How much should I expect to pay to have a Suncoast Level 2 or 3 kit installed? I am considering doing it myself, but the weight of the tranny is discouraging me alittle.

I don't believe Joe Webb will sell you a Stage 3. Better call him and see what he recommends.

If your not wanting to tackle it, a quick trip to MI will take care of it.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Embarrased.gif


I estimate that most install prices are gonna be around 1k without parts

I'm looking at my invoice from Stewart and Stevenson in Dallas, Texas for installing a Suncoast Stage II.


Shop labor 18.27 hours at $83.00 hr. = $1516.41


Enviromental Fees = $ 4.60


Gasket = $7.61


Transynd Tranny Fluid 6 gallons at $29.30 per gallon = $179.58


Shop supplies = $8.30


Total = $1,733.03 http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif

I paid just a touch under 1K for the labor and fluid. Then the parts price on top of that. This is not something that you always want the lowest bidder for.....mine has run like a champ, so the cost was well worth it.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Angry.gif I think I paid to much,.


Plus the tranny was overfilled and high dollar fluid was thrown out the overflows for seveal days. It seems okay now.


Several weeks later I had my starter checked out as it had been making an odd noise ever since the tranny work. Starter case was found cracked and barely hanging on. The tranny shop obviously cracked the starter and had tried to put sealer etc around the starter and just rigged it to get it on the road was the mechanics words. The tranny shop said they would take care of any problems they were responsible for. It all has been repaired.


A good note is the tranny seems to work fine.

How much will I save if I pull the R&I the tranny myself?


Are there any special tools needed to install either the stage 2 or 3 kits? It doesn't seem too complicated, is the stage 3 harder than the stage 2?


I killed 5th gear at the track this past weekend. It is fine at stock power levels, but it slips over that.


I am ready to buy the kit, but I am still debating about installing it myself, or have it done.

Would there be much if any difference in install price on a stage3 over the stage2? I was leaning towards the stage3 as $500 would not make or break my decision. However on the other thread I started the consensus was a stage2 with the valve upgrade would suffice, and IF the install price was substancial I would consider that option. By the way I was already quoted $1400 for a stage3 install...how does that compare?

1400.00 is a very fair price for stage 3 install. Trans must be totaly stripped down to bare case .


mike

dieselfumes,


My install invoice does not have the labor separated for R & R of the tranny. My decision to go with Stage II was this. You might as well go with the totally built tranny and pay the core charge if you are going with Stage III. Now comes the decision of giving up a perfectly good tranny for core.... and I was not going to do that. So then I was stuck Not only the extra price for the Stage III, but also the core charge which was about $1400 - and up.


I would have spent about $4200 for the Stage III tranny, $1400 plus for the core charge and ??? for R & R of the tranny. Well over $6,000. Of course I would have my original tranny as a spare.


I spent $3700 to have a Stage II in my truck. And I thought I was through with this "need" for high priced speed equipment. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif


Edited by: gmccall

Well I got a great deal in NC, 2300 installed stage 2(plus the TCC).

What's with the core charge on a stage3? Far as I figured it is:


Stage3 parts = $2195


Labor = $1400


Fluids = $180


Tax on labor,fluids= $130


Shipping = $150


Total = $4055.....or so


Have I missed something?


Mike, do you charge much less for a stage2 install?

motovet,


I refered to a core charge on my previous post if I were to purchase a whole freshly built Stage III tranny from SunCoast. (See their website). The will ship the already built tranny and you send your tranny to them for a core or you pay "a core charge).


That way they built the tranny as it should be and not some unknown shop. If I went this route though, I would prefer to keep my tranny if its still in good shape. A good Allison is worth a great deal more than the core charge.

OK, that makes sense. I knew about the core on the complete tranny.... just hoped I had'nt missed something.

Almost sounds like you could arrange to sell your trans out of your brand new truck for as much as a worked trans and TC from Suncoast.

Net = $0 ??????

motovet


If i have to go into the back end of the Ally i charge 1400.00, thats a complete strip down plus parts (unless of course you have your own.) If i only do the front half I charge 1000.00 plus parts. Whichever way i do it, i disassemble all parts and inspect them, clean them and make sure they are properly installed (not necessarily Allisons way). If I see a bad bushing or seal or whatever, I contact the customer and try and sell him this part, but labor doesn't change. I am very complete and don't give surprises.


mike

Thanks Mike. Sounds like the shop in my neck of the woods is quoting fairly so I could assume that stage2 = $3150 and already know the stage3 to be $4050 installed. What to do..... Edited by: motovet

Make sure your shop has all the parts on hand if they are needed. Pump bushing,stator support bushing(if it's brass must be updated to teflon). Mainshaft pilot bushing should be checked for play. C3 and C4 apply pistons should be checked for tension and bellhousing to stator support bolts need new seals. Make sure mainshaft does not come out of the bore even a half inch, that could lose a gear train. I recommend new steel plates in all the clutch packs(if you are dealing with Suncoast, it's a moot point, Joe supplys the steels). If you are doing the stage 3, make sure your trans shop knows how to set clearance on all the clutches (C1 is critical). All bolts must be torqued properly, impact wrench and or seat of the pants feel wont do on this baby. Hope this helps.


mike

Thanks again Mike. This shop is the only shop in the northwest that Joe recommended, so I have to assume they are ready for me. Heard of Thurston County Trans. by any chance?

dieselfumes,


I can see by your signature you are addicted to hp http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif so I say go level 3. I added the Quad and upgraded my hot juice with attitude and its awsome.