Jasper Transmission

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I would seriously consider a GM dealer if the price is anywhere near that of Jasper.

I ran into the who-to-buy-from dilema a year ago over a new V-10 longblock engine for my Excursion. Rebuilding locally was nearly out of the question as no machine shop, nor installer would touch the assembly process. I could have done it, but I would've had to jerry-rig special tools to reinstall the overhead cams and use some old parts over, whereas Ford's rebuilder replaced all possible wear parts including cylinder heads. My original aluminum heads were already helicoiled over spark plug issues and cams run directly in critically-sized head bores, no bearing inserts.

A reliable local Jasper installer came in at the same price as Ford. But Ford had a simpler warranty. Both three years, but Ford had no mileage restriction (unlimited), no break-in period whatsoever, no restriction on commercial use (not my concern anyway), no restriction on trailer towing and the warranty follows the truck no matter who owns it if I sell. The only thing Ford does restrict is oil filters, after they recently investigated new engines with plugged oil passages that were determined from other-brand new-filter debris. Motorcraft filters are as economical as any, so it doesn't matter.

Finally, reliable Jasper dealers may be questionable in some areas as any Joe Sixpack can initially be one, and that is the one thing Jasper cannot control. This dilema becomes especially evident concerning aftermarket failure replacement labor charges, whereas Ford dealers are more numerous, are more likely reimbursed labor by Ford, and hopefully toe the mark a bit better. Most negative Jasper issues I read about were arguments concerning the dealer/installers culpability, out-of-town situations making the temptation of warranty evasion even worse.

On warranty, Jasper sends out a new engine pronto, you pay to have the second one installed and ship the failure back to them. Then they "evaluate" if the "return" merits factory warranty. If so, Jasper reimburses your installer and there is no charge for the replacement. If not, you have just bought a second engine from Jasper and you owe the installer one more time. Guess what?

It won't help you, but I know that Ford parts have reasonably priced transmissions, including an upgraded HD option. One would hope GM can also offer this type advantage. I know dealers sometimes seem high priced but I would recommend definitely checking them out. And if you sell... what would you rather buy... genuine GM parts or aftermarket?

Wes
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A local shop may be a good alternative, until you are on the road 1,000 miles away. Their warranty doesn't mean squat then.

More To See wrote:
if it is a truck you plan on keeping maybe check into a good reliable local tranny shop that could do a heavy duty rebuild for you which probably wouldn't cost too much more than just a standard rebuild.

I put a Jasper 4L80E in the burb when I lost reverse 2 years ago. Have had no issues with it, and it came with a 3 year 100k mile warranty, plus their are a few thousand Jasper dealers across the country. Mine was about $3500 installed.

That said, I would have it rebuilt by a GOOD shop if you can. It will be cheaper and probably better. Mine failed on the road, I couldn't get a recommendation on a good tranny shop (except folks saying don't go to the local guy LOL), so I went the Jasper route.

FYI, fine print in the Jasper warranty calls for fluid/filter change at 5k miles after installation or else warranty is void.

H2oSprt wrote:
Looks like Jaspers would be just under $4000 installed and I haven't called dealers yet.

I purchased a Jasper Transmission roughly 10 years ago - shortly after chipping, piping, and putting an intake on my truck the factory tranny clearly didn't like it. And it was just barely out of drivetrain warranty at the time.

I got what they called their "Monster Box". About $3500 shipped, + $450 locally to R&R. It came with a 2-year *unconditional* unlimited HP, unlimited miles warranty. If ever it broke under warranty, they promised to next-day air a replacement to whatever shop I was at, and pay for the R&R.

When it was installed, it shifted mind-blowingly hard. Way too hard. I thought it would rip the driveline U-Joints or rear gears apart. I called them, and WITHOUT HESITATION they immediately offered to send a replacement.

Went back to the shop that put it in for me, only to discover that when Jasper had sent it to me, the Torque converter had apparently already had oil in it, and my installer just went ahead and dumped in the full 11 quarts needed and didn't check or didn't read the stick right. (And of course my bad for not thinking to check the stick myself).

After we drained 5-ish quarts out, the stick read normal, and the shifting was also normal. No replacement needed, cancelled the shipment of a new one. The owner of the tranny shop then proceeded to rip his installer a new one.

10 years later, and not one problem to report after a LOT of miles towing heavy loads up a lot of mountain passes around here. Worth noting, I've only run Royal Purple in it, and also put the largest cooler I could find on it, a TruCool Max.

Moral of the story - their customer service person gave me ZERO flack when I called. That's just as important to me as the product itself.

GM dealers as a rule don't rebuild transmissions unless it's a warranty repair and GM makes them do it if it is cheaper to fix than replace.
A 4L60E from GM should cost about $2300 at the dealer plus labor. 2WD cheaper than 4WD on the labor side.
Both GM and Jasper have 3yr/100k parts and labor warranties on trans and engines. I would buy the GM if possible but would not be scared of a Jasper trans. Jasper also offers a HD build at an extra cost, as does Ford.
The belt comment is a very good one. I have seen "locked up" engines replaced over a seized alt/compressor/tensioner etc.

H2oSprt wrote:

Sport45 wrote:
Are you sure the whine is coming from the transmission and not the rear end?

I'm sure it not the rear end as it will whine if I'm in neutral and rev the engine. I'm open if you guys think it's something other than the trans.

Just for grins, pop the drive belt off and rev it up a time or three in neutral. If the wine goes away it's not the transmission.

I had a bad idler bearing in a '94 F-150 that made an annoying whine like that. Alternator bearings have a high pitch whine when they go out too.

In all of my Boy Racer forums...Jasper has lost their shine decade or more ago...

Whereas they used to be held in high regard...wonder if the original owner sold
out to a Bean Counter run company...

You may have overheated the pump bearing. I replaced the trans in my suburban when I had it. Bought a rebuilt trans from dealer and installed it myself. It came with a 100,000 mile/3 yr. warranty. It outlasted both.

Sport45 wrote:
Are you sure the whine is coming from the transmission and not the rear end?

I'm sure it not the rear end as it will whine if I'm in neutral and rev the engine. I'm open if you guys think it's something other than the trans.

Are you sure the whine is coming from the transmission and not the rear end?