Input Shaft Battle of Death

MCummings · 07-08-2003, 01:58 AM

Well guys,

I went and did what everybody thought I'd do.

I broke my "new" truck. Diagnosis so far is a snapped input shaft. I will have to drop the tranny to find out for sure. If I would have been driving an auto like you are supposed to, everything would be fine, but, I just liked locking up the TCC in 1st gear wayyy to much, so pulling away from a stoplight, I locked up the TCC at 10-15MPH, and proceded through the gears, then on the 2-3 shift, BANG, that's all she wrote,, I coasted to a stop, ironicly, right in front of a popular tranny shop.

I understood the Service Manager telling me that for $20 they would drop the tranny and inspect it all, and tell me what broke, so I had them put $20 on my bill, and left the truck at the shop for all afternoon, and when I came back in the evening, all they had to say was "Your transmission has internal problems, and it will be $850 to pull the tranny and look at it, parts are extra"
The catch is, 90 days, or 4,000 miles WARRENTY,, parts AND Labour. Flipside... What parts will they replace broke ones with? I CAN'T use my own parts, they have to supply that.
The owner fully understands, and knows this truck will be used for racing, and that I had not owned this truck for 3 weeks before I had allready broken it. He says "I've never seen a racing diesel pickup before, but warrenty will still be in effect"

So, besides getting it in writing, should I pay the overpriced $850 and keep going back with broken tranny parts? or, Do it myself in my driveway for $120 - $650 ? If I do it myself, I gain more experiance, and know what is in the tranny. If they do it,, who know's what parts they may use, and when the clutchs or whatnot go out, I don't have a choice on what parts go in, it's whatever they choose.

Anybody have any ideas?

I'm thinking about taking them for a ride, but I think after input shaft number 4 - 5, they aren't going to want to see me anymore.
If I do it myself, I will be saving ALOT of money, and be able to get intimate with my truck.

BTW, I have a 24V in the driveway too, with what appears to be some Head problems, and a Killer Dowel Pin. As soon as it stops raining for more than 12 hours, I'll tear into that one.

Merrick Cummings Jr

EDIT: My 24V appears to have a wasted cylinder, but I won't find out untill I lift the head off the truck tomorow. I have everything ready to pull the head,, even the rockers are un-bolted, so it won't be too long till I know what happened.