1995 GMC transmission went south yesterday

[Jeepwm69]

Originally Posted by Jeepwm69

Yep, I rebuild a lot of ATV engines. I learned early one that even if the bottom end is good, if you don't tear it all the way down and clean EVERYTHING out, the grit/dirt from the bottom end will ruin a new top end in short order. Gotta flush out the oil coolers too!

The $1250 price is about a 90 min drive from me. That shop/salvage yard was recommended to me by some drag racers who work at a local oil change shop.

I found another shop that is 20 miles from me, and called it. The guy is 82, and has run the shop since the early 70's. He said that transmission came out in the early 90's when I mentioned it as being 95 only. Said they were from 93-95 IIRC. Very sharp mentally, and the interesting thing is, his name is Jack, and his shop was "Jack's muffler and transmissions". When I was a kid we'd pass his shop and I'd tell my grandfather (also named Jack) "Hey, look! It's your shop!" My grandfather owned a Pontiac, Buick, GMC dealership from the late 40's to the late 80's, and would say "I know that guy, and he does great work" Never in a million years did I think the same guy would still be running that shop.

Jack quoted me $1950 plus tax, but said it would be 3-4 weeks, because he fell and broke a bone in his leg, and has minor surgery on it before he can go back to work. He has a "young big ol fella" to pull the transmissions and put them back in, but he does the actual work.

Dad (who is 86) says "Someone that old might miss something" and I said "but he's done so many he can probably do them in his sleep now".

So for now, I'm leaning towards taking it to Jack. My grandfather was pilot, and always had a very high standard when it came to mechanical work of any kind. I think if he was impressed with this guy that I'd be hard pressed to find a better place to have it done.

Ended up taking the truck to Jack's Garage. I stopped and talked to him at length, and he's sharper at 82 than I am at 49.

"2016 Arkansas Drag Racing Hall of Fame Inductee Jack Mullins was born Sept. 1 1942. Jack attended his first drag race as a spectator in 1966 at the Lakeland Drag Strip in Memphis Tn. Jack began his racing career at Carlisle Dragaway in 1969 running a 1953 Oldsmobile in U and V/Stock. His first NHRA Division win was in 1970 at a division 4 points race where he also set a national record. Jack also won the 1970 division 4 points in Stock Eliminator. In 1972 Jack built a1963 Pontiac Station Wagon using a 389 for power with a 4sp trans running in SS/U and V. Jack won the division 4 points for 1972 in Super Stock Eliminator. Jack sold the wagon and built a Pontiac 4 Dr hardtop and won the division 4 points for 1974. Jack built another wagon and won the division 4 points for 1975 and 76. Jack won 2 points races and was runner up at another points race and number 1 qualifier. After a 6 year layoff Jack was back for the 1985 season running a 1984 Firebird in D and E/MP. Jack was runner up at the Southern Nationals won the Cajun Nationals and was the Division 4 Points winner in Modified Eliminator also winning 3 divisional points races and setting the ETand MPH records in D and E/ Modified Production. In 1986 before taking a break from Drag Racing Jack again won the Cajun Nationals. Jack still works at Jacks Garage, in Helena the auto repair business he started in 1967 when he was 25 years old.Jack won 6 NHRA National events includeing the 1975 US Nationals. Had 4 National event runner ups. He won 11 NHRA divisional races with 6 runner ups. He set national records in everyone of his cars. Jack said the wagon was his most successful but he said the 1984 Firebird was the most fun to drive. Jack has a V/Stock 2000 Firebird a 23 T Roadster and a 190 inch rear engine dragester in various stages of completion that he hopes to someday finish and return to Drag Racing. Jack was also inducted into the NHRA Division 4 Hall of Fame in 1982."

I didn't realize the guy was famous! Anyhow, really nice man. He had the transmission torn down one day, cleaned and reassembled the 2nd day, and had it back in and ready to go the third day. He put a corvette servo in it, beefed up the valve body a bit, and rebuilt it. He showed me a thrust bearing that failed in the rear of the transmission that caused the problem.

He did say "If it weren't for GM transmissions, I would have gone out of business a long time ago" LOL

https://www.hotrod.com/features/0212...ntiac-history/