1978 Dodge Aspen custom from North America - Comments

Needed brakes.

Lots of rust work was done.

Now the tranny is having troble it slips.

I just got this car for free. It was sitting in a field for about ten years. the super six wasn't frozen, suprisingly. It's a grey 4dr with a kind of maroon gaudy interior, but I like it. I've been driving it for about 5 months now and I'm having trouble with the 904 automatic transmission, it slips, so I assume it needs to be rebuilt. I don't know if it would be cheaper to get a junkyard tranny or get it rebuilt, I don't feel like spending 2000 dollars to get this rebuilt, because those are the kind of prices I've heard when I say automatic transmission rebuild. I believe with the care I can give the slant six it could go 200,000 miles easy, but if its going to cost that much to have the tranny rebuilt then I will park it in the scrap yard off to the crusher, even though I love the volares and aspens.

No, I think $2,000 is for the newer front wheel drive transmissions. Old ones like I used to get like GM turbo 350s or 700R4s, or the Ford four speed auto all ran from $300-800. I doubt your dodge would be much different.

I just had my A904 rebuilt for about $350 at a private shop. One of the national chains might charge you over $1,000, but you'll get a better deal at a private, honest shop.

Before going for the rebuild, you might try the following:

1) Check the transmission fluid when hot idling in neutral. It might just be low;

2) Change the fluid and filter (don't waste time on a "flush"). This will cost about $30 for the filter/pan gasket kit and six quarts of fluid. Get a torque wrench and tighten the pan bolts correctly, or like as not the pan will leak after you're done;

3) Make sure that the fluid cooler isn't gunked closed, preventing the fluid from circulating. If you unhook both transmission cooling lines and blow compressed air in one side, you might get something with a jelly-like consistency coming out the other side.

4) Depending on your level of bravery, you can adjust the bands if you have a torque wrench in inch-pounds, and a Hayne's or Chilton's manual that describes the procedure.

The old Torqueflite transmissions are super rugged, and I'd be surprised if one bolted behind a Slant 6 was abused so badly as to be shot. You can probably get it revived enough to be serviceable for years yet. I put over 30,000 miles on a 904 that was slipping in 3rd, would chatter in reverse, and took about two minutes to engage.