So there is a guy in Texas selling a NOS 904 transmission. I am sorely tempted to purchase it to install in my brother's van. However, the seller says the transmission has never been install and has been sitting on a dealership shelf. Should I be worried about dried up seals inside the transmission?

I took mine somewhat apart to work on the valve body to put in a Transgo TF-2 shift kit. Seals were perfect from what I could see. The original shipping lubricant was also in good shape. I think you would be fine. Just remember this is a lock up tranny and needs a lock up converter to match ... that is if you don't want the headace I have now. By the way, I gave him a 275 offer and he took it. Shipping will cost you about 175 depending.

Reed,

If you were willing to go without lockup I have a fresh transmission all ready to go. V8 clutches, red kickdown band and 4-pinion planets, shift kit.

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Joshua

Josh,

I thought you had sold that. If you still need a buyer (at any point), I'm interested. Sergio and the Terrys will likely meet me in Kearney, NE, so we could make drop then.

Thanks,

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Still have it. Just can't bring myself to give up the manual trans. I have the 9.5" PTC converter too, but I might keep it and use it behind my 273. I don't think the Northern California guys would be coming close to here on their way to Nebraska and I'm not planning on visiting Redding before then.

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Joshua

Crap. Very tempting, but I just bought a reman lockup converter last week and I am trying to maximize MPG in my brother's van. I think I will have to pass.

So the eBay trannies are NOS lockup models. Dave- was yours a wide-ratio gearset version?

OK, Josh. Keep me in mind if opportunities arise, or we could work Greyhound shipping...

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Reed, from what I have read yes, first gear is lower that earlier models and the second gear is slightly lower than second in the earlier models. That makes sense to me since the lock-up provides one to one ratio in third. Non lock-ups never get to 1to1, they get to .9 to 1, that at least according to my torque converter guy. This particular lock-up is a mechanical actuator as opposed to an electric actuator as well. I'm really miffed at myself for not asking more questions before I bought it, but it you hear of anyone who needs a lock-up with a Transgo TF-2 shift kit in it, let me know. I might end up going a different direction. Not sure yet.

Reed, by the way, I'm not too far away from Sergio so I could deliver it to him.

Isn't .9:1 overdrive? I don't think that is possible without another "gear".

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11.02 @ 120.56
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAxRmoDgsdY
Chassis dyno
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wd6hFGzLJMc

Thanks guys. Money is too tight right now for me to purchase another transmission, but I think I have my problem solved and I can fix the tranny I have with parts I have in my garage. I'm crossing my fingers anyway...

Good luck with that Reed. Shaker, yes, your right. I should have said 1 to .9 going from crankshaft to converter. Thanks for correcting me. Always learning in this game.

You guys are awesome. I have never really had to mess with transmissions. But, I have been debating what to do with my Volare. Mine is making a lot of metallic noise when loaded. I was looking at getting one of the ebay units but I do not know enough about the compatability details. My volare has a "heavy duty" 904. But, I do not know what "heavy duty" means in this situation. So, I am hesitant to pickup a tranny that I can not get details on. The ebay guy could only tell me that it was a lockup built in 85.
So, my dilema is: do I learn how to rebuild a tranny or do I buy this rebuild off of ebay? I like to be able to do things myself and I could pick and choose on the internals. But, if there is something significant wrong with my current transmission, I will be buying the rebuild and putting the trans go in it.
Any insight or opinions are very welsome (I'm in Houston so shipping is about $150).
Thanks,
Tom

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78' Volare - 225 Supersix
77' Volare - 225 Supersix

I have been screwing around with the transmission in my brother's van for over a year. My recommendation to you would be to buy one of the ones off eBay. It will be a lockup with the wide ratio gearset (since it was built in 85). Buy it, install it, fill it with ATF+4, and enjoy it.

I agree with Reed. Unless your willing to by a core tranny (sometimes you can get them free on Craigslist), tear it down and put it back together using a good shop manual, go with the EBAY tranny. 904's and 727's are very simple trannys to build but there are some tricks to it. You may also need some special tools to pull the bushings as well. Remember, the EBAY trannys are not rebuilt, their new build in 85 and never installed. It's hard to beat the price. The guys selling them is in Texas...not sure where so you might be able to save some money and drive over and pick it up. As I told REED, I paid 275 (or 250 can't remember) for the tranny so bid 200 and let him come back. He'll come back at 300. Go again at 250 and he will come back at 275. Of course, now that I've said that he'll be having a bad day. But I do know he has a bunch of these and just wants to off load them.