got ripped off on trans rebuild

jdsduster said

oneal transmission in clinton,indiana.took my 61 newport in for a rebuild,he told me $1200-when i picked it up it was $2500.00.he charged me $ 500.00 for a stock convertor,140 for a netural saf.switch.i was pissed,but could do nothing.i had nothing in writing,just verbal.never again without something in writing.sorry,just venting.

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I'm not going to justify the price you were charged, but parts for a 1961 Cast Iron torqueflite are probably not the easiest parts to find, mainly because not many people are making parts for 56 year old transmissions anymore. The parts catalog I have here lists no transmissions built prior to 1962. I know a company called Fatsco specialises in old transmission parts and maybe you should contact them and see what they have and what they would charge you for the parts the shop put in your transmission. For all these old girls you ain't going to find these parts at your local NAPA store.
On the converter, your converter would have been sent out to be custom rebuilt. When I worked in the industry, all older converters were custom build only, and if the hub was worn out or badly damaged, one had to be made in the machine shop. Again, not cheap and a one off build.
I also wonder if the shop did not know it was a cast iron TF, but thought rather a normal aluminum TF. Just a thought.

I just did a quick search on the W.I.T. website. They're a major transmission parts supplier and they HAVE NO parts available for a cast iron TF.