I am still struggling with how to get a transmission – from Manny or Applied GMC – and how to get it installed. I used to have a mechanic that I trusted but he sold his business and is gone somewhere. When I started this I had asked for suggestions from Steve F., Carl S. and Dan G.  Carl has a mechanic but he doubted that he wanted to do the job so I didn’t bother calling him. Steve didn’t personally know anyone in Tucson but, based on Dan G.’s experience suggested Friedenberg Automotive in Tucson. I had already talked to Dan and knew his opinion. Dan, a fellow GMCer loves the place and the former owner, John, (now retired) and recommends them because they helped him with a bad engine on their GMC last year.

I had called Friedenberg – now called Next Generation Automotive – last week (twice) but they never called me back.  I called them back today with the intention of asking John to recommend someone but they were now not so busy and said they could help me. They will charge me 5.5 hours – the best price of several I have gotten while I was waiting for them to call me back. They penciled me in for Thursday morning this week.

Now for the luck. Yesterday (Sunday) I called Steve Ault, a former GMCer who lives just south of Tucson, looking for a suggestion of where I could have this tranny swap done. It turns out he has a freshly rebuilt transmission in his garage and wants to sell it. He made me a great deal and there will be no shipping charges.  I will go pick up the tranny in the next couple of days. Steve also has the hoist setup that is needed to hold the engine up and lower the tranny.

Stay tuned.