even going to yell at me if I had to get the transmission rebuilt.
I picked the car up after work and suddenly the Cutlass and I were friends again. I couldn't hear the transmission and it was much peppier. It seems that before getting fixed the car wasn't ever staying in first gear, so I was always taking off in second, which will make your car seem slower than it actually is.
So the moral of the story is I should have faced the music and taken it to the guys down the street weeks ago. I'd have been much happier if I had.
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2 comments:
Scott,
I have been keeping track of your misfortunes with the transmition. I am so relieved to find that you have found a simple and cost effective solution (not to mention a shop that did not take advantage of you). Come down some time and hang out.
Chris Rhodes (B.F.S.)
bigfinger74@yahoo.com
I was really happy with the transmission shop that I found. The guys there were nice and honest. I always get nervous taking my car to a shop that I'm unfamiliar with, because you never know what you're going to get. I would really recommend Transmissions Incorperated. I hope not to need thier services in the future, but if any of my cars do need transmission servicing I'll take it there.
I got my new shifter and a kick-down cable bracket that I need to get installed. I need to escape the wife and head down on a convient weekend finish that up.
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