My brother and I installed the kit this weekend. Truck runs great now.

Thanks to Dmaxallietech, Mike L. and Smoop for their help while I was doing my research. Thanks to Ratlover, Big Dipper and GMC-2002-Dmax for their input as well, having been involved with DIY Allison installs. Thanks to GMC-2002-Dmax for loaning me his engine stand to PTO bracket he fabbed.

Thanks to Dmaxallietech for putting the parts together for me, and loaning me his Allison manual; we couldn't have done it without the manual. I don't think the Transgo book by itself was enough for us.

Thanks to Dmaxallietech for fielding a couple of calls while we were in the middle of it. All that play in the C2 (?) stack was unnerving! Thanks to Mike L. for being available as well. Since I bought the parts from Eric, I went to him first, but it was nice knowing Mike was available as well. Both of these guys are great, friendly, helpful resources. Mike, I do look forward to that cooler!

On to the good stuff. First, my brother is a 20+ year GM Master Tech, with lifts, stands, tools and a Tech II all at the house, so I did have an advantage there. However, he works on Cadillacs and Corvettes, with no Allison experience at all. Taking our time, we worked about 6 hours on Friday and 6 hours on Saturday. That includes R&R, rebuild, and resetting taps. No leaks or any other issues (though my cooler line clips are still somewhere safe where they won't get lost!; I hope my brother finds them and mailes them back to me, as he stored them away rather then sticking them back in the fitting as I suggested). No extra parts left over when we were done, and everything was included in the kit. That was my biggest concern; being in the middle of the install on a weekend and finding somethig missing. I need my truck for daily transportation, and had to get back from San Antonio to Houston for work on Monday.

After having done this one, and seeing how straightforward it really is, I see how an experienced person could easily do one in an 8 hour day or less, from start to finish.

Tranny shifts firmer during hard shifts. Thanks to resetting taps, I had no issues with really funky shifts. I could definately tell it was learning, as the shifts were not consistent, initially. I saw most if it in the one-two shift though, and not the three four.

Went with Suncoasts triple disc, as can't get a Stage 4 without their torque converter, and I wasn't willing to pay again for a TTS. Supposed to be their newest design, which is supposed to be tighter than in the past? I don't feel I lost anything on the bottom end my SOTP meter, but I have not had a TTS, so take that for what it is worth.

All kit parts appeared to be new. Apply pistons were in Allison packaging, though they had been opened so Suncoast could machine them down.

Core did require returning my old apply pistons.

I only have a HJAT, but it does feel like I have more power now. I know I don't have the shift defueling I used to have (even though I had defueling turned off on all but 4-5 shifts through the Attitude).

Eric and Tony, I will get your borrowed items back in the mail to you this week.

Thanks again to all that helped me. I wouldn't have had the guts to do it myself without your help.

The savings in labor are slated to make the truck Extremely :ro) happy!

:cool2: . I can't wait to :grd: on mine.

Good write up, thanks for the info.

Dan

Glad that the adapter bracket worked for you.

T;) NY

911 911
Hey!!! If You Don't Have Your Coller Line Clips In Your Pipes Could Pop Out & Leave You Hi & Dry

Tom

I used some small diameter wire, which will work fine till I get my hands on a couple of clips (which I since have). Gotta do what you gotta do to get up and running. Appreciate the concern, though.