Trans is bad- advice!?

[jsherrod]

1984 amc eagle wagon 4wd 6cyl

Went to adjust front band and it will never tighten so i took the ol wagon to the trans shop. It has no second gear, bangs into reverse and leaks from a number of seals. Trans shop wants to rebuild for a mere $1500.  What should i do? From reading the forum it seems like the 727 would be a decent option? It seems more available than another 998, but if there are mods and transfer case problems will i still run into that $1500 range....

needs some advice on where to go from here!  thanks

[jsherrod]

i am not opposed to rebuilding this thing myself - i am mechanically inclined or i wouldnt own this ridiculous wagon, but i have never cracked open a trans.

[carnuck]

Where are you? Close to Seattle? It sounds like the second gear band broke. I did the 727 swap in mine already. (and NP229)

[eaglefreek]

Seems steep to me. I paid $650 about 4 years ago. That included rebuilding it to 999 specs, new converter and shift kit. I did the removal and install though.

[jsherrod]

not real close to Seattle- im in columbus ohio--But i will do what i need to. Just want to find a good option that isnt going to leave me in the same situation in the near future.  I am picking it up tonight from the shop, and i will ask what they would charge if i did remove and install.

[1985amceagle]

i am not opposed to rebuilding this thing myself - i am mechanically inclined or i wouldnt own this ridiculous wagon, but i have never cracked open a trans.

here is a link to a manual for the torqueflight transmission.

http://www.amceaglesden.com/images/Downloads/auto%20trans%20998.pdf

[vangremlin]

Seems steep to me. I paid $650 about 4 years ago. That included rebuilding it to 999 specs, new converter and shift kit. I did the removal and install though.

That is the price range I would expect. I think I paid about $700 which included the removal and install. You might do some shopping around.

[carnuck]

And check online for the rep of the shop. Chains are usually the worst.

[captspillane]

not real close to Seattle- im in columbus ohio--

I'm about six hours away from you and I sometimes get out by State College or even closer. I do have a professionally rebuilt 727 with zero miles since rebuild sitting here, as well as a couple good used transmissions for a quick and cheap swap.

If you are mechanically inclined and precise, then I would suggest swapping the transmission with a known good one and then rebuilding the one you take out yourself at your leisure. They are very easy to rebuild and the parts are a minor cost.

I've found the transmission filter is the biggest weakness to these. An external filter to supplement the one inside the pan does a world of difference.

[eaglebeek]

1984 amc eagle wagon 4wd 6cyl

Went to adjust front band and it will never tighten so i took the ol wagon to the trans shop. It has no second gear, bangs into reverse and leaks from a number of seals. Trans shop wants to rebuild for a mere $1500.  What should i do? From reading the forum it seems like the 727 would be a decent option? It seems more available than another 998, but if there are mods and transfer case problems will i still run into that $1500 range....

needs some advice on where to go from here!  thanks

I cringe when I hear/read of prices like this for overhauling a TorqueFlite. It's a simple 3-speed w/lockup converter. A shop has to make money or it can't survive, but $1500 is in my opinion a bit steep considering the simplicity of the TorqueFlite.

[carnuck]

I would check Grand Wagoneers and 80-83 Cherokees and Wagoneers (full size. Front driveshaft driver's side like the Eagle) Some of the 80-83 4.2L 6 cyl Cherokees came with the 999 and a NP208 tcase.

[AB-SX4]

$1,500 sounds almost cheap to me. Got a quote for $2,800 here in Calgary today from a mechanic that has worked on transmissions for 40 years. Nice guy, but seriously $2,800. So it'll have to wait until we have time to do it ourselves. And by now I got 2 Eagles sitting with tranny problems. Am a bit unhappy right now...
Isn't there anyone selling rebuilt 998's?

[carnuck]

Why bother? They are weak to the point most people who have them in YJs and TJs with 6 cyl upgrade to 727 or convert to AW4 (which is a bit tougher in Eagles) They are one of the most warranty prone transmissions ever put in a Jeep except maybe the BA 10/5 5 speed standard. 727 was a direct swap with minimal conversion. I just swapped the linkage from the dead trans to the new trans (taking care to position them the same way as the old one to avoid extra adjustments) and bolt it in. A lockup one (mostly 80-83) will give you the same fuel economy as a non-lockup 998 and Dex III fluid keeps the converter from dying like many did in FSJs back in the day. (Dex II wasn't good enough for the lockup clutches)
   For that $2800 you could fly here to Seattle, give me $200 for the 727/NP219 I'm selling, have a weekend at the most expensive hotel and see some shows and fly home.

[AB-SX4]

Carnuck, I like your idea about the trip, but I don't have the $2,800 plus I have two Eagles with tranny problems now. Am I correct that first gear on the 727 is not geared as low as the 998?
We had the 727 in our J-20 and it was a fabulous tranny.

[carnuck]

727 doesn't come with as low a first as 904 but some 998s and 999s came with the same higher first gear as 727. The way around it is a slightly higher stall speed converter if you have a lockup trans so it won't cost you economy. The aftermarket higher speed lockup spring in the valvebody will make it feel like a 4 speed auto when it locks at 55 instead of 45 mph.

With a smaller car or rental truck you could drive here and back for less than $1000 round trip. I drive to/from Abbotsford, BC for $60 in gas from here.