i have the suncoast level 3 and i need it put in . i would pull the trans and take to them . does anyone know someone in the pa , md area or anywhere on the east coast . i would be willing to drive . my guy has never done one and now he said this moring in 2 weeks he could get to it . not good for me . anyone know anyone??? thanks

I would rather do the internals of an allison than the removal and replacemnt. JMO but if your yanking the dude you might as well do the whole thing.

i have no experience in side a auto trans at all . i dont mind yanking it .

bring it up. Your not that far.

holy crap i dont want to drive that far . i am thinking in the 2-4 hour drive

Innards of an allison are really pretty easy. Or for a sure thing make a road trip

anyone know anyone ?close to me i am in pa near harrisburg . i could go north or south

The best in the area would be Dmaxallitech. People have driven further....

If you can pull the trans (that is the hardest from what I have read) you can do the inards, yourself. Mike L (supporting vendor) has a great book for the Allison available for $25. PM him.

Get a Website ,and web cam for live feed. Log onto the DieselPlace, we'll walk you through it in the comfort of your own garage.


Before someone gets any ideas I'm on it!


Mac http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

If you are willing to send it to me, I will do it free of charge. I have never done one, but would sure like to learn on one other then mine. If all goes well I will install one on mine.


Let me know if you need my address.

If you are willing to send it to me, I will do it free of charge. I have never done one, but would sure like to learn on one other then mine. If all goes well I will install one on mine.


Let me know if you need my address.





Now thats a good idea. Anyone in the New Orleans area looking for a free rebuild? http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif

I would be carefull where I sent my Alli.


mike

There is a good guy in NC

i would love to do it myself but i just dont even have a clue as to how an automatic works inside . i am very mechanically inclined and able i just do not want to have any problems when i get it done . are you guys sure i could do this myself? and that book for $25 does it have pics and very explanatory ?





i was underneath it the other day on the lift and it did not look that bad to pull , is it just heavy thats why you guys say it is hard ?

joshn06, who is the good guy in N.C., I'm in south west Va. and have been looking for someone who knows what there doing and I can trust. Anywhere in N.C. wouldn't be that far of a drive for good work

Its heavy and the converter is a borderline PITA. FYI, dont get lazy and try to tighten the converter bolts as you go, get em all started and then tighten em. Boy I cant believe I am admiting to that. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Embarrased.gif I know I was bad and yes for the record i relized at the time i was being a jackass but decided to take the lazy way out and it cost me alot more timehttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Embarrased.gif


Get the book from Mike L., look it over and then decide. It is pretty easy inside. A couple little gotchas that might slow you if you havent run into em but if you do a search I shared quite a few of my expereinces and so have otheres and Mike is a phone call awayhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cool.gif He dosnt even mind being bothered on the weekend as long as you arnt interupting his golf gamehttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Shocked.gif Somebody should really tape a rebuild. Gota a camcorder Mike or Eric???


IMO the innards of the allison are easy. You can do it with no special tools also if you come up with a way to squash the springs for the c1 and 2. (I made mine or you can buy one)


There may even be a guy local that wouldnt mind swinging by to lend some expereince.

Up for a drive to Charlotte NC?

i did not want to drive that far ? but maybe . john i would like to talk to you , what would be better , email or phone ?

datsbad,


Go to the suncoast website and ask someone there. They should get back to you in a day or less to give you a location.

just call Joe, he will tell you where to go in your area... at least a dealer in your area anyways.






Hell, you coulda been here and back home by now

it would take me 8 hrs one way to get to you .

Yeah but if you got a good box/tuner you will have a blast on the way home and the 8hrs will fly by. Maybe one of these days i'll make the trip. Edited by: dpfcummins

still looking !

Im in Virginia. Hampton Roads area close to Va Beach. The suncoast 3 is a nice set up. Just need seals. I dont like using old seals over.....


hit me up... info@whiskeychoppers.com . I have all the tools for the 1000's.

geardoc


level 3 comes with seals.


mike

Mine didnt.... http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif I just went to GM and bout them. That sucks! Oh well its done and shifts awesome.... When I got it and it didnt come with them I just figured they were not part of the kit. Geuss I should have called John at Suncoast back...

What seals comes in stage III ?





Mac http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif

What seals comes in stage III ?





Mac http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif





I couldnt tell ya because I didnt get any.... http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Disapprove.gif

geardoc


You haven't done many stage 3's have you? Why would you buy the seals at GM when Allison is so much cheaper? All the Suncoast stage 3's come with both C3 and C4 pistons. Give me a clutch count on your stacks and I will tell you what you have.


mike

I think NOT only did someone go on a ATF binge but either backed into a differential or banged their noodle off a cross member or two.


Isn't he referencing the Front seal?


Mac http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Geek.gifEdited by: Mackin

Mac


He said "them" I know you don't like me ( not that I give a rats ass) but try and read more carefully. I admit my brain farts, I read things wrong sometimes. This time I did not. Suncoast does send a C3 and C4 piston in every Level 3 kit. Call your best friend Joe Webb and see if I am full of Sh.. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Hug.gif


mike

Mike, you are full of S...., but I am with you on this one. The latest kits I have been doing all come with C3 and C4 pistons..


As far as other seals go...never had a reason to replace anything else.. Only thing that would be nice to have included would be the rear gasket for putting in the C4's... I went and got me a handfull to have on hand, I ripped one once and that saved me.

Mac


He said "them" I know you don't like me ( not that I give a rats ass) but try and read more carefully. I admit my brain farts, I read things wrong sometimes. This time I did not. Suncoast does send a C3 and C4 piston in every Level 3 kit. Call your best friend Joe Webb and see if I am full of Sh.. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Hug.gif


mike





Like ,who knew you were so temperamental?


Pistons,Something tells me (I could be wrong) he's talking about something different.Such as Front Seal, Gaskets and or perhaps T-case,no matter I find it hard to believe Suncoast left out pistons in the kit.Some forget to look in the bottom of Transgo Box for the gaskets.


Of course I was just trying to find out what he thought was missing and not jump to a conclusion,oh well.


I do feel the same way as him ,I'd drop a new front seal in too on a R&R ,cheap insurance.Also use new gaskets,although I keep a spare good used, on hand.


Back to dolling out Rat Ass's,thanks for the offer.I'll have to decline,don't use.Thanks for the reminder to call Joe we do have some things to talk about!








I'll take a TTS Sticker like the one Dmaxdoug has tho,if your in the giving mood.





Mac <*huggies*>





Edited by: Mackin

hey guys i found someone in the baltimore area , i should get a call today . thanks

geardoc


You haven't done many stage 3's have you? Why would you buy the seals at GM when Allison is so much cheaper? All the Suncoast stage 3's come with both C3 and C4 pistons. Give me a clutch count on your stacks and I will tell you what you have.


mike





Well, Been building transmissions all my life. Not too many I havent done.... And I did get a c-3 piston. Just one.... And I stripped the tranny completly to check everything out. While I was in there I might as well have changed all the seals. Seems stupid not too. Why buy from GM? Well I have an account with a GM dealer that is a Allison certified shop. And they are a half mile down the road. I also have an account with Western Branch Deisel that is a Detroit and Allison certified shop. I get the same deals from both BTW.


So I geuss you build trannys that have 50,000 miles on them and use the old seals.... http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif Not me.


Oh yea, it was the first stage 3. Is something different in that tranny then the 1000's of others I've done. Help me out here. I would have to say it was the easiest auto I've done.


P.S. Theres one in every forum. Im sure others know what Im talking about..... http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gifEdited by: geardoc

geardoc


You haven't done many stage 3's have you? Why would you buy the seals at GM when Allison is so much cheaper? All the Suncoast stage 3's come with both C3 and C4 pistons. Give me a clutch count on your stacks and I will tell you what you have.


mike





Allison is a division of GM http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Wacko.gif

mike is referring to the price diffference at most dealers compared to an Allison shop.


Spin on filter, dealer ~~25.00 bucks


Allison dealer, same exact filter ~~9.00

geardoc


I love people that know it all, I don't. I am glad you think the Allison is the easiest trans you have ever done and I respect that you have built them all. I can't for the life of me figure out what happened to the Suncoast pistons in the kit that you never saw; suppose the dog ate them? Does not sound like you are familiar with the Suncoast kit. As far as there always being one in every group; I guess I am guilty. But, I am very good at what I do.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif


mike

you guys really know how to hijack someones post . i swear everytime i ask a question i get some answers then it turns into this sh#$%@t everytime .





thanks for the help !

you guys really know how to hijack someones post . i swear everytime i ask a question i get some answers then it turns into this sh#$%@t everytime .





thanks for the help !





I do apologize if I was one you feel is a hijacker,I was just trying to find out what someone was missing in a stage III kit,not trying to be a smart ass. If your led in the Baltimore region turns sour Pm BIG DIPPER see if he can hook you up in the same area.


MacEdited by: Mackin

Sorry about the hijack also... I just figure I would give someone a heads up about getting some seals before they started. I have bought one stage 3 kit and it came with only 1 piston. Maybe they come with both of the C-3 and C-4 pistons. I just got one with the kit and Im sorry for that Mike. It was all the other seals that it does not come with that I was talking about. I just believe its good insurance to go ahead and change all the seal while you are in there. I also have to put a new pump assembly in it. The pump gears and the wear plate started to take a crap had some metal peeling off of the wear plate. Its not that the seals are expensive so I would say get them. Its just my opinion though.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/3B8_PICT0439.jpg

Heres some of the seals I replaced that I still had laying around. Just so everyone knows exactly what Im refering too. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/79F_PICT0444.jpg

Wear plate damage.. Pump gears had some too.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/18F_PICT0441.jpg

actually BIG DIPPER pm'ed me and is trying to hook me up . still have not heard back from him . thanks

geardoc, did you find a reason/cause for that wearplate damage? That looks excessive and is not the norm for what I have seen. Interested in your findings on it.

I found nothing that came apart anywhere. Just the metal that is embedded in the wear plate and the pump gears wear scared. The frictions wear so bad they were grinding against the steels so that maybe where the fragments came from.

Ok,OK


everybody just unwad your panties. The Stage III has taken a few different forms as regards to no pistons (call them seals if you like),1 C-3 piston, or C-3 & C-4 pistons. This is a result of production lag on the C-3/C-4 frictions. In order to maintain the same clutch count I have had to purchase & modify the pistons. Not by choice because it is a more expensive. When our custom plates become available things may change again. We will be adding some new features also. by the way we are always open for input from our customers just keep it gentle.


Thanks for listening


smoop http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Embarrased.gif


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif

I was pleased with the Suncoast stage 3 just to let ya know. The seals and the piston wasnt a problem.... http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

Geardoc,


Thanks, I appreciate the kind words. Just to let everyone know purchasing C-2 balance piston is a waste because the kit renders C-2 balance oil ineffective so wether the piston is even there or not just doesn't matter. C-1 balance oil is a orificed down small amount of lube oil so the integrity of piston is a non issue. Because of the lower RPM of diesels as opposed to gas it is my opinion that balance oil on a diesel has little importance.


smoop

Edited by: Got Juice?

Hey Juice,


If you want some photos of the Original C-1 & C-2 billet pistons:


http://forum.thedieselpage.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=7;t=005494 These are photos of pistons released by Sun Coast in Nov.03. The C-1 is increased from 18 "sq to 27"sq.


C-2: OEM=19"sq (balance -8) = 11"sq


OEM without balance(transgo) =19"sq


eliminate center o'ring( uses both halves of piston) with balance=22"sq


eliminate center o'ring & balance=30"sq


whenever the piston area is changed the clutch volume is changed and this affects calibration (clutch apply & release time) This may be similar to your set-up. If it is it is the ultimate in reverse engineering and may (if not careful) result in "bind-up" your hero is so famous for.


All of this "hot air" blowing down from Canada so far has only resulted in increasing the number of tropical storms we endure.


smoophttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif

Got Juice


I like you, always have. I hope that you know I mess around with you but mean no disrespect. I know you are loyal to your people as am I and I respect that. Why don't you wait for the product to come out and then we can talk about it after someone has put it into their truck? You do realize that you stirred the hornets nest with a lot of nothing and no facts. I don't know why there is any secrecy about your trans. This is kinda like Ford, GM and the rest; you buy the other guys product and strip it and measure it and see what they did. You learn from some of it and you might laugh at the rest, but you can't hide it. I have seen what Suncoast does and I have seen what ATS does. Will I talk about it ? Hell yes. Joe just did, and Clint would also. I have allready posted measurements of everything in a Suncoast level 3 with their blessing. I will post what is in a ATS if asked.


mike

datsbad,


why not offer one of the techs here free airfair for 2 (might want to bring the better half along) and invite them down for a tour of pa after the work is done.


A couple of steaks on the grill should be in order also.


Seems worth it for the peace of mind to know it was done right.

The guy Kennedy is talking about in NC just did my sc lvl3 .....I would highly recommend him. There is lots to do down there as well.