My 3-speed transmission in my 1995 cav is shifting from first to third, no second gear. Brought it to a local trans shop that has 30 years exp and is the only shop I've ever heard of to have an ethics award from the BBB. They said they can rebuild it as good as new or better for $800 best case to $1600 worst case, and they recommended the Transgo shift kit as well.

Is that a reasonable price for a rebuild or should I ask around some more? When junkyards are selling wrecked Ecotecs for $600-900 dollars, that route looks much more appealing (except the labor of swapping it into a 95...I do not have the tools or the knowledge to weld motor mounts and swap fuel lines). What would you do? Car has 140,000 miles and I've had the transmission fluid and filter changed once a year for the last two years.

Been trying to find some info on the final drive ratios but I am coming up with nothing. The numbers on top of the transmission are: 8666413 and CFD138. Does that help? What would you do?

That is about the average rebuild price, from a reputable rebuilder. The TransGo (# SK125) shift improver kit is a good idea, it corrects some of the factory problems and give a slightly firmer shift.

As for the Eco Convesion, you'll need a doner car to get the PCM, wiring, fuel tank and lines, dash, dash harness,etc...For someone without tools and fairly high mechanical knowledge, I wouldn't recommend it.

Eventially I'll get around to scaning and posting the pages from the DACCO catalog again in my transmission thread. In the mean time there is a metal tag on the top of the drivevers side rear of the tranny, it should have a two to four digit code on it and the year, get me that info and I can find out what you have.

The tag says:

Turbo Hydra Matic
AK C
05 5143

and it's a 1995 with the 2.2L if it helps. Thanks so much!!

That would be the standard model for the J-bodies. It comes with a 2.84:1 differential, 33-37 tooth drive chain (drive gear-driven gear), for an effective drive ratio of 3.18:1. The torque converter is FZCB, F= FWD TH125C, Z=2375 rpm stall, C= carbon filled clutch and B=237mm bolt circle(TH125C).

This combo is very gas mileage orientated. A higher stall and more gear is definitely needed for any performance. That's why this is the slowest of all the J-bodies.